In this era of college basketball in which stars don't stick around long enough for fans to grow attached to them, most one-and-dones wind up falling into one of three categories.
Some are Carmelo Anthony or John Wall, transcendent stars who make such an impact in their lone season that they're forever revered by fans despite the short time they spent on campus. Others are Derrick Favors or Avery Bradley, good players who left too quickly to accomplish anything truly memorable in college. And then there are the O.J. Mayos or DeAndre Jordans, guys who either cause too much trouble or don't blossom quickly enough to even be worth their scholarship money.
Josh Selby clearly belongs in that final category.
The Kansas freshman announced via Twitter on Thursday afternoon that he was forgoing his final three years of college and entering the NBA draft, the final act in a college career that was brief yet disappointing.
Hailed as the No. 1 recruit in the nation and the spark plug Kansas needed to contend for the national championship, Selby missed the first half of the season as a result of accepting improper benefits and then never lived up to expectations afterward. Selby averaged 7.9 points, shot 37 percent from the field and had almost twice as many turnovers as assists, not exactly numbers that typically suggest NBA stardom.
Selby did not attend classes the past two weeks or show up to Kansas' season-ending team banquet. Instead, he opted to train at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas to better gauge his draft stock.
"I want to thank all the ku fans who supported me through everything and all the fans who doubting me. I will miss the the fieldhouse," Selby tweeted. "But it's a new journey in my life now. I will not return to Kansas next year. Making my dream a reality. NBA baby."
The good news for Selby is that college success is not necessarily an accurate projector of how a one-and-done will fare in the NBA.
Center DeAndre Jordan didn't even start in his lone season at Texas A&M, yet he appears to have a long career ahead of him in the NBA. Jrue Holiday, Gerald Wallace and Zach Randolph are also former one-and-dones who didn't exactly light up college basketball in their lone season.
Selby is projected as a late first-round pick right now. Wherever he gets drafted, let's hope he leaves a better pro legacy than his college one.
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