Jeffries made a mistake

Playing for the National Basketball Association is the goal of many basketball players. It's a good goal, but one that must carefully be considered.\nIU's star forward Jared Jeffries announced his decision Monday afternoon to leave after his sophomore year so he could enter the NBA draft. IU basketball reached a new plateau this year, but yesterday it suffered a major setback. Not only is the team losing a critical player, but Jeffries also seems to have forgotten mistakes of the past.\n In making his decision, Jeffries said he prayed and consulted with his family and coaching staff. At a news conference yesterday, he said it is in his "best interest" to skip his college eligibility and enter the draft.\n But why not wait another year?\n In the NBA, Jeffries probably won't see much playing time and won't be the star he is at IU. At the championship game against Maryland, Jeffries battled against "large and skillful" players and scored under 10 points.\n He made it abundantly clear that night that he needed more time to mature and to learn about basketball. And the fact that he was so dominated by bigger and stronger players proved he needs more time in the weight room.\nJeffries could accomplish both by spending another year at IU. Instead, he has decided to work on his game in the NBA.\nLast year, junior forward Kirk Haston entered the draft before completing his degree and eligibility at IU. In the 2001-2002 season, Haston, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets, is averaging a mere five minutes of playing time in the 15 games he has played in this season.\nHaston, who in his three-year IU career scored 1,406 points, now spends most of his time on the bench.\nJeffries played about 33 minutes per game this year. He won't get anywhere near those minutes next year.\nJared, your team and Hoosier fans hoped you would stay and help bring a national title to Bloomington next year. Your decision will break the hearts of Hoosier fans across the nation, but it's your decision. And we grudgingly accept it.\nHopefully you will be watching your former teammates play in the national championship game again next year. And hopefully you won't be riding the NBA bench.\nJared, you're one of many talented college athletes who leave early for the NBA, but we hoped you'd resist temptation. The money, promise and fame have made early exits a reality of college basketball. But that doesn't make it right.\nAfter all, it was senior leadership that brought Maryland its first national championship.\nStaff vote: 10 - 3 - 0\nyes - no - abstain