NBA: Schea Cotton On The Age Limit, Playing Kobe And Finding Peace

In part two of our interview with Schea Cotton, the former pro prospect talks the NBA’s age limit, playing against Kobe Bryant and finding peace

(Editor’s Note: This is a second part of an interview with Schea Cotton. The first part can be found here.)

The NBA’s age limit has been in question for a few seasons now. Some people want the league to reinstate the prep-to-pro rule, which would allow high school seniors to forgo college and enter the NBA draft. Another thought that’s been conversed around NBA circles is the league changing its current rule for prospective players.

Changing it from 19 years old and a year removed from high school to the age of 20, which is what league commissioner Adam Silver would like to do.

Increasing the age limit in the NBA is a hot and tricky topic that’s a complicated one to solve. Schea Cotton, who was one of the most dominant players back in the 1990s, might’ve became a prep-to-pro player if it wasn’t for a injury he sustained the summer of his junior year. He personally isn’t a proponent of the possible age increase the league might implement in the future.

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“I don’t think it’s fair, honestly,” Cotton said.” They don’t don’t do any of this stuff in tennis, golf, and baseball, and things like that. They’re just doing it in basketball, which is interesting. They have to do what they have to do.”

Cotton makes a good point. The NBA’s professional counterparts have different and more lenient rules when it comes to prospects declaring to go pro. In the MLB, the players can enter the draft after graduating high school; NHL incoming rookies must be between 18-20 years old;

The NBA wants to follow in the mold of the NFL, which allows prospective players to enter the draft after three years of college football. It makes sense when you think about it, because the rule in which the NFL has also helps the college football game. By helping schools maintain their top prospects for at least three seasons, it allows for the game at that level to have genuine stats like a Johnny Manziel, Leonard Fournette and Jadeveon Clowney.

Think about, America loves college football. They see great players and terrific games played every Saturday. Now just imagine if the NBA implemented an age limit of 20-years-old. It would give college basketball more star players at the same time, and maybe a disbursement of high-level players at each major program.

There are just so many arguments that can be made for the pros and cons of increasing the age limit, keeping it where it’s at or just bringing back the prep-to-pro rule. This isn’t the piece where that topic will be heavily touched upon, more like tapped on and that’s it.

An argument that hasn’t really been seen in the media on the age limit: professionalism and mentorship. Cotton wants family members and whomever is dealing with probable NBA talent to genuinely mentor the youngsters off the court. It’s the mentorship in the lives of youth and future pro athletes that Cotton believes would lead to better professionals

I say my toughest one-on-one matchup was Kobe Bryant. He matched my competitive prowess, but on that day I was better than he was.” – Cotton

One of the main reasons why some pundits want to see the prep-to-pro rule is because of the joke college basketball has become for future NBA stars. Most players who know they’ll be in the league soon typically head to a college campus for a year then the NBA draft the next. Just having prospects do that for a year seems like a waste of time on both sides, and it’s only a growing trend.

Then there’s a guy like Thon Maker, who didn’t need a year of college or overseas basketball. Instead, he convinced the NBA that he graduated high school in 2015, and had returned to Orangeville Prep (Canada) as a post-graduate student by choice. With doing so he fulfilled the age minimum — insert lame age joke — and high school graduation requirement.

Maker is one of few high school talents to gain some notoriety courtesy of the Internet. As a sophomore, Maker became a viral sensation because of his basketball highlight reels. He joins guys such as LeBron James, O.J. Mayo, Lance Stephenson and Andrew Wiggins who became Internet hits. Some people are for and against high schoolers becoming hits on the Internet, even though it’s good for them to get their name out there.

“I think it’s good for them,” Cotton said.” For guys to get discovered with the exposure they’re getting coming out of smaller markets.”

For a few seasons, Maker had all eyes on him over in Canada. It was indicative of the development the country has made in the sport of basketball, and he’s one of their latest projects to head to the NBA.

“They’re becoming a hot bed now,” Cotton said.” But over the years they hadn’t been known for basketball, they were a hockey town. It’s good to see that basketball is starting to supersede that, and give the kids in Canada a lot more opportunities.”

