How many full ride scholarships for basketball

15 Best Colleges for Basketball Scholarships in 2021

The NCAA Final Four can give the NBA Finals a run for its money, viewership-wise! While the NBA Finals is still the most-watched basketball event worldwide, the NCAA Finals aren’t far behind.

Take the 2013 NBA Finals Game 7 (Heat vs. Spurs), for example, with its 26.3 million viewers on ABC compared to the NCAA Tournament title game (Louisville vs. Michigan) with 23.4 million viewers. That’s only a 3-million difference between a professional and an amateur game! 

What makes college basketball so popular in the United States? For one thing, college basketball has a soul, so to speak, thanks to the enduring loyalty that the players, coaches, and fans feel for their respective teams. With the NBA, the players and coaches are in it for the money and, thus, changing teams is easy-peasy, in stark contrast with their counterparts in college teams.

For another thing, college basketball has a community behind it. We’re not just talking about the college students, alumni, and residents who troop to the games. We’re talking about a community that cares for the players and coaches, who pool their resources to ensure that scholarships, supplies, and other support forms are provided and promote the team’s interests. Can you say that about NBA fans? 

Think about the challenge and community that you will enjoy if you become a basketball scholar in your dream school! You will not only get a full or partial ride on your bachelor’s degree, but you will also get to know inspirational and influential people. If you’re on the fence about becoming a varsity athlete in college, you shouldn’t be, partly because of basketball scholarships.

But let’s first discuss a few important things about basketball scholarships, particularly the difference between headcount and equivalency scholarships. The difference will likely influence your choice of school. 

In NCAA Division I basketball, the type of scholarships given are headcount scholarships, also known as full-ride scholarships. The scholarship limit per team is 13, which means coaches and athletic directors can award 13 full-ride scholarships to 13 student-athletes. The scholarship funds cannot be distributed in other ways. 

In NCAA II basketball and NAIA and JUCO levels, the scholarships offered are equivalency scholarships or partial ride scholarships. The coaches and athletic directors are provided with a certain amount of scholarship money to distribute to as many players as they see fit. 

The number of scholarships is limited to 10 (NCAA), which should be distributed among players; while coaches and athletic directors have leeway on this matter, the usual partial ride is 25%. In NAIA Division I, the limit is 11 equivalency scholarships, while it’s 6 in NAIA Division II.  

In NCAA III basketball, the schools aren’t allowed to give athletic scholarships, as is the case for the Ivy League schools. But they offer a combination of scholarships, grants, and financial aid to their student-athletes.  

The bottom line: You should aim for a Division I school if you want a full ride! But there’s also pride in being a Division II student-athlete on a partial ride.

But it isn’t easy. The odds of a varsity high school player making it to a Division I school is 105:1, meaning that less than 1% of high school players will compete at this level. There’s also the matter of stringent requirements implemented by the NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO for student-athletes. Potential student-athletes may register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and meet academic requirements, including minimum GPA and ACT/SAT scores. 

When you’ve decided to play varsity basketball in college and perhaps get your fair share of television glory, you should look into these schools’ basketball programs. These are NCAA Division I universities and, thus, there’s fierce competition for the slots and full-ride scholarships. 

Use these page-jumps to explore the 15 Best Colleges for Basketball Scholarships:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of California – Los Angeles
• Stanford University
• University of Michigan
• University of Florida
• University of Virginia
• Duke University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of Georgia
• University of Washington
• University of California – San Diego
• University of Illinois
• University of California – Irvine
• University of Maryland
• University of Texas at Austin

The Tar Heels men’s basketball team has won six NCAA Tournament Championships and numerous ACC conference tournament and regular-season championships. Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Bob McAdoo, and James Worthy, four of ESPN’s top 74 players of all time, were alumni. 

Such a winning record can be partly attributed to the outstanding basketball scholarship program at UNC! The most deserving players get a full-ride scholarship – truly, an irresistible offer considering that it’s an opportunity to play great basketball while earning a degree. 

