Why Willie Warren and Da'Sean Butler should be a warning

While its true that I have never been a fan of the one-and-done rule in college basketball, it was because I hate what it is doing to the collegiate game. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Xavier Henry. These guys never needed to be in college, and more than likely their six month appearance will end up hurting the school and team they played for.

But that doesn't mean that they aren't doing the right thing by going pro.

These kids aren't going to college to get educated as a doctor or an economist, they are going to school to become a professional basketball player. And if the best way to maximize their earning potential is to leave school as a freshman or a sophomore, than so be it. Who am I to stand in the way of a kid trying to profit off his talents?

And this year, more than ever, we have evidence that really supports making the decision to strike when the iron is hot.

Take a look at Da'Sean Butler. Butler had a phenomenal season, and created enough interest that there was a chance he could sneak his way into the back of the first round come June. But during the Final Four, Butler shredded his knee, an injury that is serious enough to possibly knock him out of the NBA Draft all together.

What if this injury had happened to a guy like Cole Aldrich, or Devin Ebanks, or Craig Brackins; someone that could have been a first round pick, and possibly a high first round pick? Butler is likely going to lose a bunch of money as a result of this injury, but that was all money he earned this season with a good year. It will only be a matter of time before a kid that could have been a lottery pick has a devastating, career-altering injury after deciding to return to school. (Think about how close that was to being Evan Turner this year.)

Then think about Willie Warren. Warren seemed like a sure-fire top 10 pick after his freshman season. But this year Warren's stock has fallen as much as I've ever seen a player's stock fall. Losses early in the season. A one game suspension by Jeff Capel. Leadership issues, resulting in being called out by the coach in the national media. A nagging ankle injury followed by a bout of mono.

The talent is still there, but the hype no longer is. Question marks outweigh the hype for Warren, and as a result he may drop out of the first round all together this year. I wonder if he wishes he could go back in time?

This year, we are still waiting to hear from quite a few talented prospects about their NBA Draft intentions. Gordon Hayward, Kyle Singler, Elliot Williams, Ekpe Udoh, Solomon Alabi, Ed Davis, Derrick Favors (he went pro this morning), Wes Johnson. The list goes on.

There will obviously be upset fan bases and spurned coaches whenever anyone of these kids decides to start making money.

But I urge all of them, think about what you do if you were given an opportunity to make a life-changing amount of money, guaranteed millions if they go in the first round; an opportunity that may not be there next season.

Clearly, the proper research needs to go into it and an informed decision needs to be made, but if you are going to be a top 20 pick and you decide to capitalize on it, there is no reason anyone should be mad.