In the NBA, there is a new generation of stars taking over. These players have impressive skills and athleticism that were developed during their time in college. Let’s take a look at the mechanics of the college-to-pro pipeline, and meet some of the most talented former college hoops stars who are now shining in the NBA.
The “One-And-Done” Epidemic
Due to NBA rules requiring a player to be at least 18 years old and have one year of post-high school playing experience, many players leave college after only one year.
Of course, although players can technically enter the NBA draft after just one year of college, plenty opt to stay in school longer to hone their skills and improve before making that jump into professional basketball. And with name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals now permitted, talented college athletes have greater opportunities to earn profits while competing at the collegiate level.
Others feel that the one-and-done epidemic is still a problem for both colleges and the NBA. The NCAA has seen its top talent leave after only one year, and the NBA is dealing with players who may not be physically or mentally ready for professional competition.
International Appeal
Alternatively, some talented high school basketball players are opting to skip college basketball altogether. Instead, they are spending their one year of required play overseas. Once they have that required experience, these players can enter the NBA draft.
This is a popular option because it gives these players more exposure and practice time against older competitors than playing in college would provide. They can also receive payment for endorsement and other deals, though with the recent NIL rule changes in the NCAA, this is less of a factor.
Rookie Stars
Regardless of how many (or how few!) years they played collegiate basketball, there are plenty of talented rookies in the NBA this season. Right now, some of the most impressive young stars in their rookie NBA season include Cade Cunningham, Ayo Dosunmu, Davion Mitchell, Jalen Suggs, Chris Duarte, Evan Mobley, and Herbert Jones.
These seven young men were among those selected to the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars competition, in a nod to their talent and appeal. Let’s take a closer look at a couple of these notable players.
Cade Cunningham
Cunningham has been turning heads since high school. He was the highest-rated point guard of all time in 247Sports’ recruiting database, and even back in 2020, when he was still in high school, he was projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He did, in fact, end up being selected first overall by the Detroit Pistons.
After his freshman season at Oklahoma State, Cunningham was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American and won both Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He was unanimously selected to the first-team All-Big 12, the All-Freshman Team, and the All-Newcomer Team. Cunningham also received several other major NCAA Division I honors, including the Wayman Tisdale Award, Sporting News Freshman of the Year, and National Association of Basketball Coaches Freshman of the Year. He elected to enter the 2021 NBA draft after just one year at Oklahoma State.
In early 2022, in his first season in the NBA, the former college star is drawing accolades. In February he topped the NBA’s ranking of rookie players on the “Kia Rookie Ladder.” He was also named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January. While many talented young players end up falling short of expectations, Cunningham is keeping his foot on the gas and continues to impress.
Ayo Dosunmu
Ayo Dosunmu is a rising star with a different path to the NBA than fellow rookie Cade Cunningham. First, Dosunmu played three years of college basketball at the University of Illinois. His college career included many awards and accolades, including consensus first-team All-American (2021), Bob Cousy Award (2021), Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2019), and the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2021).
Unlike Cunningham, Dosunmu wasn’t selected until the second round of 2021 NBA draft. However, although he was the 38th overall pick, Dosunmu was thrilled to be drafted by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. In early 2022, many fans and sports journalists consider him to be the steal of the draft.
While Dosunmu began his NBA career as a role player coming off the Bulls bench, he has become a trusted asset in the Bulls’ second unit and an interim starter in place of injured Lonzo Ball. Dosunmu has taken Chicago by storm and stabilized a crucial role at a turbulent time in what’s shaping up to be one of the best Bulls seasons in years.
Takeaways on Talented Former College Stars Playing in the NBA
Eligibility rules in NCAA basketball and the NBA are likely to continue to evolve. While the current rule prohibiting players to be drafted out of high school has been in place since 2005, there continue to be rumors that this will change in the future.
As for the NCAA, many believe that the loosening of restrictions that allow players to profit off their name, image, and likeness (NIL) is a way to combat the “one-and-done” epidemic. So, while there’s no easy way to predict the future of college or professional basketball, one thing is certain: we will continue to see talented young stars make the transition from college to the pros and compete at an impressive level.