The Department of Athletics works with the Office of Student Scholarships and Aid to choose the recipients and allocate and administer the athletic scholarships. The university may cover all or part of the cost of attendance, including but not limited to tuition and mandatory fees, books and other related expenses, and room and board. 

The Department of Athletics also works with the Educational Foundation (Rams Club) regarding student-athletes’ financial aid. The former proposes the athletic scholarship’s annual budget to the latter, which then undertakes various fundraising projects.   The university follows NCAA rules about recruiting high school players and transfer students and their eligibility, academic performance, and scholarship coverage. 

UNC’s Complete Carolina project, also under the Department of Athletics, provides financial aid for former students who wish to return to college athletics and finish their degree. The program’s recipients receive financial aid proportional to their previous athletic scholarship, including coverage for tuition and fees, textbooks, and room and board. 

An in-state student on full-ride scholarship avail of about $25,400 per year, minimum. The amount is higher – about $52,400 per year – for an out-of-state student.  

Email UNC at [email protected] or call them at 919-962-8396 for questions about athletic scholarships and other financial aid forms. 

The Bruins men’s basketball team’s glory days from 1964 to 1975 may have passed – it’s recorded 11 NCAA titles, the most of any NCAA team, an undefeated record in four tournament years (1964, 1967, 1972, and 1973) – but it’s still among the best in the country! You will want to become a student-athlete here, especially with its excellent athletic scholarship program.  

As a Division I university, UCLA can offer up to 13 full-ride scholarships. While seniority is an important factor in the selection process, first-year students also have a shot at a full ride too. You can submit a recruiting questionnaire so that the coaches can look at your athletic record and potential, perhaps look at your games. 

You may also contact the basketball coach through email or phone. Your high school coach may also do it on your behalf. 

Send an email to Shana Wilson, the Bruins Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Communications, at [email protected] or call her at 310-206-7870 if you have questions about the athletic program and its scholarships. 

UCLA also has a robust academic scholarship and financial aid program administered by the Financial Aid and Scholarships office. Apply for one by completing the scholarship section on the admissions application form and submit either your FAFSA or Dream Act application. The last two applications are due by March 2 of the year you’re enrolling at the university.  

Both scholarships and financial aid are awarded based on academic merit, financial need, and other specific requirements like ethnicity, area of interest, and residency. Examples include the Regents Scholarship, UCLA Alumni Scholarship, and Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship. 

The Cardinal men’s basketball team has clinched one NCAA championship and 13 conference championships while their last NCAA Tournament appearance was 2014. But don’t dismiss Stanford because it’s among the best schools for student-athletes who want to combine world-class academics and championship sports! 

Currently, Stanford offers more than 350 athletic-based scholarships, including to its men’s basketball team. These are 13 full-ride scholarships since Stanford is a Division I school. 

These scholarships are intended to provide student-athletes with the support necessary to complete their bachelor’s degree within four years. As such, scholarships beyond the fourth year aren’t guaranteed without the Athletic Director’s prior written approval, a challenging task considering the limited number of scholarships. 

The athletic scholarship will only cover tuition, compulsory fees (freshman, ASSU, telecommunication, documentation, and house fees), required textbooks, and standard room and board. The fund shouldn’t be used for other items, including late fees, health insurance, class supplies, interim housing fees, fraternity membership fees, lab fees damage charges, and cable television, among others. 

Summer athletic scholarship is awarded, too, but on a limited basis. The Director of Athletics will determine the recipients based on the application requirements’ satisfactory compliance and available funding. The amount of summer aid isn’t greater than the value of the athletic scholarship provided in the preceding academic year unless otherwise approved by the Director of Athletics. 

Student-athletes on an athletic scholarship may receive part of their aid as stipend checks issued every quarter and provided at the start of every quarter. The stipend is only issued when the scholarship amount is greater than the student account, such as when you’re living off-campus.  

For your general questions, send an email to [email protected] or call 650-723-3058. 

