We're not saying that is is the definitive factor or even a major factor. However, to call college performance a non-factor seems pretty inaccurate. Naismith leads all of their Ralph Sampson related copy by calling him one of the top collegiate players of all-time. This doesn't mean Christian Laettner gets in, but collegiate performance definitely helps a borderline case like Sampson (and potentially Carmelo Anthony and Grant Hill). It is most definitely not a non-factor.
I addressed the Ralph Sampson issue before (and mentioned Bill Walton too).
Ralph Sampson and Bill Walton's NCAA careers are in a different stratosphere than most other players.
Pre 1990's the college game was a stronger factor to get you in.
But since then, it doesn't really matter. That's why I don't see this as a strong point for Hill or Melo, it no longer matters.
Hey the NIT used to be a relevant tournament too. Dominating the Big East used to hold a lot of weight too (let's see where that is in a few years).
College basketball has changed. Not a factor anymore. Pre-90's it mattered and was more relevant to the HOF, I just don't see it anymore.
What is the basis for saying it no longer matters? All of the guys that the 90's-00's college game would be relevant to are not up for Hall of Fame consideration yet. We have no way of knowing if that matters to the folks of Naismith. You and I don't have votes, but they do. How do you know the 90's-00's college game doesn't matter to them, beyond taking a guess?
I sure think the college game still matters, and Carmelo went on one of the more memorable runs in quite a while in his Freshman (and only) season. How do you know that is a non-factor? You seem to be saying this pretty definitively without any actual proof. Has anyone from Naismith said that the college game is no longer a factor?
Because Christian Laettner has one of the top 5 greatest college careers of all time, played in the 90's, was on the greatest team ever assembled (the Dream Team), was on one of the best college teams ever, had one of the most iconic shots in NCAA history, played in the NBA for 13 years (with some decent seasons), and has gotten no where near the basketball HOF.
Well, actually that is incorrect. the 1992 Dream Team is in the Hall of Fame as a team.
His decent seasons also measure up nowhere near to what Carmelo Anthony, Ralph Sampson, or Bill Walton accomplished in the NBA.
I am talking about collegiate performance as a piece of a resume, not as the whole resume.All of Laettner's accomplishments were in college. Laettner's pro resume is very forgettable. Carmelo has many accomplishments outside of college as well. That isn't an apples-to-apples comparison at all. Freeman Williams and Austin Carr aren't in the Hall of Fame either, that doesn't mean 70s college ball is a non-factor. It is meant to be a piece of the puzzle and not the whole puzzle.
There is a big difference between not being able to get in based on college alone and college being a complete non-factor. There is a middle ground there. My initial point in mentioning college, and one shared by some other posters, is that college can help a borderline case like Grant Hill and Carmelo Anthony. Laettner is by no means a borderline case.
