Right or wrong, Whiteside gone

For Marshall basketball, this offseason has been marked by the departures of many who brought excitement back to Herd hoops.

Not only did Marshall lose its coaching staff, but it also lost a player who — like him or not — helped  increase attention to Marshall basketball. 

Hassan Whiteside will go down in the books as a one-season wonder for Herd hoops, coming in long enough to set the school record for shots blocked and to attract enough attention to warrant a one-and-done collegiate career before heading to the NBA.

A heated topic of discussion among Herd fans has frequently been whether the now-former Marshall player made the right decision. Some argued that even risking one more year in college brings the chance of suffering a career-ending injury, and for Whiteside to turn down the opportunity to make an NBA salary wouldn't be the smartest decision.

Others, however, have been quick to point out his reputation and lack of experience would be damaging, expecting Whiteside to be on the next plane to the European leagues. Some, whether they'll admit it, just wanted the guy to stick around —  a selfish wish, but an understandable one. 

With the 2010 NBA draft said and done, both sides got fuel for their respectives points. Whiteside was drafted by the Sacramento Kings, but in falling to the second round he lost out on the guaranteed contract granted to first-round picks. Supporters of his decision can point out that he was indeed drafted, becoming the first player to get picked in the NBA draft since Tamar Slay in 2002, but opponents can still have the argument that Whiteside faces an uphill battle at best.

Regardless of personal opinions regarding his decision to leave, Whiteside is gone, and he deserves the support of Marshall fans. Whiteside is now and always will be a former player for the Thundering Herd and will be representing our univeristy on any level he plays on, and to wish ill upon him for his choice would be petty.

With Slay now playing in Italy for Carmatic Pistoia, NBA success for Whiteside will make him one of only two former Herd players to play in the NBA — Orlando Magic player Jason Williams spent his freshman year at Marshall before following Billy Donovan to Florida    (Williams, coincidentally, was also drafted by the Sacramento Kings.).

Whiteside has the chance to represent Marshall on the national stage, and potential recruits seeing the Herd as a school that puts out NBA players can't do anything but help. 

Whether Whiteside's choice was the right one still remains to be seen. Agree or disagree, all that's left is to hope his decision was a good one.

Sam Turley can be contacted at turley60@marshall.edu.