Comments about ‘Missionary-to-be thrust into NCAA tourney spotlight’

North Carolina is not the defending national champion. Defending champion would mean they won it last year. UConn won it last year.

Great article. The Church is growing and you see this reflected in the fact that the best athletes are now going to Utah or other BCS schools to play out their college careers.

It used to be that the only place for an LDS athlete was byu. Now, people recognize that there are much better choices, both athletically and academically to spend their college years.

Good to see that most of the best LDS athletes are choosing BCS schools.

Can someone please tell me why he was not recruited by BYU? Where was he on their chart?

This is great news for Stilman. Hope he gets playing time against Ohio.

Otis, BCS is for football! This young man dreamed for a long time to play for UNC. You really think after his mission he would transfer to Utah? Go ahead dream on. I do recall he has look at BYU but he chosed UNC!

donburi:

Where does it say they are "defending champions"?

He needs to go or not go. Leave going against the laws of nature to BYU Students. At north Carolina he is free except for the institute and that is also a Personal Choice.

Of course people are going to tell him not to go on a mission because now he has something real to do.

Going on a Mission is a personal choice and it is up to the individual if it is a good or bad thing. However it need to be a Free Personal Choice.

I would Not but then again when I was his age I was already in Europe doing a Cold War. So never having had the option to make or not make the choice I can't tell you what I would really do. Therefore I can't tell him. You can say get your education first and play ball. Then at 22, 23, go on your Mission. With a degree and ball fame you may get to work at a mission HQ somewhere. Plus in 3 years nature may have taken its course and a Mission may no longer be an desired option. The Players injured will comeback from their injury's plus those coming.

3rd String Guard gets thrust into NCAA Tourney. Player might go on a mission does not make him a missionary now, no more then injury makes him a first string player.

As for the the Blessing he is repeating what he has been thought.

BYU can only field so many players so good lds players not wanting to be part of depth charts go else where also the GPA, plus the Honor Code, Socialization being a normal part of College life.

You will get a fine education at BYU but you can get a fine education else where.

The NCAA allows for Missions which some people consider a Mature and Beefing up scam to put older bigger stronger players on the field. Like holding your kid back a grade or not starting them in school till age 7. Of course not the case because you lose so much not working out daily few are able to make it back to what they where when they left.

It is a risk but so is walking across the street or playing in a pick up game and banging a knee. A mission is a Individual Choice and it need to be a choice.