The real problem was that too many guys were leaving just to leave and to jumpstart the clock on the their free agent contract.

It was hammered into kids so hard in AAU ball that kids that had zero business in the NBADL were skipping straight to pro ball. when 35 kids enter the draft early there's obviously a problem.

There's only a handful of guys each year that have the skills and ability to compete in the NBA. It's the NBA's own fault for drafting prospects, you don't draft a Kwame Brown #1. College is designed to teach these kids so much more than how to get through half a year of school by doing the absolute minimum. You're supposed to learn how to life life on your own, manage a bank account, do laundry, study, prepare, master time management, take a few things seriously, become disciplined, learn how to excel in organizations, expand your horizons, meet all sorts of people, learn how to use your brain, assess and criticize, learn what really motivates and interests you, make connections and friends that aren't just hitching on to your star, make connections and friends that can help propel your star, grow as a human being. etc etc

It was awesome seeing rivalries begin at the college level and seeing teams evolve as the players rolled in and out on 4 year cycles. I just hate almost everything about the college game today.