ajcsportstalk

By Curt

April 24, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this

Big surprise. No one needs another year of college to develop like Young. Crittenton was the better freshman on the team and for stretches neither one of them could be relied on to do anything to take their team to the next level. They both played like their age, not despite it like guys like Oden and Durant.

As a Tech fan I am disappointed, and I’m sure Crittenton is soon to follow. Hopefully both of these guys will get “realistic” advice from the NBA and will choose to stay. That being said, both will probably be drafted in the first round so they can get paid to watch basketball next year instead of playing in a competitive league and making themselves better players. Thaddeus, do yourself a favor and give Dion Glover a call. Or Kenny Anderson, or Dennis Scott. The grass isn’t always greener when you are getting the green.

By GT

April 24, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

This is not a good decision. I am a big Tech fan and I think a lot of TY, but he is nowhere near where Chris Boosh and Stephan Marbury were when they left after one year. Young needs another season! Sadly, I think his NBA career will go more like Dion Glover’s than that of Chris Boosh.

By John Chambers

April 24, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

There is nothing wrong with testing the draft waters. He hasn’t hired an agent, so if he doesn’t project to be a first round pick, than he’ll be back. However, if he can land between pick 25-32, than to h~ll with college. As long as the NCAA refuses to include the the athletes and their families in the revenue sharing process, players will bail the first chance they get. And for good reason!

By beachcomber

April 24, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

While you may not like Bobby Knight, he was dead on in this case. College basketball is becoming a joke - nothing but a one-year finishing school for the NBA.

By War Eagle

April 24, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

Typical! Another 4 yr scholarship wasted on a one and done person-they need to give more scholarships to actual STUDENTS than athletes. Some deserving person went to another college because GT thought it would be best to waste a scholarship on a basketball player. At least force them to pay back the scholarship if they leave prior to completing their junior yr in GOOD standing.

By tech fan in jacksonville

April 24, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

Let’s recruit guys that are commited to college and will become very good players by their junior and senior years. These fellows are using GT as a place to audition for the NBA. You can never win with players that have their own agendas that are seperate than Coach Hewitt’s. I’m not a UGA fan, but those guys hustled and banged for everything they got. Wonder what this year’s team would be like if we hustled and banged around the court as a team. Anyways, go jackets!

By John Chambers

April 24, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this

Make him pay back the scholarship? What a joke, you hypocrites are unbelievable. Why should he play basketball for free? Collegiate basketball and college football = corruption. They make billions and refuse to include the players and their families in the revenue sharing. It’s the only business in America that gets away with that. Congress should investigate this matter immediately and demand that players are compensated the same way their coaches and athletic directors are.

By dickie v

April 24, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this

Young is NOT ready for the NBA. I dont even think he wouldve started on a better college team last year. nuff said.

By ArkyTech

April 24, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Got my attention when I saw him say in ajc that he “enjoyed” his GT experience. Made me think his mind was made up. Then espn quoted him saying he “is enjoying” the GT experience. Wonder which it was?

By JP

April 24, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

Testing Waters = GONE. I am surprised but should I really be? I don’t think so. It is deflating to say the least. I bet Javaris bolts now too..these two both needed to stick around at least one more year. Now it is hard for me to get excited about Gani Lawal, will he just be here one year too??

By PLAYMAKERS 101

April 24, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

dont worry about Gani, hes way 2 smart 2 make a dumb move like thad young. anyhow this kid needs another year if not 2. but then again my ? is, “do u think he will learn anything from coach hewitt if he does stay?”

By El Capitano

April 24, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

I hope Thaddie can develop some consistant game between what we saw at the end of the year and Summer camps or at least he is taking a foreign language at Tech cause he’s gonna need it when he’s crushing in the Euroleague in two years. Can’t fault him for wanting the money so good luck kid…..I guess

By Bobby Day

April 24, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

John Chambers, athletes are compensated with scholarships.

If an athlete has any common sense and actually belongs in a collegiate setting, he can use the scholarship to earn a degree, which will continue to serve him LONG after his physical skills have vanished.

BTW, if college sports are so unfair, why do the athletes continue to play? Nobody is forcing them to play. They could go out and get “real” jobs instead.

Right, John Chambers?

By thunderchunk

April 24, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this

Give the scholarship to another student? If it hadn’t gone to TY, it would have gone to another basketball player instead.

TY and Crit could both use another year, but there isn’t anything wrong with gauging NBA interest. Let’s be honest, TY is gone by the end of next season anyways. I doubt anyone realistically expected him to stay more than 2 years.

