Football takes a lot of concussion blame that I feel isn't carried with relevant data. Are pro athletes getting head trauma in the NFL? Yes, it's brutal when 300 pound super athletes ram into each other. Is the data tracking for middle school and high school? Are those numbers being compared to the kids who go to a skateboard park, regularly mountain bike, attend soccer or hockey practices? Really questionable choices made by the NFL a decade ago just aren't being forgotten when changes have been made in youth sports.
At the center of all these questions is the kid's enjoyment level. Parents at times try to push their kid onto an after school activity for convenience of the parent. I think that's where the real misstep occurs.
My youngest son has been pushed into a few different programs just because I still work in San Francisco and the school lets out at 2pm. I think we've permanently scarred him from dancing programs and he will never dance again, George Micheal style.
So bringing it back to Dawand Jones - I think the "basketball is my first love" criticism is a minor footnote. There are plenty of athletes who had to switch sports or switch positions from their top choice and had great careers. The NFL draft was filled with former basketball stars who were drafted as receivers or defensive backs. I think he fell because of several odd situations all piling up. He put on about 30 pounds since the bowl game... that's the real red flag.