Picture this: it's the late 90s, and Chris Carrawell is playing for a top-ranked Duke basketball team. They're dominating their opponents, with a roster that boasts NBA talent. But there's one player on the team who catches everyone's attention, even in limited minutes. That player is Corey Maggette, a freshman with a flair for the dramatic.
Now, in those days, it was expected for talented players like Maggette to stay in college for multiple seasons and play a starring role on a championship-contending team. But Maggette had other plans. He became Duke's first 'one-and-done' player, leaving after just one year to enter the NBA draft. Carrawell recalls being a little surprised by Maggette's decision at the time.
Fast forward 20 years, and Carrawell finds himself back at his alma mater as an assistant coach. This time, he witnesses the spectacle of Zion Williamson's lone season at Duke, where he becomes a household name and a superstar. But it's not just Zion – college basketball is now filled with these one-and-done players who make a brief but impactful appearance before heading off to the NBA.
Carrawell reflects on the change and says, 'When I come back 20 years later, now it was like that was the norm, and that's how we recruited.' And it's not difficult to understand why. Teams with these one-and-done talents often stay near the top of the rankings, and their presence has a significant impact on a team's title chances come March.
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the AP men's basketball poll, we see how these one-and-done players have made their mark. Since 2006, there have been 107 one-and-done players selected in the NBA draft lottery. And guess what? Almost two-thirds of them played for teams that cracked the top 10 in the AP poll. Not only that, but 34 of these players had teams that reached the coveted No. 1 spot.
The success doesn't end there. Seven of these talented individuals went on to become the top overall draft pick: names like Greg Oden, Derrick Rose, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and of course, Zion Williamson.
It's incredibly exciting to think about the impact these players can have on a team. ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock highlights the anticipation, saying, 'You go year by year and see these guys and wonder what their impact is going to be on great programs and great teams. Or are they just going to kind of fade and show flashes of brilliance but not win at a high enough level?'
However, it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the one-and-done players. Some have missed out on the NCAA Tournament or played for struggling teams. So, what does the future hold for these players? Well, it's about to get trickier. The transfer-portal era allows players to move more freely between schools, and college athletes can now profit from endorsements using their name, image, and likeness, creating financial incentives to stay in college longer.
This trend is making college basketball a more mature sport, with many teams now preferring experienced talent over a handful of elite NBA prospects. Luke Hancock notes, 'I think it's made it tougher for one-and-dones to really have the same impact, whether they're drafted high or not.'
But not everyone is changing their approach. Legendary coach John Calipari, who has had his fair share of one-and-done players at Kentucky, remains committed to recruiting the best talents while developing them. Calipari says, 'I'm not changing the philosophy of recruiting the very best players in the country. Teach them. Help develop them as individuals and then bring a team together over the year that has a chance to compete for national titles.'
At Duke, where Carrawell is now an assistant coach under Jon Scheyer's leadership, the tradition of attracting big-name recruits continues. Even though these players often provide only one season's worth of highlights in the famed Cameron Indoor Stadium, Carrawell believes in the importance of a mix of talent and experience. He says, 'I'm not saying it can't happen... But I need a mix of some talented sophomores, a junior, a grizzly senior. You need that.'
As college basketball evolves and the prospect of one-and-done players remains uncertain, one fact remains: these talented individuals bring a level of excitement and anticipation to the game. The impact they make on great programs and teams is a topic of endless debate and speculation.
So as we move forward, let's appreciate the journey of these one-and-done players, the talent they possess, and the lasting impressions they leave on the college basketball landscape. Who knows what the future holds for them, but one thing is for sure – they're here to make their mark, even if it's just for a fleeting moment.
