By R.L. Bynum
Could the one-and-done era be about to end, with players such as Coby White, Cole Anthony, Day’Ron Sharpe and Nassir Little possibly never playing for Carolina?
It could happen. According to The Athletic’s sources, eligibility for the NBA draft could be lowered from 19 years old to 18 as early as the 2024 draft. That would again allow players to jump directly from high school to the NBA.
It’s all reportedly part of the negotiations between the league and the player’s union as they face a Dec. 15 deadline. Commissioner Adam Silver, a Duke graduate, said in July that he wanted the rule to change in the next collective bargaining cycle.
The union reluctantly agreed to increase the age for eligibility to 19 in the 2005 collective bargaining agreement. The current rule also requires players to wait until one year after high school graduation to be eligible for the NBA draft.
While Duke and Kentucky have welcomed numerous players who only played as freshmen before turning pro, UNC has only had seven: Marvin Williams (2004–05), Brandon Wright (2006–07), Tony Bradley (2016–17), Little (2018–19), White (2018–19), Anthony (2019–20) and Sharpe (2020–21).
Carolina lost a commitment from G.G. Jackson last summer after he decided to reclassify and play next season for South Carolina so that he’d be eligible for the 2023 draft. At the time, UNC had no scholarship spots available for the upcoming season.
ACC pool photo of Day’Ron Sharpe
tarheeltribune.com 
That’s ridiculous. These kids need a college education!!!the acc has ruined it fir them. So SAD!!!!
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This would be the NBA’s decision. The ACC doesn’t have anything to do with a possible change.
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