Ashton Gibbs is a perfect example of why testing the waters is a good thing

The trend that has become prevalent this spring has been star underclassmen returning to school.

Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and Tyler Zeller all came back to campus and created a monster in Chapel Hill. Jared Sullinger's return to Columbus and Perry Jones' return to Waco have immediately vaulted next year's outlook Ohio State and Baylor, respectively. With kids like Will Barton, John Jenkins, Renardo Sidney, William Buford, and Thomas Robinson all coming back to campus as well, it has created a talent level in college basketball that we have not seen in quite some time.

Ashton Gibbs is planning on bucking that trend. Pitt's junior guard is deadset on turning pro, telling CBSSports.com's Jeff Borzello that he is 100% staying in the draft.

"When I entered the draft, I entered to get drafted," Gibbs told Borzello.


He reiterated that fact to SNY's Adam Zagoria, texting "I feel I can play at the NBA level. I'm looking forward to the challenge". On Tuesday morning, Dan Wolken of The Daily wrote that Gibbs was telling agents that he was interviewing that he was committed to turning pro. Gibbs did, however, leave himself an out, telling Borzello that he would return if he got bad news from the NBA "as far as not going first or second round".

Unfortunately, it seems likely that Gibbs will get bad news from the NBA. Most mock drafts don't have him being selected with one of the 60 picks despite how weak this year's draft. Draft Express ranks Gibbs as the 27th best junior, right behind Northwestern's John Shurna and Missouri's Laurence Bowers.

Ashton Gibbs is a very, very good basketball player. He'll be an all-american next season should he decide to return to Pitt.

But the problem is that he just does not have the physical tools to warrant a first round pick. He's generously listed at 6'2", but he's not a point guard. He's not all that quick or explosive. He can't create his own shot off the dribble. But he is a lights-out shooter and quite possibly the best player in the country at coming off of screens. In fact, he was so good at creating an open jumper for himself by using off-the-ball screens that Pitt would call his number at the end of a clock.

I do not believe that Gibbs is an NBA player. Most agree with me.

Which is why most people are criticizing Gibbs' statements that he will be remaining in the draft.

Me?

I want Gibbs to stay at Pitt. I want to see him become an all-american and 20 ppg scorer for the Panthers. I want to see him try and lead this team to that elusive Final Four. With Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown, and Gary McGhee all graduating, Gibbs will be an even more vital piece to Jamie Dixon's puzzle.

But my opinion is irrelevant. What I want doesn't matter.

If Gibbs and his family feel that it is in their best interests for Ashton to leave the college ranks, then who am I too judge? Who am I to tell a kid not to pursue his dreams? If he ends up regretting this decision, he's the one that will have to live with it. Not us. We'll slowly but surely start to forget about him if his name is still in the draft on May 9th.

If anything, Gibbs is the poster boy for why the NCAA should extend, not eliminate, the testing-the-waters process. What the NCAA wants to do is move the deadline to declare for the NBA Draft to a week after the national title game and make the decision final. If that was the case this year, Gibbs would already be gone. He wouldn't have the chance to talk to NBA scouts and front office types. He wouldn't have a chance to evaluate his NBA Draft standing and determine whether or not he actually is prepared for the next level.

And he wouldn't have a chance to hear the NBA folks recommend that he return to school, which is precisely what Gibbs is on record as saying would change his mind about the NBA Draft. Even this year, Gibbs will have all of 10 days -- from April 29th-May 8th -- to get feedback on a life-changing decision.

Keeping players like Gibbs informed of their draft standing and in school instead of the D-League or Europe is good for the NCAA.

Its too bad the head coaches in the ACC don't see it that way.