McGary enters draft after being suspended 1 year for marijuana

[Moranis]

Who knew that the first marijuana offense in NCAA is worth a full year ban from all activities.

[saltlover]

The rule is ridiculous.  If you are caught tested during an NCAA tourney game, or I think a bowl game, it's a one-year suspension, first time.  If you're caught outside that (because your school tests, for instance), it is up to your school.  If McGary had been caught in January (and reportedly he was tested 8 times by the school in his first two years), he'd have been suspended two weeks under Michigan's (which is relatively harsh by most school's standards).  But because he got caught two months later, when he wasn't actually playing, mind you, he's suspended a year.

He'll be fine in the NBA, where it takes three positives to get suspended for 5 games.

That said, my guess is he's not fully healthy for draft preparation, because he would have returned to school but for the suspension.  He very well could slide to the second round -- if he did, it's tough for me to imagine a second-rounder I'd want more.  Hopefully he can land on his feet in Boston.

[Donoghus]

The penalty is ridiculous.  One year for a first time offense? 

What's the penalty if one of their beloved "student-athletes" gets charged with assault or DUI?

Gotta love the NCAA pulling a kid aside who has been ruled out for the year for a testing too. 

He broke the rules, I get that.  He should get punished but nowhere near what the NCAA handed down. I don't blame the kid one bit for going pro after that punishment.

[Donoghus]

Also,  forget the whole money thing, isn't this a prime example where having a union behind him would benefit the kid here?

[Roy H.]

He broke the rules, I get that.  He should get punished but nowhere near what the NCAA handed down.

Yeah, I'm usually a "you knew the potential consequences" type of guy, but this punishment is just so disproportionate.  If you want to send a strong message, make it 10 games for a first offense.  An entire season is just stupid.

[Moranis]

He broke the rules, I get that.  He should get punished but nowhere near what the NCAA handed down.

Yeah, I'm usually a "you knew the potential consequences" type of guy, but this punishment is just so disproportionate.  If you want to send a strong message, make it 10 games for a first offense.  An entire season is just stupid.

It is more than a season though.  It is one full year.  Of course they reduced the penalty to half a season on April 15th, but McGary was suspended under the old rule so they kept with the full 1 year ban.  Just a totally ridiculous situation especially given the reduction to half a season.

[Moranis]

And of course this underlines the problem with marijuana and its testing in general.  McGary claims he smoked it one time in mid-March.  He was tested March 28th around 2 weeks later.  McGary was tested 8 times by Michigan and never failed a test, so his story seems plausible especially given he wasn't suiting up anymore.  But because marijuana has such a long shelf life, McGary failed a test.  Pretty much any other drug that he could have taken and been tested for, would have been out of his system by March 28th.  So what is probably the mildest drug has the harshest consequences of use (aside from the actual physical consequences of taking the drug).  Seems like a big issue.

[#1P4P]

McGary was projected to be a early-mid 1st round pick in 2013 NBA draft, but he chose to stay at Michigan for another collegiate year. He'd already dropped due to his struggles last season with the Wolverines, this issue might finish pushing him into the 2nd round. A million $ mistake...

The NCAA and its antiquated rules and policies are a sinking ship.

[Tr1boy]

He should learn his lesson if he doesnt want to mess up his career. This plus his back fix should make him availble at 17. Love his energy and iq. We should consider him imo

Another nice situation if a gift doesnt drop to 17 is trade the 17 for a late 1 and early 2nd and grab mcgary and napier

[Evantime34]

I wouldn't pick him at 17, but if we were to move back I wouldn't be upset if we drafted him.

[D.o.s.]

He should learn his lesson if he doesnt want to mess up his career. This plus his back fix should make him availble at 17. Love his energy and iq. We should consider him imo

Another nice situation if a gift doesnt drop to 17 is trade the 17 for a late 1 and early 2nd and grab mcgary and napier

What lesson is there to be learned here? That the NCAA has a Byzantine punishment system and he should be aware of them? Now that he's not an NCAA player?

[Celtics4ever]

this punishment is just so disproportionate.

I agree but it is always that way with drug cases.   Some guys get years for non violent stuff.

[saltlover]

McGary was projected to be a early-mid 1st round pick in 2013 NBA draft, but he chose to stay at Michigan for another collegiate year. He'd already dropped due to his struggles last season with the Wolverines, this issue might finish pushing him into the 2nd round. A million $ mistake...

The NCAA and its antiquated rules and policies are a sinking ship.

He didn't drop due to struggles, but injuries.  Underwent back surgery in December, and sat out a bunch of games early in the season before then.

The NCAA is pathetic.  For the sake of a lot of kids, I hope the NBA doesn't force kids to stay in that system any longer than they already do.

[get_banners]

Ironic that this news drops the day Northwestern votes on unionization. The NCAA is absurd. I get punishing him, but this is nuts.

[D.o.s.]

The penalty is ridiculous.  One year for a first time offense? 

What's the penalty if one of their beloved "student-athletes" gets charged with assault or DUI?

Gotta love the NCAA pulling a kid aside who has been ruled out for the year for a testing too. 

He broke the rules, I get that.  He should get punished but nowhere near what the NCAA handed down. I don't blame the kid one bit for going pro after that punishment.

I just looked it up -- you're routed to the football program.


If you're already in the football program, you get promoted to a starting gig.