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DEL.ICIO.USHoop Hype?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The South Gwinnett High School basketball team, with its All American star Louis Williams, is a road show, traveling the country defeating in televised match-ups top teams like Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy, USA Today’s so-called #1 team. The South Gwinnett team’s success has put the school on the national map, drawing a mention in Sports Illustrated.
But is this what high school is supposed to be about? In basketball in particular, the most talented high school athletes are skipping college and going straight to the pros. A lot of kids might think that could be their ticket up, too, but few will ever get that chance. The same used to be said for college ballplayers. And now some high schools are under the same television hot lights usually reserved for large college programs. Is that something high schools should embrace, or something parents should be worried about?
(My colleague Hyde Post tipped me off to this fascinating issue)
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Patti
January 24, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this
This is a test, a test to see if the comments feature is working, not a standardized test, thankfully.
By Ernest
January 24, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this
Let’s be honest, this is all about the dollars. I recall in years past, young tennis phenoms and gymnasts bypassed college to cash in. Because of the proliferation of media outlets and competition between them, stories such as this get greater attention than in the past.
What we should also ask is, if 8our child* had a chance to become a millionaire before 20 through sports, would we stop them? What if this was through academics or a business endeavor? I believe if we were in that situation, we’d tell them to ‘get paid’ while they can. Nothing in the future is guaranteed.