Vitale Questions Orton's Decision

Updated: April 8, 2010, 2:11 PM ET

Roundball Chatter

By Dick Vitale
ESPN.com

Each week I'll talk about the sport I love, college basketball:

• At this time of year, there are a lot of reports about players leaving early. At the Final Four, rumors were swirling about a number of Kentucky players. When I heard people talking about Daniel Orton considering a jump to the pros, I thought long and hard about this tough decision.

Orton was one of five Wildcats to declare for the draft. The big man has a lot of potential, but he would be better served by returning to Lexington. He would be a starter for the 'Cats, and that is better than sitting on the pine for a year or two in the NBA.

Yes, it is all about dollars and NBA teams taking a shot on potential, potential, potential, but he should gain more experience and improve his game. Why not be a big man on campus and enjoy the possibility of getting to the Final Four? Look how much fun it was for the four teams in Indianapolis this year. I wish him the best but I question the choice.

I agree, Orton will be good but he has some things he needs to improve on, but its his choice.

No doubt Daniel would be best served playing another year at UK, he could easily add another zero to his contract with a 1 year investment. But, the NBA drafts more on potential than proven ability and Daniel wants to get paid now.