Colleges, coaches are real winners in age game

It’s all about the kids.

Beginning this week, teenagers saved from themselves by the new NBA age limit will be on display at colleges across the country. Sure, the rule keeps those phenoms from spoiling the league until they’ve learned a thing or two.

But, really, it’s the players who win. Instead of making poor decisions that will stunt their growth – emotionally, athletically and academically – they’ll have a chance to really be kids for a year or two.

Yeah, right.

Look around the arenas jammed with fans eager for an early glimpse of future NBA stars and see the piles of money these kids are raking in for their schools and coaches. It’s clear who the real winners are.

For the past few years, the highest-profile college coaches got a tiny break on the recruiting trail. There was no work excuse to go see LeBron James or Dwight Howard, because everybody knew they would go straight to the NBA.

Now that the league is adults only, the life of a college coach has gotten tougher. He has to make that extra trip or 10 to Oak Hill Academy or Mount Vernon, N.Y., and he’d better add some minutes to his cell phone plan. Compliance directors are breaking out magnifying glasses to make sure every “i” was, indeed, dotted and “t” crossed.

For what? The best players are going to be one-and-done, out the door for the NBA the minute they celebrate the anniversary of their high-school graduation. No sooner has the NCAA filed the admissions paperwork and a coach gotten a kid accustomed to his system than he’s gone.

And the exhausting cycle begins again.

All that work for one measly year. Maybe two if teams are really lucky.

“Some coaches would say they would take a kid for one year,” Arizona coach Lute Olson said after the age limit was imposed. “But it’s really difficult to do that for a program. I look at the program as being more important than one person.”

Before you feel too sorry for these beleaguered coaches and schools, remember there’s usually a considerable bonus to these quick turnarounds. And it’s not the privilege of eating dorm food and waking up to join 500 other freshman for that 8 a.m. Western Civ lecture.

The best-case scenario is a blue-chipper leads his team to the Final Four before bolting. Carmelo Anthony only spent one year at Syracuse, but coach Jim Boeheim and the school couldn’t have asked for a better return on their investment. Without ‘Melo, the Orange would still be looking for their first national title.

Not to mention somebody else to pony up $3 million for that new practice facility.

Roy Williams gave three years of his time to get one from Marvin Williams. If not for that one, Roy Williams still might be the best coach never to win a title.

Even if their teams fall short, the big-name players still generate enough attention to make them worthwhile.

It can’t be a coincidence that Ohio State is selling No. 20 jerseys – the same number Greg Oden will be wearing when the 7-footer finally gets on the floor. At $70 a pop, just imagine the load of money those will bring in.

Then there are ticket sales. Few of the top colleges are in or even near an NBA city, so even a brief glimpse of these guys is better than only seeing them on TV.

Kansas State sold out its season tickets – about 13,000 worth – for the first time in 23 years, and new coach Bob Huggins is a big reason why. But the reality is fans know that where Huggins coaches, NBA-bound players are sure to follow.

Sure enough, the Wildcats just signed Bill Walker and Michael Beasley, two players who likely would have gone straight to the NBA if they could have.

Ditto for Kansas State’s brand-new Nike contract that Huggins helped land. Guess that Swoosh looks a whole lot more impressive on guys like Walker and Beasley than somebody bound for the CBA.

When these stars-to-be finally have their NBA millions, the coaches and schools they’ve left behind can breathe a sigh of satisfaction. Not only have they made their money, but odds are, there’s another top prospect eager to take their place.

“Kids have said, ‘Let me see why Greg Oden chose Ohio State,’ ” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.

Because remember, it’s all about the kids.