NBA now looking at 2021 as the end for one and done rule

It’s no secret that the end of the one and done era is coming. The question remains, however, as to when exactly it will end.

Earlier this year, reports surfaced that 2020 was likely the year it could end. Now, the league just sent out a memo to all 30 teams that 2021 looks like the earliest it could end.

Per ESPN:

The NBA on Friday sent teams a memo indicating that “eligibility rules” for the draft may shift as early as 2021 (but no earlier) as the league reviews issues “related to player development and the corruption investigation in college basketball,” according to a copy of the memo obtained by ESPN.

This is significant for the Kentucky Wildcats, who always have at least a few recruits that end up being one and dones. Guys like Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Julius Randle, Jamal Murray and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could have easily skipped college and been high NBA Draft picks.

Had the rule ended in 2020, we could have seen UK targets like R.J. Hampton, N’Faly Dante and Josh Christopher head straight to the pros, but now, it looks like they’ll be on a college campus for at least one season.

It’s still far too early to project the players in the 2021 recruiting class could end up being good enough to jump from high school to the pros, but you can bet John Calipari will be more careful of who he recruits then if he thinks they could ultimately pass on college.