for JC play is reasonably fair. (Particularly w/ JC NOT being primarily a dumping ground for non-qualifiers like it used to be. Kids who are there typically weren't deemed good enough for D1 level play. And the ones that ending up proving otherwise through JC play — are often simply late-bloomers.)

Most college players aren't next-level players. Getting that extra year seems to me to be a fair professional opportunity to bestow upon kids that physically or skill-wise weren't up to D1 level play when HS ended. And therefore go the JC route. So long as the opportunity's bestowed evenly to all players & teams.