For one thing, we could all clearly see that he’s good enough that he’s not going to stay four years - nor should you want him to if he’s NBA potential. The amount of money players make, a limited athletic lifespan, and the risk of a career-ending injury means they SHOULD go pro. Kids primarily go to college to get a better, job, right? Well….? (Money aside, Ryan certainly seems mature enough to end his college experience now.)

Secondly, if he’s going to stay one more year, he SHOULD go “test” the waters this year. Lots of players test the waters and do NOT hire an agent just to have the experience as a primer of their future. Sort of like an internship. Very standard stuff.

I suppose that we can be selfish and say we want Anderson to stay all four years, only to make “our” team win more. But that’s a sacrifice to great for them to make. Big time college athletes already perform enough for the coffers of their universities, television, and all sorts of other tangential for-profit companies. When they’ve got a chance to earn a real paycheck, I say Go For It. It’s more celebration than disappointment.

Ryan’s announcement was entirely expected. And, for my part, hoped for. It’s the right move to make, unless Sandy Barbour wants to pay him part/most of the new coach’s paycheck. Oh, sorry. She can’t.

Good luck, Ryan. Fly as high as you can. It’s been great watching you spread your wings.

I’m really trying to root for fUCLA for Pac10 pride and all that, but it’s really hard. I’m not-so-secretly rooting for UNC since I lived there for a couple years (but worked at Duke, boo! the stanfurd of the east IMO).