VITALE: "You Can't Teach Height, Baby"

Carolina Kat Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:33 pm

Updated: June 25, 2010, 4:16 PM ET

Roundball Chatter

By Dick Vitale
ESPN.com

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

• Think about the accomplishment of John Calipari and Kentucky on Thursday night. The Wildcats became the first school to have five players go in the first round of the NBA draft (John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe). Three schools previously put four players in round one: Connecticut in 2006, North Carolina in 2005, and Duke in 1999. Calipari is also the fifth coach to have two players picked number one overall.

• In looking at the NBA draft, so many of these college kids are not ready for the rigors of an 82-game schedule. They are not prepared for the pro game as they are not developing their skills enough. The extra practice time provided in college would be extremely helpful for a lot of the early entry players. I am sick and tired of the one-and-done!

• A perfect example of a player being drafted based on potential is Kentucky's Daniel Orton. He averaged 13 minutes and three points per game as a diaper dandy last season. I know, I know you can't teach height, baby! He still would have been better off with another season in Bluegrass Country, though, getting a chance to learn and work on his game.