The Wolverine’s men’s basketball team has only won one NCAA championship. However, it still has an impressive record with its two NIT titles, two Big 10 Tournament wins, and 14 Big Ten Conference championships. The Division I school is a force to reckon with, and that’s why it’s on this list. 

U-M also has 13 full-ride scholarships as its allocation. The head coach can award 13 full scholarships to 13 players or distribute full and partial scholarships to as many players as possible. The numbers game can be challenging because there are years when there are more than 13 players on the team, a mix of returning and incoming freshmen athletes.  

Numbers notwithstanding, U-M awards its athletic scholarships based on academic achievement, athletic record and potential, and personal talents, among other factors. Keep in mind that athletic scholarships usually require a separate application process because of their special nature.  The application requirements include minimum high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores and registration in the NCAA Eligibility Center. 

Send an email to [email protected] or call 313-593-5300 (Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships) for more information on basketball scholarships. 

U-M also offers several merit-based and need-based scholarships, some of which require a separate application while some only require the university admission application. Be sure to complete the scholarship section for automatic consideration of your application for university aid.  

The Gators men’s basketball team continues to make consistent progress under the tutelage of Billy Donovan, head coach (1996-2014), and Mike White (2015-present). This is one of the basketball teams to watch out for, and, best of all, the University of Florida has a great athletic scholarship program.   

Like its Division I counterparts, Florida offers 13 full-ride scholarships for its varsity basketball players. But these full scholarships can also be divided among its players as the head coach and other concerned officials see fit for the team. 

Are you interested in becoming a Gator? Contact the University Athletic Association at (352) 375-4683 or write to them at P. O. Box 14485, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32604-2485. You may be instructed to submit your latest high school papers and videos of your games for validation. 

The university also offers a wide range of merit-based and need-based aid for students. Most don’t require a separate application since the admission application serves the purpose, but some require a separate application. The scholarship programs are also categorized into in-state and out-of-state programs and incoming first-year students, continuing, and transfer students. 

The in-state, merit-based scholarships include Presidential Scholarship ($5,000 per year), Presidential Gold Scholarship ($8,000 per year), and Presidential Platinum Scholarship ($10,000 per year). These are renewable per year for up to four years, and these come with academic requirements, including minimum GPA and number of credits.  

Other scholarships include the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship, the Lombardi Scholarship, and the Stamps Scholarship. You can use the university’s online search engine for more information.  

The Cavaliers men’s basketball team isn’t the winningest of champions since it only has one NCAA championship, three ACC Tournament titles, and two NIT titles. It lacks in titles. It more than makes up for the number of endowments available for its student-athletes! 

These named scholarships, or endowments, are open to basketball players of the University of Virginia who meet their specific criteria. Only one player is chosen in most endowments and said player could be an in-state, an out-of-state, or an international student depending on the criteria. 

• The Charlottesville Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship 
• The Fralin Family Bicentennial Scholars Fund 
• The Peter M. Grant II Family Bicentennial Scholars Fund 
• The Leighton and Anne Rawles Huske Men’s Basketball Scholarship 
• The William Jackey and Rose Marie Bravo Endowed Men’s Basketball Scholarship 
• The Barry D. Koval Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship 
• The Ledford Family Bicentennial Scholars Fund 
• The Craig K. Littlepage Bicentennial Scholarship
• The Mizell Family Endowed Basketball Scholarship 
• The Fred N. Newman Endowed Men’s Basketball Scholarship 
• The Rivas Family Men’s Basketball Scholarship Endowment 
• The Rogers Family Bicentennial Scholarship Fund 

Of course, The university also offers basketball scholarships under NCAA rules. 

There are also numerous SFS-administered scholarships listed on this page, said scholarships in the AccessUVA program. Incoming first-year students don’t have to file a separate application for most of these scholarships since every incoming student is automatically considered based on their merit, financial aid, and other factors. But the number and amount of scholarships vary depending on the earnings and number of applicants/recipients. 

