It was with this pick that changed the way GM’s approached the draft. The number one overall pick was Joe Smith who had performed in college but was not considered a potential superstar. Kevin Garnett didn’t do well on his SAT’s and ACT’s and thus was ruled ineligible to get a division I scholarship. Garnett then decided to go straight to the NBA where he became the superstar that Joe Smith never could be in the NBA. In 1996 Kobe Bryant also jumped straight from high school to the NBA. In 1997 Tracy McGrady followed Kobe and KG’s path.
Even though today players can no longer go straight from high school to the pros, picks in draft take into consideration what the player can be (rather than what they are now) more than they did before Garnett came to the NBA