I can’t really fault either of them for leaving early. If I could have left college after one year to make millions, I would do it too, scholarship or not.

By mountain_jim

April 24, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

I agree with John Chambers.

College Atheletics pays the coaches millions, is a huge, huge, industry, and the atheletes get the scholarship but not enough $ to barely live on while in school. They should get paid like it’s a job from the $ everybody else but them makes off their talents and labors. The scholarship, housing, plus $500 a month would be a good starting point for consideration imho. They put to many hours into their sports to have time to work part-time jobs to live on - that’s why I say they need a monthly stipend on top of the scholarship.

So I am a Tech alumni but you will never hear me whining about players that should stay in school - if the $ to take care of them and their families are there, it’s time to go.

On the other hand, if he’s likely very late first or 2nd round, he might could raise his value a good bit with another year at Tech and then enter the draft.

By wh

April 24, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

These guys are being sold on the idea that coming out early will bring them 1 year closer to unrestricted free agency and the BIG $ deal. Of course, getting drafted 28th and sitting on the bench does not provide the platform for this premise. Stay in school another year and improving your draft position 10 spots would provide larger initial income, as well a improved sill sets to get on the floor and MAYBE get to the big $. Pro Sports is a joke with the rookies earning so much more than the proven players.

By REBELMANIA

April 24, 2007 5:31 PM | Link to this

Hey my Tech friends, I told you last month ofter the UNLV/GT game that I would be following your B-Ball team closely next year, I will say that it is a good sign that he has not hired an agent yet, so should his stock not be as great as he thinks it is, he can still return to school.

To be honest, I dont see him going in the first round with all of the other underclassmen that have declared this year. He would really be better off hanging around for 1 more year and making a run at the NCAA title.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 24, 2007 6:28 PM | Link to this

It’s the right move to test the draft waters. The NBA allows you to declare once and pull your name out if you don’t hire an agent.

But it would be foolish for Young to keep his name in the draft this year. No, he’s not NBA-ready yet, but that’s not the issue — many other players are not NBA-ready when they enter the draft either. The problem for Young is that he’s entering a draft that is very deep at his position. Unless he’s outstanding in his workouts, he’s probably not going to be a lottery pick, and there’s a good chance he won’t go in the top 20. If he stays one more year, he can enter the draft next year in what looks to be a much weaker small forward class, and will probably end up going in the top 10, making himself a lot more money. Stay in school, Thad.

By JMar

April 24, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this

I think it’s a great idea for him to go pro - next year Billy Knight might not be in the league to draft him too early.

By Just_a_fan

April 24, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this

Young was good occasionally, but he disappeared more often than he stepped up. I think he is making a mistake, but if he was going to play next year with the same lack of intensity and lack of consistency that he displayed this year, he will not be missed. We would have been frustrated again by potential talent that was not realized on the floor.

I don’t know if the scholarship is an equitable payment for the money made by the program. I think it becomes more fair the longer the player stays in school. If you have a four year degree from Georgia Tech, that has a lot of value, much more than if you only stay one or two years. However, the opportunity to showcase your talents in the ACC, even for just one year before going on to the NBA, also has a lot of value. It’s difficult to make a firm and fair analysis as to who benefits and who might be taken advantage of.

In any event, my personal choice would be kids who wanted to be on the floor, and who played hard all year, whether they stayed one year or all four. They earn much more than a scholarship or a chance at the NBA, they earn our respect.

That’s my $0.02.

By jCan

April 24, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this

Yes. Make them payback the scholarship monies. These college players don’t play for free. They get room, board, all textbooks and fees paid and monthly expense. They can choose any field of study they wish —-for free!!!

By duane Allman

April 24, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this

I don’t blame anyone for going for the money but in my opinion he is not ready. His skills were not good enough to elevate his team. I think he only played as much as he did because Paul Hewatt promised him playing time. What positition does he play? What skill is NBA ready? Awnsers:Don’t know and none.

By Andy Vodopia

May 1, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

He is making a big mistake. I watched most of the games and never saw him dominate like Durant and Oden. Very inconsistent also. This may be the craziest statement made but I think if he stayed he might be able to play shooting guard in the NBA. He’s that quick but no where near physical enough to play even a small forward. I also think Crittendon was the better of the two but he also needs a another year. These guys averaged a dozen points in college. Do they think these numbers will go up in the pro’s?