Recommended Schools

The Blue Devils men’s basketball team is the fourth winningest team with five NCAA championships, aside from 11 Championship Games appearances and 16 Final Four appearances. Such is its excellent program that there have been 71 players in the NBA Draft and 11 players named as the National Player of the Year. 

But being a Duke player isn’t easy because of the competitive selection process, and it applies to scholarships, too. According to the policies for athletes on scholarships, every student-athlete must be able and willing to deliver on the required academic work and make appropriate contributions to the Duke community. 

The head coach will inform the Office of Admissions about their proposed recipients of athletic scholarships. The Office of Admissions will notify the student-athletes about their admission into the scholarship program. The coach also receives a notification copy. 

Emphasis must be made that Duke follows the relevant rules and regulations regarding student-athletes, from their admission and academic performance to their on-court and off-court actions. But Duke’s eligibility requirements and regulations are significantly more restrictive and competitive as those of the NCAA and ACC. As such, the university’s requirements and regulations will prevail in case of conflict.  

Interested athletes can send an email to [email protected] or leave a message at (919) 684-6225 for more information about athletic scholarships. You may also get in touch with the Athletics Department, particularly Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach, at (919) 613-7500 or through email at [email protected]

Duke University also offers merit-based and need-based scholarships through its Undergraduate Financial Aid Office. Each student’s customized aid package usually consists of two forms: scholarship/grant and self-help (subsidized loans and work-study).  

The Yellow Jacket men’s basketball team has made several NCAA tournament appearances and several Conference Tournament and Conference regular-season championships. Who knows – you may be part of the team that will win Georgia Tech its first-ever NCAA championship! 

Georgia Tech’s athletic scholarship program enables student-athletes to combine their athletic potential with academic mastery at a distinguished university. This is also designed to provide coaches with an attractive scholarship package for recruiting elite student-athletes from across the country. 

Indeed, Georgia Tech offers full-ride scholarships under NCAA rules! But keep in mind that these aren’t for easy picking as student-athletes are chosen based on their high school academic and athletic performance, personality, and fit with the team. Student-athletes on an athletic scholarship must also meet stringent requirements, including at least a 3.0 GPA. 

New first-year students are only allowed to receive athletic scholarships for only eight terms of full-time enrollment. This translates to four years of eligibility, as stated in the NCAA eligibility rules. The scholarships are typically awarded during the fall and spring terms or two semesters in an academic year.  

Note: The eligibility period for transfer students is determined on a case-to-case basis, usually depending on the number of credit hours allowed for transfer. 

Visit the school’s official Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid page for more information about athletic and academic scholarships. You may also contact Josh Pastner, the basketball head coach, at 404-894-4424 or Todd Stansbury, the Director of Athletics, at 404.894.5411. You can also email them via the Staff Directory page.

The Bulldogs men’s basketball team may be overshadowed by its successful football program. Still, it has enjoyed its share of success, too, including four conference tournament championships and two conference regular-season titles. Plus, it has several alumni with notable NBA careers, including Dominique Wilkins, a Basketball Hall of Famer.  

Of course, the university offers great athletic scholarships that attract the best high school players! The Athletic Association awards approximately 600 athletic scholarships, including NCAA-approved grants. While the actual amount and coverage differ, these scholarships typically cover the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, textbooks, and room and board. 

Private donations or endowments fund many of these scholarships. The Athletic Association also awards in-state and out-of-state cost of attendance, with the latter being higher in amount. Neither university funds nor state and federal revenues are used in funding the athletic scholarships. Every cent comes from alumni, friends, and other individuals who make generous donations to the scholarship fund. 

The Athletic Association also has full control of each athlete’s scholarship amount, although NCAA rules and regulations are followed. For example, a student-athlete can have his entire textbook cost covered even if it exceeds the $800/year NCAA rule. The association may also pay more than the average rate of accommodations. 

