2011 NBA Draft: Why Kemba Walker Shouldn't Stay at UConn for Another Year
Now that the UConn Huskies have won the NCAA championship, there isn’t much left for Kemba Walker to accomplish in his collegiate career.
But arguably the nation’s best college player doesn’t know if he’s going to go pro or not. According to a NY Daily News article, Walker has hinted at returning to UConn for one more season.
With nothing left to prove in the basketball world, Walker’s education would be the main reason he stays. The only problem is that Walker is graduating early.
He’d have to enroll as a graduate student if he planned to play again next season. In the eyes of basketball fans, that’s a moot point, since BS or MS Walker still has a year of eligibility left.
While it’s hard to rail against a student-athlete wanting to return to college, the time is now for Walker to make the jump to the pros. A decision not to go to the NBA could severely impact his future.
Here are the reasons to go pro.
His Stock Cannot Get Any Higher
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Walker may not have won player the Wooden award, which went to Jimmer Fredette, but his stock is clearly at an all-time high right now.
In order to capitalize on of his fame, declaring for the draft would be the smartest thing for Walker to do.
Despite being able to most likely secure a better draft slot, Walker can use his fame to sell tickets and generate interest for the team who drafts him.
Unforeseen Injury
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One of the drawbacks to remaining in school is that it leads to another year as an amateur, where anything can happen.
A freak injury could wipe out Walker’s season, which wouldn’t only hurt his draft value, but it would hurt his potential production, too, based off of missing X amount of games during the season.
Nothing Left to Prove
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After you win a national title, there really isn’t anything left to prove at the collegiate level.
Walker may have interest in vying for the National Player of the Year honors, but I’m sure he’d tell you that is a secondary goal to accomplish and championships are all that matter.
He’s got his championship. It’s time to move on.
An Off-Year
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Regardless of a freak injury or anything that severe, what if Walker just isn’t as good as he was this season?
Nothing is worse for a potential lottery pick than to stay in school and diminish his value by exposing newfound weaknesses, etc.
Declaring now works as an insurance policy for Walker. He may not be a future MVP, but by not exposing himself in college, he sets himself up for more benefits in the pros.
One Year Older
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I personally will never understand why some teams will waste a pick on an 18-year-old with potential over a 21-year-old with established skills.
Such is the case in the NBA.
Tack on another year to Kemba’s age and someone will balk at that and opt for a younger player with more potential.
Perry Jones could be the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, but it will take him three years to make an impact, while Walker would produce immediately.
Show Me the Money
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Let’s be honest—a Big East basketball player makes a decent salary, but it’s nowhere near the amount a pro makes. Oh, and it’s a legit income in the NBA, too.
The sooner anyone goes to the pros, the sooner they can begin to cash in and prepare for their future.
It may not be the most noble of moves, but it is practical and realistic. If Walker declares now, he can have the assurance of security, and that would go a long way towards erasing any doubt if he was to stay in school.
