Time for a little make believe.

You’re an NBA scout. The future of your franchise’s success, as well as your own employment, rides on your ability to evaluate talent and determine if they have what it takes to play in the pros.

Then these stats roll across your desk. A 6’9, 215-pound athlete who can play both guard and forward. Last season he averaged 25 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 swats a game. His team finished #8 in the nation, according to the USA Today /CNN poll, and he is a former McDonald’s All-American.

Decision seems like a no brainer. If by some miracle of luck this guy is still around when your team picks, you grab him in a second. Right?

One little problem though. He’s 17 and he’s never played a second of collegiate basketball. This player is not only real, he’s not alone.

On Tuesday, March 11 Tracy McGrady of Mount Zion Christian Academy High School became the latest participant in a recent, disturbing trend: attempting to bypass college and go directly to the pros.

McGrady will be attempting to follow in the footsteps of several other young athletes.

Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Jermaine O’Neal of the Trailblazers made the move directly to the pros last year.

Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves jumped to the pros the year before and is blamed by many for the current rush of high schoolers to the NBA.

But you can’t blame Garnett for everything. No, Garnett isn’t even the first high schooler to come straight to pro ball. Hall of famer Moses Malone skipped college and so did current superstar Shawn Kemp.

So why shouldn’t these kids try their luck? If drafted you’re instantly a millionaire and statistics say that the NBA favors underclassmen — or maybe not.

Last season 36 underclassmen declared themselves eligible for the draft. Twenty were drafted. Not much over 50%.

Also it’s becoming obvious that high school stats don’t hold up very well under the microscope of NBA play.

Bryant and O’Neal had similar high school stats to McGrady. Now Bryant is averaging 6.5 points per game, and he’s the high scorer of the two.

And then there’s the Taj McDavid story. Taj was a high schooler who made himself eligible for last year’s draft. He wasn’t picked. But because he hired an agent he now can’t play college ball either. His basketball dreams are over.

No, I think that high schoolers and underclassmen athletes alike should finish college. Get a degree and more experience.

A lot of people probably disagree with me. Well, I’d like you to keep a few things in mind.

The majority of underclassmen coming out do not show overnight success, and often have promising futures in basketball ended by coming out early. Corliss Williamson, Scottie Thurmon, Donyell Marshall; the list is endless.

Also keep in mind how supportive of early entry you’d be if ISU’s first McDonald’s All-American, forward Marcus Fizer, ever decides to go pro early. Now there’s some food for thought.

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KEVIN PETTY is a senior in journalism and mass communication fromCarlisle.