College recruiting and academics

Dana O'Neill has been all over the myriad of sub-subjects involved with college basketball recruiting and academics this month and her latest column is another good one. Yes, some kids do just need the right setting and backing in order to blossom, as she points out.

Her writings brought to mind that there are also a percentage of kids who just aren't going to 'succeed' in school, be it high school or college, for a myriad of factors (yes, often self-inflicted) yet what roundball vocation options are available to them?

Not that such possibilities are anyone's or any organization's obligation because this involves the world of work -- an official exchange of skills for a set salary -- but how many 17, 18 or 19-year-olds are body-and-mind skilled ready for playing overseas, let alone the developmental league?

There is a tendency to jam on these young men but there are plenty of people for who a college setting, even the community college level, is inappropriate and these individuals enter the work force post high school.

But the difference is they aren't competing with adult men but rather in entry level positions. Basketball doesn't have this, at least not tied to also simultaneously performing in the classroom.

All in all, there are so many more serious issues needing addressing but our one size fits all approach post-high school basketball approach is underserving.