Understanding
Basketball Scholarships
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the USA, and it’s easy to see why. College basketball is a sport that has more than 30,000 players competing at the collegiate level. So how do you know when is the right time and what is the right level of basketball for you?
It’s all about choosing a college basketball program where you’ll be able to get better at your game while also getting a great education. A good college basketball program will teach you how to become an even better player, while also helping you develop into an all-around person who knows how to handle pressure situations both on and off the court.
But what makes a good college basketball program? What should you look for when choosing where to spend your next four years as a student athlete?
Our experienced advisors are able to help you define your goals, evaluate your options and make the right decision:
OUR
SCHOLARSHIP
SERVICE
Athlete+ Scholarship Consulting is a service tailored for international Student-athletes who are seeking the best possible academic and athletic opportunities in the USA.
LEVELS OF BASKETBALL
HIGH
SCHOOLS
If you’re looking for a way to fund your education, a high school basketball scholarship might be the answer. There are several different types of basketball scholarships, and they come from different sources. Basketball scholarships are typically awarded to players who have a strong record of achievement on the court and also have good grades. If you’re interested in pursuing a college degree and playing basketball in college, then it’s important that you consider all of your options carefully before making any decisions about what kind of scholarship is right for you.
POST
GRAD
Post-graduate basketball programs afford players a chance to develop as both players and people before heading off to college. Rather than playing at a junior college and giving up a year of NCAA eligibility, these players can hone their skills and mature one more year at a prep school or basketball academy. Academies are not associated with a school, but rather focus entirely on the development of players.
JUNIOR
COLLEGE
Junior college is not as simple when it comes to basketball scholarships. First, there are three divisions within the NJCAA and only Division 1 and 2 can offer athletic scholarships to basketball players while only Division 1 is allowed to offer a full ride. NJCAA Division 2 is allowed to cover tuition, fees, books and housing but not transportation costs. In addition to an athletic scholarship, both divisions will often pay for an athlete’s transportation costs by direct route once per year.
INTERNATIONAL
ACADEMIES
We understand that there are many reasons to study abroad: maybe you’re looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to learn more about another culture and make some friends from other countries. Whatever your reason, we can help you reach it. Our international academies give players the opportunity to work on their game and academics, surrounded by experts who will help them thrive. We’ve partnered with many of the top sporting institutions in each country, so if you’re looking for a place where your talent will be recognized and rewarded, this is your chance!
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
PLAYING AT 5 LEVELS
There are two types of college basketball scholarships: Headcount and Equivalency. NCAA Division 1 schools award 13 full ride athletic scholarships to 13 recruits. In other words, college coaches can offer a maximum of 13 scholarships to exactly 13 athletes. At NCAA Division 2 and NAIA programs, college coaches have a pool of athletic aid and can divide these across more athletes. Therefore, some recruits will receive partial scholarships. NCAA Division 3 programs can’t offer athletic scholarships but college coaches tend to work with the admissions department to create appealing financial aid packages made up of merit-based scholarships, need-based aid and grants. It’s important for student-athletes to understand the financial aid opportunities at each division level and be proactive in their recruiting so they can get evaluated early on.
YOU CAN GET TO YOUR DESTINATIONBY FOLLOWING THESE 10 STEPS
6
Student-athlete
promotion
7
Gathering &
presenting offers
8
Making a
decision
9
Admission process &
Visa procedures
10
Flying out to
your Dream School
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
In total, on all 5 college basketball levels there are almost 2,000 men and women teams!
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NCAA
Division 1
335 Teams
NCAA
Division 2
298 Teams
NCAA
Division 3
426 Teams
NAIA
256 Teams
NJCAA
519 Teams
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NCAA
Division 1
344 Teams
NCAA
Division 2
282 Teams
NCAA
Division 3
403 Teams
NAIA
256 Teams
NJCAA
519 Teams
ACADEMIC
REQUIREMENTS
If you are a student-athlete and are interested in attending a 4 year college, you will need to meet the same academic requirements as any other admitted student. The following information is provided to help guide you through the process of applying for admission as a student athlete.
HIGH SCHOOL GPA
When you are applying for college admission, your GPA is one of the most important factors that admissions officers consider. But if you’re a student athlete, there are lots of other factors that matter too. Different schools require different GPAs. In addition to having a good GPA, some schools may also ask you to write an essay about your athletic experience and why it’s important for you.
SAT / TOEFL
As an international athlete, you’ll want to make sure that you take the right standardized tests. 4 year institutions require certain SAT or ACT scores while your TOEFL requirements will depend on a school and your US high school / prep / junior college experience. Before you take the test, check out the minimum score needed for the universities you’re hoping to be recruited to. If your score isn’t quite there yet, don’t worry! It’s never too late to take another test and improve your score.
ELIGIBILITY CENTER
As part of the academic certification process for both NCAA and NAIA, all prospective student-athletes must submit their academic information to organzation’s eligibility center. Academic records include documents such as transcripts, yearly grade reports, mark sheets or official exam results. If English is not the primary language of instruction at the school you attended, you must submit complete, line-by-line certified English translations for all your documents in the same format as the native language documents.
HOW HARD IS IT TO GET A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP?
College basketball scholarships are some of the most coveted athletic awards available. On average, only 3.33 percent of high school basketball players will earn one of those coveted spots. Even if you’re the best player on your high school team, the odds are against your getting a chance to play in college.
If you want to get noticed by college coaches, then you need to show that you’re passionate about the game and willing to put in the extra effort needed to succeed at the next level. College coaches are looking for players who bring intensity and passion when they step onto the court. They want players who will be able to handle pressure-packed situations with poise and composure — and this is something that can’t be taught or learned overnight.
NCAA PROOF
OF AMATEURISM
Initial-eligibility standards help ensure you are prepared to succeed in college. The eligibility process also protects the fairness and integrity of college sports by ensuring student-athletes are amateurs.
If you want to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year at a Division I or II school, the NCAA Eligibility Center must certify you as eligible. International college-bound student-athletes planning to enroll at a Division III school must also receive an amateurism-only certification from the Eligibility Center. Throughout the process, Eligibility Center staff members partner with students and their families, as well as high school administrators and coaches, to guide you on your journey.