[Stardust]

I'd rather stay 4 years in college, and get a degree, rather than go out in the draft and suffer a career ending injury. I'm sure money would be tight after that.

I completely understand, but you are forgetting the "Michael Jordan" stipulation. Nearly every contract for a player that signs an NBA contract has the addition of the education payment. Lebron James could have afforded to get a college degree from any college in the world, but it was the Cleveland Cavaliers that paid LBJ's tuitition for OSU!

The NBA teams now have tuition payment for any player who does not complete college. It is paid directly to the school and never goes to the player. This was implemented in MJ's contract in 83' and has been a staple of NBA contracts ever since.

Thus, a player who gets drafted and signs and NBA contract has their college paid for.