The one-and-done phenomena has reached its peak this season with just about every NBA general manager drooling over the likes of Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins, Duke’s Jabari Parker and Kentucky’s

Julius Randle.

Parker, Randle and Wiggins are the most heralded freshmen to play college basketball. They’ve been influencing the NBA draft for the last two years without even being eligible. That’s how positive people have been these three will be NBA-ready.

It’s too bad they have to play one year of college basketball before going pro. Teams would have thrown a contract at them at first sight, but their shot at NBA glory has to take a different path. They have to be “student athletes” first.

The age limit rule has given rise to a one-and-done culture in college basketball that cheapens the already weak idea of amateurism the NCAA so willingly pushes.

The age limit put into place by the NBA wasn’t a good idea, and it’s obvious it needs to be eliminated. It was a lame attempt to avoid drafting a bust as Wiggins, Parker, Randle and the rest of the freshmen superstar contingent are NBA ready.

The organization that should be leading the charge to change the rule is the NCAA.

The NCAA has made a fortune off promoting amateurism in sports, but now its biggest argument against paying student athletes is being

exposed.

Randle did not go to Kentucky to be a student athlete, and Wiggins certainly didn’t go to Kansas to be a student. They went to college to play basketball.

They were given scholarships, but they’re basically paying to play basketball when they should be getting paid.

The age rule aggressively forces people to jump into the NCAA’s profiteering machine. None of these players would have gone to college if they didn’t have to. They’ll have to spend the year inadvertently lining the pockets of executives without seeing a dime.

The NCAA is being exposed. More importantly, this system is taking advantage of these athletes. Last season, Nerlens Noel, a center for Kentucky who was certainly talented enough to reach the NBA out of high school, tore his ACL during the season. While Noel turned out fine, the potential for injury is a big risk that players are being forced to take.

One-and-done athletes are worth millions of dollars to everyone involved and, most importantly, themselves. All that could be lost at the drop of a hat or an awkward landing on a leg.

The NCAA isn’t entirely at fault. It’s just taking advantage of what the NBA gives. The NBA should drop the age rule.

The owners just want another year to scout the high school players against better competition, but that’s part of the risk in drafting a player. Anyone could be a bust.

When a player is as good as Wiggins, Randle or Parker, the extra year doesn’t do anything except force them into college for half a year. There wasn’t a good reason for it, but there’s certainly good reason

against it.

If these athletes want to go pro, let them. End the one-and-done

culture.