Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Most college players have time to weigh their options about whether to finish out their college career or move on to the pros. For Michigan sophomore Mitch McGary, the NCAA has almost forced his hand. McGary only played eight games this season for his school, limited by a back injury. However, according to Yahoo Sports, the NCAA is prepared to suspend him for a full year after failing one drug test.
Instead of denying the allegations, McGary has come clean and admitted that he did in fact smoke marijuana in March. He admitted that he was with his friends one night when the drug was offered to him and he was unable to turn it down. After the Wolverines game against Tennessee in the Sweet 16, McGary was randomly selected for a drug test. He did not play one minute in the game, instead just sat on the bench to cheer on his team.
When he found out that he had indeed failed the test and the punishment was a year suspension, he knew what he had to do. He announced that he would declare for the NBA Draft, instead of sit out another season. “It’s just with the NCAA and their strict rules, they don’t show any mercy,” McGary said. “They take their things seriously.” Because this test was done by NCAA and not the school itself, the punishment for failing a drug test, regardless of the drug, is one year.
McGary is not the first athlete to fail a drug test and decide to go pro instead of the serve the suspension. He is, however, the first to be so open about the test and its impact on his decision. “I am just disappointed in myself overall because this is not me, this is not who I am overall,” he said.
