As in the world of college football, traditional basketball scholarships at the most competitive universities require a great deal of talent in the sport and the ability to catch the attention of college recruiters. Many players begin their scholarship and college search early on - as early as in the 9th grade. Players also check in often with coaches throughout high school so that recruiters can track their statistics and athletic development. To improve your chances in landing a basketball scholarship, we encourage you to start the process early, practice talking with college coaches, creating an impressive player reel, visiting as many colleges as you can, researching your prospective colleges thoroughly, maintaining strong academics, acquiring multiple references, and keeping up with deadlines.
Much of the funding for basketball scholarships is controlled by the NCAA, which means there is a great emphasis placed on not only talent but academic records, as scholarship recipients must meet certain GPA requirements. Depending on your talent, coaches may be more or less flexible with academic requirements needed to attend their university.
For those looking for full or partial rides at the top basketball programs, players should know they need to be on the lookout for recruiters who are looking for a team that will win them championships and bring in alumni dollars. Players who want a smaller school or who may not have the skills on the court that would catch a recruiter's eye have more options. Private organizations and local groups often place less emphasis on talent than financial need, extracurricular activities and academic records. Players at all skill levels may find themselves eligible for awards not offered directly by the college they plan to attend.
When it comes to getting recruited and getting an athletic scholarship, there is research and preparation required on your part. Since coaches work to award players based on their program's needs, you will need to create a target list of schools you are interesting in attending and compiling all the contact information for the coaches. Creating a resume or player reel are good ways to showcase your talents. If coaches are not reaching out to you, take initiative and start the communication yourself by replying to every email you get, calling coaches to express your interest, and arranging times to converse with the coaches. Attending summer camps and showcases help gain exposure. Also, be sure to know the NCAA and NAIA rules and regulations as you search different schools with different programs.
For additional information about basketball scholarships and awards based on different
criteria, try conducting a free college scholarship
search at Scholarships.com.
Established by Alliance Pipeline in 2001, this scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to a student-athlete who demonstrates strong academic performance. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA and participate in an intercollegiate sport. The amount of the scholarship will be determined by January of each year by the Director of the University Advancement based on the interest earnings in the [...] More
To be considered for scholarships at Augustana based on academic performance and/or talent requires a completed Application for Admission and Scholarship. Students must earn at least a 3.0 GPA while enrolled at Augustana to maintain these scholarships in subsequent years.
Augustana Athletic Grants are awarded to outstanding student-athletes; NCAA Division II, Northern Sun Intercollegiate [...] More
The Athletics Scholarship is available to student-athletes in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies who are recommended for scholarship consideration by the CCU Athletics Department. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress, unless otherwise noted by the Athletics Department. Scholarship amounts vary. Prospective student athletes should contact their specific coach for further [...] More
The CSUB Albert Holloway Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Albert Holloway who served for many years on the academic support, intercollegiate athletics, nominating, and student support committees of the foundation. He was a great supporter of academics, extracurricular, student service programs, and the athletic program. In order to apply, you must be a student-athlete at [...] More
Awards - ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 - are available for basketball, baseball, cross country, track and field, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and women's volleyball. Coaches determine recipients of these awards based on demonstrated talent and skill. If the athlete has an ACT of at least 27, they are eligible for this award. A WWU GPA of at least 3.0 is required for renewal.
Harvard students and alumni will testify in support of Harvard during the admissions trial this week, defending its "race-conscious admissions policy" against claims that it discriminates against Asian-American applicants. The trial is the latest chapter in a lawsuit filed in 2014 by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA).
Harvard University has been accused of "balancing its undergraduate classes to ensure that it had admitted its desired share of students of each race and ethnicity" and also for penalizing Asian-American applicants by "systematically giving them lower scores on a metric admissions officers use to measure personality." Adam Mortara, a lawyer representing SFFA, stated that the university scores applicants in four categories: academic achievement, athletic ability, extracurriculars, and personality. While referencing admissions data, he concluded that, despite their higher academic performance, Asian-Americans are admitted at lower rates. [...]
An associate professor in security studies at Georgetown University who, last week, wished "death and castration" to GOP senators supporting confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is no longer teaching but will be "traveling internationally for university research." [...]
The official 2019-2020 college financial aid season began yesterday, October 1st, so it is critical that you file your Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) ASAP! Whether you are headed to college for the first time next fall, or you plan on attending college next year, you will want to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, as many states and colleges award financial aid on a first come, first served basis. [...]