You can contact the Athletic Association by sending a formal letter to the University of Georgia Athletic Association, PO Box 1472, Athens, Georgia 30603, or call them at (706) 542-9036. You may also contact Tom Crean, the men’s basketball head coach, at 706-542-1432 or Joni Taylor, the women’s basketball head coach, at 706-542-1541 or email her [email protected]. 

The Huskies women’s basketball team is making its mark in the NCAA with its strong performances. Their men’s basketball counterpart, on the other hand, has several conference tournament and regular-season titles as well as NCAA Tournament appearances. No matter which team you will belong to, you will find a robust scholarship program. 

Student-athletes on a scholarship are provided with their signed scholarship agreement, which states the percentage of grant-in-aid costs covered. These costs include tuition, required textbooks, and room and board.  

Take note that under NCAA rules, athletic scholarships have to be evenly disbursed over three-quarters of the regular academic rate, when applicable. As such, you may receive a partial housing bill or partial tuition bill for every quarter, although it will depend on your scholarship terms. 

An athletic scholarship can only be awarded for one academic year, maximum, and it must be renewed, decreased or increased, or canceled by July 1 each year. The Office of Student Financial Aid takes these actions, as needed, and notifies the concerned persons, including the student-athlete and head coach. Student-athletes whose scholarships weren’t renewed or reduced can appeal to the Athletic Financial Aid Committee. 

Summer grants-in-aid and scholarships beyond the four-year athletic eligibility are considered on an application basis only. If you’re applying for any of these two scholarships, you have to file a Summer Athletic Aid application or a Post-Eligible Degree Completion Aid application.  

Contact Robin Chang, the Associate Compliance Coordinator, at [email protected] or call at (206) 616-2808 for information about athletic scholarship requirements and compliance.  

The Tritons women’s basketball program is successful, thanks to its five CCAA championships, among other achievements.  Getting into the team is a challenge because of its rigorous admission process, including high academic standards and careful evaluation of game performance. Applicants must also follow the strict deadlines, usually November 30, for admission and scholarship with notifications sent out by the university by March 30 of the following year.  

Interested high school students can call the athletic department at 858-534-4211 or send a letter to UC San Diego Intercollegiate Athletics, 9500 Gilman Drive, RIMAC 4th Floor, La Jolla, California 92093-0531. 

Basketball scholarships are available to deserving students. But with a limited number of scholarships, it’s fierce competition for a full-ride although it’s possible to get one.  

Student-athletes may look into other types of scholarships, such as the restricted and merit scholarships. The recipients of merit scholarships are chosen based on their academic achievement. The restricted scholarships have additional criteria aside from academic merits, such as demonstrated financial need, leadership, or field of interest. 

In both types, supporting documentation is usually required. But personal and medical information is treated with the utmost confidentiality.  

The Fighting Illini women’s basketball has achieved nearly as much as their male counterparts, thanks to their 1997 Big Ten championship and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. The men’s basketball team has 17 Big Ten championships and two Big Ten Tournament championships.  Most, if not all, of their players, were in the university’s much-praised athletic scholarship program. 

The grants-in-aid are welcome considering that the average full-time student’s cost of attendance is $42,783, and it includes tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other estimated expenses. While not all varsity Fighting Illini will get full scholarships, many will get partial scholarships that provide significant coverage. 

The basketball head coach must comply with the specific scholarship allotment allowed by the NCAA. In this case, it’s 13 full scholarships for each of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the University of Illinois being a Division I school. 

According to the school, the average male and female athletes receive nearly the same scholarship amount, proof that gender equality isn’t a big issue with the Fighting Illini. The male athletes receive about $30,100, while the female athletes receive about $30,556 or slightly above their male counterparts. 

Do you have questions about admission and scholarships? Mail your letter to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801. You may also send an email to [email protected] or call 217-333-0302. 

The Anteaters basketball programs enjoy moderate success with conference tournament and regular-season championships. Their players didn’t let the lack of funds prevent them from attending a top-notch university, too. 

