Julian Wright’s announcement to leave the University of Kansas for the NBA draft raises several concerns regarding “student athletes.” These athletes, often just teenagers, are caught between the commitment and pride of college sports and the money and added incentives of professional athletics. Oftentimes it’s the student athlete who, while seeming to hold all the power, is the ultimate loser in this process.

Some players make the transition from a couple years of college ball to the professional leagues effortlessly. Paul Pierce left the University to enter the NBA draft and hasn’t looked back since. Some players face factors such as team dynamics, injuries and lack of preparedness to up their level of play, which cause them to quickly fade out before they’ve had a chance to shine.

This is when the student athlete becomes the biggest loser. He or she has no diploma, not enough money to live off and crushed hoop dreams. These stories happen all too often; stories of money made from those players, by their colleges and then many sponsorships, are nowhere to be found when the dust settles and the last fan leaves the venue. No matter how often those corporate sponsors or professional-league bigwigs tell the players it’s about them, it rarely is. The partnership is solely based on money. Not the player.

The role of the big time “student athlete” is due for reevaluation. Perhaps paying them to play in college would keep them in school for four years and they could earn a diploma to fall back on, just in case. Maybe a redrawing of the professional draft rule might be in order.

Whatever the case, a prime-time, cover-of-national-magazine “student athlete” is more than just your typical sophomore in college. The added responsibility, hours put in and pressure may seem glorious and worth it for those on the outside looking in, but the local fame isn’t enough. Oftentimes these youths, barely legal adults, are the victims of the moneymaking sports machine. More care ought to be placed in protecting them.

— Tasha Riggins for the editorial board