By Teddy Simpson ’13, Staff Writer

Over the past few years, a prominent trend has arisen in college basketball. Commonly known as “one and done,” the nation’s best players leave school after their freshman season and head straight for the NBA. With this trend came a cycle. Schools would recruit the top talent in the high school game. These players would carry the team for a year. Then, once the NCAA Tournament was over, no matter the result, the team would wipe the slate clean and begin recruiting again.

Many regard Kentucky’s Head Coach, John Calipari, as one of the most savvy and successful recruiters in the nation. He has turned this “one and done” cycle into an art form. In the last two years alone, Calipari has produced seven players who went to the NBA (the three stars from this year’s team have declared for the draft, although they have not technically been drafted yet.)

This year however, we have witnessed an interesting reversal of this trend. A horde of highly regarded players have decided that the NBA can wait, opting to return for the 2011-12 college basketball season. The University of North Carolina’s entire starting lineup will return, thanks to superstar freshman Harrison Barnes, junior center Tyler Zeller, and the lanky sophomore John Henson. With the core of the team coming back, UNC should be the pre-season favorite to win the National Title March 2012.

Ohio State should also be a threat next season as star power forward Jared Sullinger, last year’s National Freshman of the Year, is returning for his sophomore season. Look for him to be a National Player of the Year candidate next year. Additionally, two key players for Kansas University are returning: starting point guard Tyshawn Taylor and key reserve Thomas Robinson. Both have outstanding potential and will lead the Jayhawks to further success. Other would-be NBA prospects that have decided to return to college include Perry Jones of Baylor, Will Barton of Memphis, JaMychal Green of Alabama, Renardo Sidney of Mississippi State, Maalik Wayns of Villanova, and John Jenkins of Vanderbilt. All of these players hope to increase their draft stock by staying another year.

Perhaps this “one and done” trend has come to an end. It will probably take a few more years for it to fade out completely, but progress has been made. Kentucky’s Calipari will most likely continue his heavy recruiting, which will come as no surprise to anybody. But hopefully, other teams and their players will realize that staying in school has numerous benefits. Star Newark Academy point guard, Zaire Williams ’12, stated, “I think that’s the smartest thing to do: not only do you get another year of education which would help to get a job if you get injured, but you also get another year of college basketball experience which will ultimately help you when you do decide to enter the league.”

In playing another year of college ball, the players’ games will mature. The college game is coached in a far more traditional, old-fashioned style. The notion that basketball is a team sport will be reinforced, and that late in March, when everything is on the line, it will take every member of the squad to reach the goal: an NCAA Championship. Athletes play sports because they love it, not to jump into fame or to make millions of dollars.

Another great reason to stay is the benefits of completing a college education. Most of the stars at the college level receive scholarships to play, so why not stay? Why not develop into a well-rounded young man? It is a little sad but it seems that the men who know that the NBA is where they are headed just go there with their heads down, marching on the most direct path. They don’t see the huge opportunities that come with staying. An education will help them enormously even if they do achieve their goal of playing in the pros. Being an educated, respectable professional athlete gives the young public somebody to look up to. “If it were me, I would stay in college as long as possible mainly because my ultimate goal isn’t to play in the NBA but instead play overseas for a while, then come back and be an architect. So I would need the education!” said Williams. Like Williams, most athletes aspire to be involved in other fields after their athletic career, and an education is needed to do so.

The collegiate athletes have considered the pros and cons of staying in school, and are finally realizing that there are more pros to remaining on campus and resisting the pull of fame and wealth. High schools students, like those at Newark Academy, should learn from them and pick colleges for their academics rather than athletics. Many high school students are overwhelmed by the recruitment process and often make a mistake in choosing the best college for them. This year, many of the student athletes have chosen boldly to further their college educations and have set strong examples for other young student athletes on the rise.