One and Done Players....how valuable are they really?

[XUGRAD80]

The NBA collective bargaining agreement of 2006 is considered the beginning of the modern era of 'One and Done" Players. So it stands to reason that when evaluating just how successful teams are that have these players, in regards to reaching the final 4 and/or winning a national championship, we should start there. here's what the statistics show....

from the period of 2006 to 2017

there have been 112 players selected in the NBA draft that were freshman.....true One and Done players

there have been 48 total squads that have played in the final 4 during this period

only 11 of these squads had at least 1 freshman one and done player

but 37 of these squads did NOT have even 1 freshman one and done player

of the 12 national champions crowned from 2006-2017 only 2 had a one and done player...UK in 2012 and Duke in 2015

by the years the teams with NO one and done players that were drafted into the NBA, that made it to the final 4....

2006.....Florida, UCLA, George Mason
2007.....Florida, UCLA, Georgetown
2008.....Kansas, North Carolina
2009.....North Carolina, Michigan State, UConn, Villanova (4)
2010.....Duke, Butler, Michigan State, WVU (4)
2011.....UConn, Butler, VCU
2012.....Kansas, Ohio State, U of Louisville
2013.....U of Louisville, Michigan, 'Cuse, Wichita State (4)
2014.....UConn, Florida, Wisconsin
2015.....Wisconsin, Michigan State
2016.....Villanova, North Carolina, Oklahoma
2017.....North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina
2018.....? (possibly all 4 teams, don't know yet)

Does this mean that One and Done players have no value? Of course not. 75% of the time there is at least 1 school in the final 4 with at least one and done. Having better players makes winning easier, no doubt.

Does it mean that one and done players are NECCESSARY to reach a final 4 or to win a National Championship? I think that the answer to this, based on the actual statistical facts, is NO. 37 out of 48 squads had no one and done players.....77%

Does having a one and done guarantee either a final 4 appearance or a national championship? Absolutely not. If you look at the list of players that were one and done and then drafted into the NBA, you will see dozens and dozens of players that did not make a final 4 appearance. Far more one and done players never made a final 4 appearance than those that did. it's not even close.

Easier...yes

Necessary....no.

Guaranteed......absolutely not.