NBA Draft 2012: Quincy Miller and Dominique Ferguson Prove Powerlessness of NCAA

The NCAA has the "power" to do all manner of things—force "student-athletes" to sit out a year if they want to transfer, impose sanctions on rule-breaking schools, fill its own coffers and those of its cronies with TV deals for tournaments and bowl games.

But, apparently, it can't dictate how and when college basketball players make the jump to the NBA.

That much was made clear on Wednesday, when Baylor's Quincy Miller and Florida International's Dominique Ferguson both declared for the 2012 NBA Draft.

More than two weeks after the April 10th declaration deadline set by the NCAA, a deadline that Kentucky coach John Calipari practically laughed off before the entire starting five of the 2012 national champions jumped into the draft pool on April 17th.

Nice try, NCAA, but the only date that really matters is April 29th, the NBA's deadline. College basketball's governing body can't keep Quincy Miller from taking more time to decide whether he wants to be a first-round pick this year or next, or to prevent Dominique Ferguson from bailing on FIU after the school refused to allow him to transfer in the wake of Isiah Thomas' firing.

Nor should it be able to. The NBA is and should be its own gatekeeper. If the league wants to make kids wait a year—be it in college, prep school or overseas—before they can enter the draft, then so be it.

Frankly, the NCAA shouldn't be allowed or restrict any player movement whatsoever. If the organization is serious about treating its most valuable assets as students first and foremost, then it must give those particular students the same freedom to switch schools or pursue professional employment without penalty that is afforded any other student.

But that's another fight for another day. For now, we can all take comfort in knowing that the NCAA is a clumsy, flimsy facade, and their show of power is built on buffoonery that can't quite withstand the whims of teenagers.

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