The one and done rule, a rule that has been implemented by the National Basketball Association to regulate athletes that are in college. The rule states that any athlete that has graduated high school must also complete a minimum of one year in college. This rule has been debated by many sports analysts and coaches, both college and professional. It intrigues me to observe how a topic can seem so trivial, but actually be complex. The one and done rule has developed into the debate that many sports fans know. Watching numerous basketball players take advantage of this rule and then not perform in the professional leagues remains baffling. The one-and-done rule has affected the teams and players that I have come to know and love, but has not affected me personally.  Since I do not play basketball at the collegiate level, I am not affected by this rule. Having grown up right down the street from the renowned basketball program of Duke University, I have come to know basketball like the back of my hand. 

John Calipari, head coach of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, wrote a book on his opinion of the NBA's controversial rule. Calipari believes that the NBA should change the rule to force athletes to attend college for a minimum of two years before declaring the draft. The reason he believes that this should be how the rule is changed is because he thinks that the two years will allow the players to gain a good emotional and physical standing with themselves so that they are prepared for the NBA. The first source's major values and interests are of the players. Calipari believes that the NBA should have taken the student athlete's educations into account before making the one-and-done rule. He believes that they should be balancing school and playing instead of focusing only to play. The credibility of this source is that Calipari is a coach that has been under fire for bringing players to his basketball program just so they can use the one-and-done rule. He speaks out against it attempting to show people his real beliefs on the rule.

The second source comes from an article written about the University of Kentucky's players declaring for the draft following the 2015 NCAA championship game. This article, written by Kyle tucker gives a background and overview of the players whom are leaving the university to join the professional league. The second sources major values and interests are in analyzing those whom leave the program and what the program will be like after the player's departures. The author wants to show the depth that left Kentucky. The credibility of this source is warranted because it is taken from an article in USA Today's sports section. The author covered all Kentucky college sports. He geared his bias toward advocating for Kentucky sports but shows that many of the top programs have similar results with the draft.

The third source proposes an alternative to the one-and-done rule. The source, written by John Feinstein of the Washington Post says that the rule should be changed to being able to declare for the draft immediately after high school, but if an athlete is not drafted, then they must complete all of college before becoming eligible again. Feinstein writes this as a fan, he enjoys basketball and wants to see change. This source's interests and values are in changing the rule to better suit the players whom need improvement in their basketball games. Not only does it potentially heighten their performance on the court, it may also heighten their performance academically. The credibility of this source is warranted because it is written by a notable man whom is a sports columnist with the Washington Post. His job is to analyze all sports and give his opinion, but give it in a way that is factual and appealing to all.

This topic as a topic that has been analyzed and debated since the day it was implemented. Everyone whom watches college and professional basketball has an opinion on this rule, whether it is generalized or specific to certain areas such as a team or players. There are two sides to this rule that both make credible arguments. All the sources that I have found have been in agreement that the rule needs to be changed. They agree that this rule affects each of the players that declare for the draft after one year of college in one way or another. Where the disagreement begins to show is how the rule should be changed. On the one side, Calipari, a coach of one of the top basketball programs in the nation, believes that two years is good enough for players, while Feinstein, a sports columnist, believes that those who are truly special should be drafted immediately and the rest must complete college. The two different perspectives on the argument allow for a greater spectrum of ideas so that I can develop a better argument. My opinion has become very conflicted, but still lies with the common belief that this rule needs to be changed, but more than likely I will follow the arguments of the fans because they are more personable than the coaches. The reason they are more personable is because they are not directly effecting the rule like the coaches.  

Over the course of my research my opinion on the one and done rule has not changed. I still believe that the rule needs to be changed no matter what, but, my opinion on how to change the rule has been influenced by my research. Originally I believed that the rule should be changed to where student athletes would only be eligible to join the NBA after completion of college. Now, I believe that the best way is to have the athletes be eligible after their sophomore year and if they maintain a 3.0 GPA up until that point. Then if they do not meet this criteria or they do not get drafted, then they must wait until they complete college so that they can have a degree in case they do not get drafted. I believe after numerous hours of research and years of watching the sport and the one and done rule take full effect on college basketball that I can argue this subject now. I have read many different articles and researched many different one and done players to determine if the rule is effective or not. My research has drawn me to the conclusion that it is not effective and that it does need to be changed. That is why I believe I can now write and argue my beliefs on this point. 
