2008 Woodie Awards
The little-known Randolph Morris effect
Steve Appelhans
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Lifestyle
Think about this question carefully…
Who is the most influential player to enter the NBA Draft in the past twenty years?
Kobe? LeBron? Renaldo Balkman?
No, no, no-you have to think less talented than that. I know what you are asking, and my answer is: yes … even less talented than Balkman.
Future NBA journeyman and current New York Knicks bench-warmer Randolph Morris is the solution.
Let's take a brief stroll down memory lane to rekindle Morris's story. Back in 2005, the highly-touted 6'11" freshman posted modest stats, averaging 9 points and 4 boards on a very good Kentucky team. Falsely believing that NBA teams would consider selecting him for his potential and large stature, Morris succumbed to the lure of a professional basketball player lifestyle by entering that year's draft.
Big mistake. Or was it?
Of all the names called out that draft day, Randolph Morris was not one of them. It definitely seemed like Morris, a former McDonald's High School All-American, had overplayed his hand and would be forced overseas to begin his career. However, the most infamous of draft loopholes allowed Morris to return to school because he had not signed with an agent. Granted, he was no longer draft-eligible, but he could continue playing at Kentucky while becoming an NBA free agent.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
After serving a minor suspension put forth by Kentucky, Morris went on to play two additional seasons for the Wildcats before becoming the first player to complete a college season then immediately sign with an NBA team (the New York Knicks, naturally) and finish their season with them. That's where Morris's journey ends-at least for now-but it was only the beginning of what I like to call the Randolph Morris Effect.
The college basketball nation took notice, resulting in ever increasing numbers of underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft without bringing an agent on board. The players love their newfound flexibility-without an agent, they can declare for the draft and withdraw prior to it if their status isn't to their liking and return to school for another season; or they can "pull a Morris"-take their chances in the draft, hope the hype is legitimate and their name will be called, all the while knowing their college eligibility is still intact if they are not selected.
Who is the most influential player to enter the NBA Draft in the past twenty years?
Kobe? LeBron? Renaldo Balkman?
No, no, no-you have to think less talented than that. I know what you are asking, and my answer is: yes … even less talented than Balkman.
Future NBA journeyman and current New York Knicks bench-warmer Randolph Morris is the solution.
Let's take a brief stroll down memory lane to rekindle Morris's story. Back in 2005, the highly-touted 6'11" freshman posted modest stats, averaging 9 points and 4 boards on a very good Kentucky team. Falsely believing that NBA teams would consider selecting him for his potential and large stature, Morris succumbed to the lure of a professional basketball player lifestyle by entering that year's draft.
Big mistake. Or was it?
Of all the names called out that draft day, Randolph Morris was not one of them. It definitely seemed like Morris, a former McDonald's High School All-American, had overplayed his hand and would be forced overseas to begin his career. However, the most infamous of draft loopholes allowed Morris to return to school because he had not signed with an agent. Granted, he was no longer draft-eligible, but he could continue playing at Kentucky while becoming an NBA free agent.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
After serving a minor suspension put forth by Kentucky, Morris went on to play two additional seasons for the Wildcats before becoming the first player to complete a college season then immediately sign with an NBA team (the New York Knicks, naturally) and finish their season with them. That's where Morris's journey ends-at least for now-but it was only the beginning of what I like to call the Randolph Morris Effect.
The college basketball nation took notice, resulting in ever increasing numbers of underclassmen declaring for the NBA Draft without bringing an agent on board. The players love their newfound flexibility-without an agent, they can declare for the draft and withdraw prior to it if their status isn't to their liking and return to school for another season; or they can "pull a Morris"-take their chances in the draft, hope the hype is legitimate and their name will be called, all the while knowing their college eligibility is still intact if they are not selected.
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