Nearly 20 years ago, one of the biggest and most notable rule changes in NBA history went into effect as the league’s collective bargaining agreement prohibited high school seniors from entering the NBA Draft. The rule stated that in order to be eligible for entry into the draft, players must be at least 19 years old and at least one year removed from high school graduation.
Fast-forward to the present day, and the term “one-and-done” has become one of the most popular phrases in the sport – referencing a player who played one season in college and then left for the NBA. The list of top one-and-done stars over the past 20 years includes the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, and now, Duke standout Cooper Flagg, who appears headed in that same direction.
But what if the one-and-done rule was always in place and high school players were never allowed to make the jump straight to the NBA?
Our team at FOX Sports dug into some research to determine where we believe the top high school-to-NBA players would have ended up if they were required to attend college.
(Disclaimer: This list is based on supported research as to where each player was considering attending college before making the decision to jump to the NBA. The list excludes players who opted to play in Europe or the G-League instead of college. It also excludes overseas players. The ranking of these players, 10-1, is based on their respective NBA playing careers).
10. Tyson Chandler: UCLA
Chandler was a prep superstar at Dominguez High School in Compton, CA, a school known for producing multiple NBA players. He was named a Parade All-American and was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game during his senior season. He grew up as a UCLA fan, spending time with former NBA Bruins Baron Davis and Earl Watson during their time in Westwood. Chandler also reportedly considered Arizona, Syracuse, Memphis, Kentucky and Michigan, but he ended up skipping college and declaring for the 2001 NBA Draft, where he was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to the Chicago Bulls.
O’Neal was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, which means it should serve as no surprise that the former high school hoops standout favored the Gamecocks had he attended college. However, after a standout senior season at Eau Claire High School in which he was named a McDonald’s All-American, O’Neal made the decision to skip college and enter the NBA. In a…
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