The great Dan Jenkins, author/writer extraordinaire, once opined about the fretting that often accompanies college kids leaving early for professional sports drafts. Sayeth Dan: “I bet he’ll miss that diploma when he’s deciding which country to buy.”

Hard not to chuckle. Money’s money and there’s only one Bishop Tutu, right?

Ah, but there are times, more often than not, when the “student” part of the term “student-athlete” really does count. Enter the erstwhile New London High whiz kid, Kris Dunn.

Dunn recently decided to stay at Providence for this third basketball and fourth academic year, thereby ensuring that regardless of his draft status, he’ll leave college as a college graduate. Dunn’s story, which will be told endlessly next season, will always have an educational component.

This is significant, if for no other reason than it fortifies what we tell kids repeatedly: school is important. Education is important. Except that the evidence – at least what they see on television – suggests that it’s not as important as a good crossover.

The previous premise should be weighed against some criticism over Dunn’s decision to stay. Take, for example, a recent story in Bleacher Report:

“Dunn started to generate lottery buzz and by the end of the year, had become one of the hottest prospects in the nation. Only instead of trying to capitalize in the draft and strike while the iron is hot, Dunn will head back to Providence, where uncertainty looms,” the story read. “If anything happens to that (previously injured) shoulder next year, forget about it. He'll be showered in red flags right up until draft night. Dunn will also be 22 years old by June 2016. Since the 2006 draft, only seven players 22 or older have been taken in the top 10. Just three of them went top five.”

The story went on to suggest that Dunn’s chances of improving his game significantly are slim and Providence may not be an NCAA tournament team, thus giving him more to lose than gain. Then came the line, “He’s certainly taking a gamble.”

One thing: I doubt Bleacher Report is ever going to draw comparisons with the Wall Street Journal. It exists, however, to feed a sports-crazed society. More chickens chattering in the churchyard, as they say on Law & Order. But could any of us come up with a sadder statement on how sports has lost its way than the suggestion that getting your college degree is a “gamble?”

No, really. Kris Dunn is taking a “gamble” by staying in school.

The true “gamble,” really, is not staying in school. Because if his basketball career suddenly swirls the bowl – through injury or other factors – what would Dunn rely on to pay the bills? A regular old job earned through a degree from Providence College wouldn’t merit a first-round draft choice’s salary, no. But it would ensure that Dunn has a foundation for the rest of his life.

And the guess here is that a young, smart kid with an athletic background and a college degree could get a pretty terrific job somewhere out there.

Moreover, Dunn gets to tell his story to kids everywhere. High school principals in this corner of the world – where we know Dunn best – should be clamoring to get him to visit their school and speak to the kids. Finally, the “stay in school” idea isn’t some bromide. It’s practical advice. And the kid with his number on the wall at New London High has only set the best example possible.

Some “gamble.”

It is likely, too, that Dunn’s draft stock will rise next season. He’d have been chosen somewhere in the middle of the first round this year, after his first full year of basketball in a while. Now he gets another year. It’s total win-win. Except in the confused world of sports, where the dramatis personae are really good at saying one thing and doing another.

In a little more than a year, Dunn may be a lottery pick with a diploma. Quite the quinella. He’ll be well versed in the “student” and the “athlete” part. Smart kid, blessed with a supportive family that knows the value of an education.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius