Five Players Who Should Have Played In College Before Coming To The NBA

Players coming straight out of high school was a very common thing that happend several years ago. Until David Stern made a rule in 2006 that players had to at least play one season in college before coming into the NBA.

This rule seemed to be working very well until Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks decided to play overseas instead of going to college.

But before this rule was around, the NBA received some of its best players right out of high school. Other players that came out of high school probably should have gone to college a couple of years before coming into the NBA.

Lets take a look at five NBA players that this rule would have helped several years ago.

Desagana Diop

Diop went to the Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before entering the NBA Draft. Diop was selected with the Eighth pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Diop played for the Cavs for four years having his best year in the 2003-2004 NBA season averaging 2.3 points per game with 3.6 rebounds per game.

After the 2004-2005 season Diop signed with the Dallas Mavericks. As a member of the Mavericks Diop played the most in his career.

During the 2007-2008 season when Diop was having the best year of his NBA career averaging three points per game with 5.2 rebounds per game he was traded to the New Jersey Nets along with Devin Harris, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, #3 million and a first-round pick in 2008 and 2010 in exchange fo Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright.

Diop played for the Nets for the rest of that season and then signed a deal to go back with the Mavericks. Later that year Diop was traded to the Bobcats.

Diop's career averages include 2.1 points per game and almost four rebounds per game.

Gerald Green

Green went to the Gulf Shores Academy in Texas. Green was selected with the 18th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

Green was a member of the Celtics for two season averaging 10.4 points per game in his second year on the team and also winning the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest. Green was traded in 2007 to the Timberwolves in the Kevin Garnett deal.

During his first season on the Timberwolves, he was traded to the Rockets. After one year on the Rockets Green signed a deal with the Mavericks.

Green is currently a free agent. His career averages include 7.5 points per game with two rebounds per game.

Darius Miles

Miles went to East St. Louis High School in Illinois. Miles was selected with the third pick in the infamous 2000 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Miles would play for the Clippers for two season averaging almost 10 points per game and six rebounds per game. He was then traded to the Cavaliers.

Miles played for the Cavs for a season and a half before being traded to the Trail Blazers. Miles would have his best years in Portland averaging 14 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game in his last year on the team.

Miles missed the next two seasons due to a severely injured knee. In the 2008-2009 NBA season Miles was controversially signed by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Miles is currently a free agent. Miles career averages include 10.1 points per game with almost five rebounds per game.

Shaun Livingston

Livingston went to Peoria Central High School in Illinois. Livingston was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Livingston played for the Clippers for three years having his best year in his final year on the team averaging 9.3 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game.

Livingston suffered a knee injury that later made him miss the whole 2007-2008 NBA season.

Livingston signed with the Heat after his contract ended on the Clippers. He only played for them for four games later being traded to the Grizzlies. Livingston was waived the next day.

Livingston then signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder's D-League team and was picked up by the Thunder after three weeks.

Livingston's career averages include 7.3 points per game, 4.6 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Kwame Brown

Brown went to the Glynn Academy in Georgia. Brown was selected with the first pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.

Brown played for the Wizards for four years averaging almost 11 points per game with 7.4 rebounds per game in his third year on the team, his best NBA season as of now.

After the 2004-2005 season Brown was traded to the Lakers. Brown played for the Lakers for two-and-a-half seasons. In his last season on the Lakers he was traded to the Grizzlies as part of the Pau Gasol deal.

After one year on the Grizzlies Brown signed with the Pistons. Brown's career averages include seven points per game wnd 5.6 rebounds per game.