About three-quarters of enrolled students at UCI get financial aid, which can come from scholarships, grants, and work-study awards. Student-athletes can apply for financial aid, particularly athletic scholarships offered by the university, and subject to the NCAA rules and regulations. Basketball scholarships can be a full or partial ride, too, and the typically covered items include tuition, fees, books, and standard room and board.  

The head coaches for the men’s and women’s programs also have a significant say about the scholarship recipients and amounts and the recruiting process. You can contact Russell Turner, head coach of the men’s program, at (949)824-3234 or email him at [email protected] for more information. For the women’s program, the contact person is Tamara Inoue, the head coach, at (949)824- 4547 or send an email to [email protected]. 

The school’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships gives merit-based and need-based scholarships and grants, as well as loans and work-study programs. Students can also apply for FAFSA. Nonetheless, the university expects the parents and students to contribute toward educational costs, as necessary. 

The Terrapins women’s basketball team is among the strongest teams in the NCAA with one NCAA Tournament championship (2006) and several ACC and Big Ten championships, the most recent being 2020. This is a team that varsity players in high school will want to be part of! 

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics manages the intercollegiate men’s and women’s basketball programs and their scholarship programs. Interested athletes must prepare themselves for the rigorous academic and athletic standards, from their admission into the program to their compliance as student-athletes. These standards include NCAA and Big Ten eligibility requirements aside from the university requirements, including the number of credits enrolled in, percentage of degree completion, and minimum GPA. 

Full-time enrollment is a must for scholarship benefits. The university has a competition limit – only four competition seasons in five calendar years, which is counted from the first-time enrollment. The Department can make exceptions of Intercollegiate Athletics, but it’s relatively uncommon. 

Get more information about athletes’ academic and athletic scholarships by calling the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at 301-314-7043. You may also contact Brenda Frese, the head coach, at 301-314-1747 or email her at [email protected]. The men’s head coach is Mark Turgeon with contact details as follows: call 301-314-7029 or email to [email protected]. 

The University of Texas at Austin offers generous athletic scholarships that may cover the full or partial cost of tuition and required fees, books, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses related to the cost of attendance. Every student-athlete has a unique scholarship agreement that specifies the items covered and the amount of coverage, among others. The amounts are guaranteed during the eligibility period, or the first four years of full-time enrollment, or until the student-athlete meets the undergraduate degree completion requirements, whichever comes first.  

While an athletic scholarship can neither be reduced nor canceled for athletic reasons, it can be rendered, so in case the concerned student-athlete is deemed ineligible, among other reasons outlined in the NCAA guidelines and university handbook. The student-athlete can file an appeal through the Office of Student Financial Services. 

Send an email to Texas One Stop at [email protected] or call them at (512) 232-6988 for more details on athletic scholarships. 

Are you ready for the challenge of finding the best possible basketball scholarship for your unique needs? Be sure to read our other scholarship resources so you can increase your odds of getting into one of these world-class schools!

Men’s Basketball Scholarships | How to Get a Basketball Scholarship

Less than one percent of high school athletes will go on to play NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball—but we already knew the competition was tough. Even though the odds of landing a scholarship are slim, it isn’t impossible. There are several competitive opportunities, from NCAA Division 1 to JUCO programs, where athletic scholarships are available. Division 1 college coaches offer headcount scholarships, meaning each player gets a full ride. NCAA Division 2, NAIA and JUCO programs, on the other hand, award equivalency scholarships. Coaches at these levels have a pool of athletic aid and they can distribute it to as many athletes as they want, so student-athletes could get partial scholarships. And while Division 3 college coaches can’t offer athletic scholarships, they still provide appealing financial packages that can cover a bulk of college costs.        

Quick Links

NCAA basketball scholarships by division level

How to get a basketball scholarship

What are the odds of getting a basketball scholarship?

Can you play college basketball without a scholarship?

How many scholarships are available for men’s D1 basketball?

How to get a Division 1 basketball scholarship

Division 2 men’s basketball scholarships

Division 3 men’s basketball scholarships

NAIA men’s basketball scholarships

JUCO men’s basketball scholarships

Basketball scholarship requirements

Best colleges for basketball scholarships

How many full ride scholarships for basketball?

