John Calipari is trying to help the NBPA prepare for the end of the one-and-done era

There are many people out there that will tell you that John Calipari invented the one-and-done rule. Those people are wrong, but he was the first to take advantage of it from both a basketball and program marketing standpoint.

As the NBA seems to be quickly moving toward changing their eligibility rules, Calipari is again ahead of the curve in trying to manipulate the rules...for the sake of the players.

Last week, Calipari met with representatives from the NBA’s Players Association. Assuming players will now be permitted to enter the NBA straight out of high school, Coach Cal is pushing for a high school NBA combine for players during their junior year.

“The players and the families need to know – here are the ones who should be thinking about the NBA, and here are the ones who should not,” Calipari said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

A high school combine could really help players understand where they should put their focus in deciding about their future.

A guy who is a lock to be drafted right out of high school could hire and agent, get training support, and start capitalizing on his likeness.

For players that are told they need a few more years to develop, they would no longer have the pressure of the NBA and could focus on their college recruitment.

If a system like this is not put into place when the eligibility rules change, the NCAA will have its hands full trying to regulate recruitment and the amateurism of high school athletes being courted by the NBA. So it seems prudent for procedures to be put in place to streamline the process.

No matter what systems evolve from the pending rule changes, expect Cal to take full advantage or them to get the best available players. It’s kind of his thing.