<P> In the early years of the NBA draft, a player had to finish his four - year college eligibility to be eligible for selection . Reggie Harding, who had graduated from high school but did not enroll in a college, became the first player drafted out of high school when the Detroit Pistons selected him in the fourth round of the 1962 draft . However, the NBA rules at that time prohibited a high school player to play in the league until one year after his high school class graduated . Thus, he spent a year playing in a minor basketball league before he was drafted again in the 1963 draft by the Pistons . He finally entered the league in the 1963--64 season and played four seasons in the NBA and American Basketball Association (ABA). </P> <P> In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court decision Haywood v. National Basketball Association ruled, 7--2 against the National Basketball Association's requirement that a player must wait four years after high school graduation (which in most cases was spent playing in college) before turning professional . This ruling allowed players to enter the NBA Draft without four years of college, provided they could give evidence of hardship to the NBA office . </P> <P> In 1974, the NBA's rival, the ABA, drafted high school star Moses Malone . He was immediately signed by the Utah Stars and became the first player to go directly from high school basketball to a professional league . He became an instant success, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds per game in his rookie season . He played in the ABA until the ABA--NBA merger in 1976 . He then played 19 successful seasons with 7 NBA teams . He won the NBA championship, along with the Finals Most Valuable Player Award, with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983 . His other achievements include 3 Most Valuable Player Awards, 12 consecutive All - Star Game selections, 8 All - NBA Team selections and 6 rebounding titles . He has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996 . </P> <P> A year later, two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible to be selected in the 1975 draft . They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning their living by starting their professional careers earlier . Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the Atlanta Hawks . Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game . Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game . Neither player reached the level of success that was expected . It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA . </P>

Nba players who got cut in high school