NCAA basketball scholarships by division level

When it comes to basketball scholarships, it’s important to understand the difference between a headcount scholarship and an equivalency scholarship. In NCAA Division 1, student-athletes receive headcount scholarships, which are full rides. In other words, coaches award exactly 13 full ride scholarships to 13 athletes, and they can’t distribute that money any other way. At the Division 2, NAIA and JUCO levels, college coaches offer equivalency scholarships. Coaches are given a pool of scholarship funds and they can distribute it to as many athletes as they want. Therefore, depending on the program, some athletes will receive partial scholarships at these levels. 

How to get a basketball scholarship 

Every coach has a specific set of criteria they look for when recruiting student-athletes. Here are the most important aspects you should keep in mind as you search for scholarships:

1. Compete at the highest level possible: To accurately assess a recruit’s ability to compete in college, coaches want to see them play against high-ranked recruits from across the country. That’s why AAU is so popular among top-tier programs—it provides recruits with a chance to play at the national level. However, this level of AAU is the most expensive as recruits are often required to travel to several tournaments. While club basketball can help, it isn’t a necessary requirement to securing a scholarship. Varsity high school teams can also offer great competitive opportunities.
2. Compete in the summer during live periods: Scheduling conflicts make it difficult for college coaches to watch recruits play in-person during the regular season. So, they turn to live periods. These stretches in the offseason allow coaches to hit the road and scout several players at once. Bottom line: playing in front of college coaches in the summer is essential.
3. Attend elite camps: In addition to tournaments, college coaches also evaluate recruits at elite camps. These events, which can be invitation only, attract top talent and college coaches from across the country. There’s one caveat—camps at a Division 1 school tend to invite Division 2 or 3 coaches to attend, as well, but more likely than not, no other Division 1 programs will be in attendance. Make sure to attend camps at schools that are at the top of the target list.
4. Excel academically. Grades and test scores matter to college coaches. First, for divisions that offer equivalency scholarships, academic aid can ease the burden on the coach to provide athletic aid. More importantly, it speaks to a recruit’s character. Coaches know that students who work hard in the classroom are responsible, independent and will have a smoother college transition than those who don’t. 
5. Create a highlight film. The best way to secure an in-depth and in-person evaluation is by sending coaches highlight and game film. Highlight film acts as a first impression—it’s a quick way to show coaches a snapshot of the recruit’s skill set.
6. Be proactive. Despite what families may think, coaches don’t simply discover recruits. Unless they’re one of the very best players in the country, recruits need to do some work to get noticed by college coaches. This is especially important in basketball where student-athletes are still allowed to talk to coaches via phone when they’re the ones initiating the contact. Don’t sit around: research, email and call coaches.
7. Know your best college fit. Lastly, don’t forget to visit the college roster for every team on your target list. The last thing families want to do is waste their time emailing coaches at schools that aren’t a good fit. Here are a few things student-athletes should look at: the players who are in their position (are they seniors who are graduating?), athletic stats (how do they measure up?) and backgrounds (does the coach recruit from a particular region or tournament?)

What are the odds of getting a basketball scholarship?

In short: It isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. From NCAA Division 1 to JUCO, there are 32,890 men’s basketball athletes across 2,009 programs. The odds of a high school basketball player making a Division 1 basketball roster is 105:1, and the odds of a high school basketball player making any college roster is 18:1.

Division 1 basketball is a headcount sport—so coaches have exactly 13 full-ride scholarships that they can award to 13 players. Division 2 is an equivalency sport, so coaches can award full scholarships or divide their funds and offer partial scholarships across athletes. If we break it down to these two NCAA divisions, it comes out to 10,773 athletes competing for 7,719 scholarships. From an NAIA perspective, we’re talking 4,616 athletes competing for 1,845 basketball scholarships. JUCO offers the most opportunity as these programs can award a maximum of 15 scholarships per team and the average team size is 15 players.

