March Madness has come and gone yet again. And with it comes and goes the collegiate basketball careers of several student athletes.

But not all of them call it quits because they’re seniors and it’s time for them to graduate. No, a lot of athletes leave the hardwood of their schools, trading in their school-colored jerseys in order to become a part of the NBA. You could call them “one-and-dones.”

“One-and-dones” are collegiate athletes whose sole purpose of going to school is to make it to the NBA.

So why do they even bother going to college?

The reason they bother is because they have to, thanks to the "One-and-Done" rule.<br/>This rule keeps high school students from jumping immediately into the NBA, making them complete at least one year of college first.This rule keeps high school students from jumping immediately into the NBA, making them complete at least one year of college first.
This rule keeps high school students from jumping immediately into the NBA, making them complete at least one year of college first.

Michael Beasley did just that. He went to play basketball for Kansas State in 2007. The very next year he left to play for the NBA. Of course he played great basketball, but it takes more than slam dunks and an insanely high three-point percentage to make a great basketball player. You have to have skills on and off the court. But his off-the-court skills could be questionable.

Before Beasley even started his career at K-State, he was already making comments about his new rival, the University of Kansas. You all probably remember. He said something concerning them beating KU anywhere, including Africa.

Now I’m all for a KU loss, but some comments, especially cocky ones like that, probably should be kept to oneself. But there’s more.

I can still remember seeing bits and pieces of the press conference where he announced his decision to leave K-State and the college world for the NBA.

I remembered how he gave off an unprofessional, almost child-like persona, laughing through what should have been a serious statement. An oral communications class probably would’ve come in handy in a situation like that.

Now, I’m not saying Beasley’s initial intent was to go to college for a year, then sign up for the NBA draft as soon as he could, but surely he had to think the NBA would give him something better than a higher education could.

And between all the games and practices, it seems like a lot of athletes who go to school for sports would have a hard time getting an education anyway. Let alone if they really cared about learning in the first place.

If all these basketball players want to try going pro without going to college – good – more power to them. My only hope is that in going pro straight out of high school they wouldn’t crash and burn along the way.

But if you make the commitment to go one year, why not make the commitment to stay until you graduate? Graduating is a great accomplishment. And there will always be time for the NBA. But a basketball star can only have so much March Madness.