Well, I think that's the point Steat is making. And you're both projecting the sentiments of the masses onto Jackson. I'm not saying that he doesn't want to go. It's a shame that it's come to the point where if you're a top 20 recruit and you don't leave school after the first year or two, there's something wrong with you. But what I've argued here as well as our thread on OOTB, is that kids shouldn't feel obligated to go because "it helps with recruiting" or because "this draft class is weaker than next years". Maybe, just maybe,...and I know this might sound crazy, but maybe Jackson likes being a college kid. Or maybe he wants to get a degree. Or maybe he's not ready for the rigors of NBA life just yet. Or maybe he feels he's not ready from a skills standpoint.
I will say, Jackson is a different type of mindset from the more typical recruit these days, I think in large part to his being home schooled with family values so well taught. he is IMO more of a throw back kind of kid, as much UNC student as player. While he of course could not help but consider one & done to the NBA, I don't think with him he had the time line most others have. I think with him it has been more let me see how good I can become and then see what that opens up for me but my education is important in both academics as well as basketball. I think that means he more than most will want to feel he is as ready as he can be not just to be drafted but to play in the NBA.
So many these days seem to be concerned ONLY with getting to the NBA, they will worry about being able to pay there once they get there. Roy preps his players to be able to play once they get there and that mind set has maybe cost us a few of the more talented guys. I think Jackson looks at things more as Roy does, Roy will never hold a kid back but developing the skills you have to be ready to use in the NBA takes a while, it takes longer than rolling the ball out and telling him to go do what you did in AAU.
This mindset that has come in over the last few years of a kid thinking, "I have to go now or I may not be able to get there at all", really bothers me. I says to me you are not really all that confident in your ability, you are not willing or maybe it is able to work on the flaws in your game? Once you are in the NBA do ya really think those flaws are not going to show themselves, do you really think showing up with hidden flaws in your game is going to make it easier for you to get that coveted second contract at number you dream of?
I don't see anything wrong with a kid feeling he needs to work on his game and mature while getting his education but the NBA punishes a kid for doing that. I don't think there is anything wrong with a kid that leaves high school and decides to enter the work force but the NBA punishes a kid for wanting that as well. And yet the NBA wonders why so many of its players display questionable character?
If you must have the rookie salary cap structure then you should allow a kid to start that clock as soon as he feels he is able to and that means the one & done rule is awful. if you feel you need to see a kids talent on display more, if you feel you need to see a kid develop under college coaching then the rookie salary cap structure is awful. Remove one of these and the other can be seen as making sense but the 2 together makes no sense and in the end it hurts the kids, not so much the mega talent kid but that kid that has the later develoment of skill need, like Brice, like Marcus, and yeah, like Jackson.
