Mike Krzyzewski: Duke doesn’t ‘rent a player’

Fresh from winning his fifth national title, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski brushed aside criticism that his program embraces a “one-and-done” ethos when it comes to players.

“Duke doesn’t rent a player,” Krzyzewski said while appearing on “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday. “All of these kids... my guys are great. They go to school, they love Duke, they live with the other students, and the rent-a-thing is kind of harsh.”

Duke and other top men’s college basketball programs have been criticized for recruiting players who likely will play only one season before turning pro. Duke freshmen stars Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow and Tyus Jones are expected to soon declare their intentions to enter the 2015 NBA draft.

NBA rules stipulate players must be 19 years old and one year removed from high school to enter the draft. The policy leads to many prolific players competing at the college level for one year before heading to the NBA.

Krzyzewski said he’d like to see players stay in college at least one more year.

“I would like to see them there for two years, so they’d be halfway towards a degree, probably more than halfway with summer school,” he said.

Krzyzewski’s comments come after Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri condemned college basketball players who go the one-and-done route in comments posted to Twitter after Duke’s victory.

Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan also talked about the growing trend after the Badgers’ loss, saying, “We don’t do a rent-a-player. You know what I mean?”

“If other people do that, that’s OK,” Ryan continued. “I like trying to build from within. It’s just the way I am.”