Everybody Leaves

I have said thousands of times that every college athlete (especialy basketball player) who could possibly leave school early to go pro, will (expect for the occassional Tyler Hansbrough).
Even when they say they're staying, don't believe them.
So when it Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris all declared for the NBA draft I wasn't surprised. Ok, maybe Devendorf surprised me a little.
But here's why:
They want the money. They believe they'll get drafted higher than reasonable predictions say they will. And they believe even if they get drafted lower, they believe they'll play their way into the league. They dont take previous failures as cautionary tales. They know Donte Greene is lazy and doesnt work hard or play defense. They're going to be different.

In the case of these three Orange I think they are all making the right decision.

Jonny Flynn has all the skills to be a good NBA point guard and will likely be a mid-first round pick. His only problem is size, and one year is not going to change that. He'll develop his game faster under a good NBA coach than a shitty college coach. How can he work on his defense playing a 2-3? How can he show his late game decision making when all Boeheim ever lets him do is dribble out the clock with a 1 point lead and 5 minutes left?

Paul Harris is making the right decision because Boeheim hates him and the feeling is mutual. Boeheim has already said incoming transfer Wes Johnson will cut into Harris's minutes next year if he were to stay. Boeheim and Harris had a meeting and came to the mutual decision that Harris should leave. Harris also has two kids and could use the money. He has no position in the NBA and I don't expect him to get drafted.

Eric Devendorf probably has an even less likely NBA future than Harris. But like Harris Boeheim basically told him to leave. And Devendorf has been at school four years and is on track to graduate. Like Harris he has a kid who could use some financial support. Unlike Harris, he is tired of working his ass of at a school who makes millions of his performance yet suspends him when some dumb bitch fabricates a story about him.

Maybe this episode will teach you not to believe players when they say they are coming back to school. And while we're on the topic, don't expect any of these guys to come back if they don't like their draft position, or quite possibly, don't get drafted at all.