Draft Day Disappointments

Okay, so here's the deal.

I'm more sorry for Sam Young than I am DeJuan Blair. Okay, so maybe sorry's not the right word, but I can't think of a better one.

Sam worked hard for four years and really improved every year. He could have listened to people who told him he was good enough to leave a year early, but didn't. Could have believed the hype, but didn't. He stayed focused, determined to make himself better. Unfortunately, things didn't break his way - despite improving his shot significantly this year. Man, I would have hated to see where he would have landed had he left early...he may not even have been picked or been looking at a Mark Blount type situation.

Meanwhile, DeJuan Blair steamrolled through this past season...on a whirlwind journey that seemed to only pick up speed every day. He went from being told he'd be hard pressed to play in the NBA to being told he'd have a good chance at being a lottery pick. Shortly after the season, he declared he'd had enough and claimed he'd read up on the internet boards that he was a possible lottery choice (though I think he may have later said he was joking) and without even waiting, signed a rep immediately - ending his eligibility. It's like Jeff Goldblum said in the Jurassic Park movie - he was so occupied with wondering if he could that he didn't stop to think if he 'should.'

Look, I won't deny anyone the opportunity to go early if you think you're a guaranteed lock to be a first-round pick. But Blair didn't even wait - had he, he might have seen he was slipping on some of those draft boards he claimed he was monitoring. The argument was never that he shouldn't go - it was that he should wait and decide LATER if he should go.

I wish both the best of luck - I just think Blair may have been a bit hasty with this one.