Maker had the opportunity to play against tier-one talent in high school such as Jaylen Brown, Harry Giles, Skal Labissiere, Josh Jackson and more notable talent. Playing against opposing players that were on his level talent wise, and looked at as being future NBA prospects helped him develop.

That’s something Cotton could relate to when he faced off against guys like Baron Davis, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) and more.

The question that begs to be answered: who was Cotton’s toughest opponent?

“I say my toughest one-on-one matchup was Kobe Bryant,” Cotton said as he reflected.” He matched my competitive prowess, but on that day I was better than he was. I’d probably say him competitively and probably Ron Artest. Those two guys tenacity matched mine — great one-on-one battles.”

His greatest opponents were NBA All-Stars. That’s the type of baller Cotton was back in the day, and was possibly a sneak preview of the player he could’ve become if he made if he made it to the league. Despite him being a highly touted talent, life happens and things don’t always go according to plan. The NBA dream for Cotton never came to fruition, and because of his story he knows it’s important for the younger generation to that anything can happen.

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“Very important for the younger athletes and younger kids to know my story because this can happen to anybody,” Cotton began to say.” I was the number one player in the country in 1995. I had the world on my back and felt like I had a promising career in the NBA, along with a lot of other people that watched me play. It literally slipped out my hand. Things happened along the way that weren’t in my control. This is more than a basketball story, it’s a humanitarian one. The deal is that if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone.

“I came up in LA — one of the biggest metropolis cities in the world next to New York — and put a lot of work in, and did a lot of things from a young age. I lived a great life and had a great experience when it came to AAU and high school ball. It was a great ride and now my life is dedicated to giving back to the people.”

From my previous post on Cotton, he has an AAU team in which he preaches excellence and wants kids to be in positions to succeed. Along with that, he’s been featured on TedX talking about his life and AAU, speaks to different AAU programs and is a mentor and motivational speaker to others.

Looking at it from an AAU perspective, Cotton knows and sees the having mentors in the AAU circuit is a must.

“The AAU circuit and the game of basketball moves at such an alarming rate, that if you don’t have the right pieces around to you will fail,” said Cotton.” Even with the right pieces, sometimes things don’t always work out, but you can land on your feet if you got the right people around you. That support group is very crucial. I was told a long time ‘you wanna see your future, look at your circle, look at the company that you keep.’ It makes perfect sense.”

The injury Cotton suffered against Lamar Odom changed the trajectory of his basketball career. He pointed out that there was a time he wasn’t okay with his basketball career making a sharp turn in a different direction. As time progressed, he grew as a person became fine with the way things played out.

“I’m happy with that’s going on in my life today,” Cotton said.” I never thought I would say that, considering, that I didn’t play in the NBA long-term like I thought I would, but you know what, I’ve had a lot of great experiences. The second part of my life is just beginning, so I’m really excited.”

Cotton did play professional basketball… Just not in the NBA. From 2001 to 2010, the year he retired, he played for six countries, made an appearance in the USBL (now defunct) and ABA. Along with that, he spent a season with the Harlem Globetrotters.

The overseas experience for Cotton has expedited his growth into a man, and that’s something most young American players say when their talents go international.

“The experience overseas was great,” Cotton said.” I grew up beyond my years, because everything you have to do is on your own at that point. It made me a stronger, more driven person. Made me a better person overall because I became a lot more proactive in my life and everything that I do.”

The basketball community still talks about Cotton as if he made it to the NBA. The plays he was and the man he is now has left an indelible mark on many people. To some, his legacy is being on of the greatest high school talents to never make it. To Cotton, his legacy is still in development.

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“That’s yet to be determined,” Cotton said.” I’m still carving that right now. I’ll let the kids that I’m working with answer that in the future.”

What keeps Cotton going is his faith in and God and knowing that he’s making a difference in the lives of others, even though it might go unnoticed. It’s about focusing on what really matters like being the best father possible for his daughter and a mentor to the next wave of young people.