academics have changed dramatically. It is hard to fit a high school student athlete into the four-year box of an undergraduate degree/eligibility anymore. Just some random, scattered thoughts. Lew Alcindor couldn't play varsity his freshmen year. LeBron James was good enough to play D1 basketball when he was a sophomore in high school. Maybe earlier. Kids can finish their high school requirements earlier these days. A 4-year college degree isn't respected or valued as it once was. The disconnect between academics and athletics is as large as ever. But the gap has always been there, from Eric Dickerson's Trans-Am to Scam Newton's bag man. Most Big time players value payment over a scholarship. Many high school athletes (and their parents, clubs, and high school teams) have put in much more money and time into the honing of skills needed to succeed at the college level. NIL money can keep someone playing longer (and staying in college). I don't see this as a bad thing. Programs and their fan bases want to WIN. For those following football and basketball at the highest level, this is a reality. I mentioned below that I think there should be no age (or year) limits as long as a player is enrolled full time and pursuing a degree. ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 4/17/2025, 12:10:29 PM