One-And-Done Freshmen Come From All Walks
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By DERON SNYDER
Is coach Mike Krzyzewski running a basketball factory at Duke? Has he turned his back on education? Are his Blue Devils better role models than John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats?
The correct answers are yes, no and no, respectively.
But (don’t look now), Duke has produced a one-and-done player for the second consecutive season. Freshman Austin Rivers is leaving for the NBA draft.
“Duke has prepared me for the challenges that are ahead both on and off the court,” Rivers said in a statement issued by the school. “I have learned so much from the coaching staff and my teammates that will help me succeed at the next level.”
A certain stereotype often is attached to one-and-dones, much like the cliched image of preps-to-pros who preceded them until 2006. They all hail from poor families and they’re poor students, possessing poor character and judgment. Basketball is their only “ticket” out, as they neither appreciate college degrees nor have the intellect to obtain one.