Can you play college basketball without a scholarship? 

Yes, but it is very unlikely. Basketball players on NCAA Division 1 teams who aren’t on a scholarship are called walk-ons. Some Division 1 schools hold tryouts where they bring on one to two walk-ons. But these players typically never see any actual playing time. Plus, recruits could be competing against an athlete who already has an established relationship with the college coach—some coaches will recruit walk-ons for their team, known as a “preferred walk-on. ”

NCAA Division 2, NAIA programs and JUCO colleges are more willing to allow walk-ons to compete for roster spots—and even earn a scholarship. For example, a student-athlete could walk on to a Division 2 program their freshman year and then earn a scholarship the next year and year after as these coaches award partial scholarships and renew them on a yearly basis.

How many scholarships are available for men’s D1 basketball?

• Division 1 men’s basketball scholarships per team: 13
• Total # of men’s basketball teams: 353
• Avg. team size: 16 

NCAA Division 1 scholarships are hard to come by. Less than one percent of high school athletes will compete at this level. Each Division 1 men’s basketball program can award 13 full athletic scholarships. These scholarships, called headcount scholarships, cover all college costs, including tuition, housing, books, etc. After the 13 scholarships have been handed out, additional athletes can walk on to the team, but aren’t eligible for athletic aid.

How to get a D1 basketball scholarship

The first thing you need to know about NCAA Division 1 scholarships is that coaches recruit early. And we mean early—in some cases middle school. So, if a student-athlete is looking to land a Division 1 scholarship, they need to be on a coach’s radar before their junior year. Then, obviously, they need to be good. These are the best collegiate basketball players across the country and coaches are extremely selective when offering athletic scholarships. Elite Division 1 athletes rank nationally, such as making the ESPN Top 150 list. Less than one percent of high school athletes go on to play Division 1 basketball. 

Division 1 coaches typically find top recruits through AAU club teams as they roster top talent and compete nationally. But AAU ball is by no means the required path to competing in college outside of Division 1. Playing in tournaments over the summer is an important way to getting coach exposure. Another option is to attend an elite camp hosted by the college. In this case, families want to make sure they’re picking camps where the student-athlete is a good fit athletically and academically to maximize their chances of being evaluated. Remember that academics do matter to college coaches. The higher a recruit’s GPA and test scores, the more doors that will open for them. 

Most importantly, student-athletes need to be proactive. They should create a highlight film, obtain game film and create an online profile showcasing their stats and academic information. Then—and we can’t reiterate this enough—they need to contact college coaches. Send them an introductory email, follow up when it’s relevant and let coaches know when they’ll be calling. Basketball is unique in that student-athletes and coaches can talk via phone when the recruit initiates the contact. So, coaches aren’t allowed to call recruits, but if the student-athlete puts the work in and reaches out to them by phone, coaches can talk to them. If student-athletes aren’t hearing back, they might be reaching out to programs that aren’t an athletic fit. This is when families can lean on their high school or club coach to help them build a list of realistic target schools.

How many Division 2 men’s basketball scholarships are there?

• Maximum scholarships available per team: 10
• Total # of D2 men’s basketball teams: 313
• Avg. team size: 17

NCAA Division 2 coaches are allowed to award a maximum of 10 men’s basketball scholarships per team. Unlike NCAA Division 1, these are equivalency scholarships: college coaches receive a pool of athletic aid and they decide how many athletes receive athletic scholarships. Therefore, some players will be offered partial scholarships instead of full rides.

Division 3 men’s basketball scholarships

• Maximum scholarships available per team: 0
• Total # of D3 men’s basketball teams: 446
• Avg. team size: 18

It’s true that NCAA Division 3 schools can’t offer athletic scholarships. However, they do leverage other types of aid the recruit might qualify for, such as academic scholarships, merit-based aid and grants, to create a competitive scholarship package. Division 3 is mostly made up of small private schools, so they tend to have these kinds of funds readily available. In fact, 82 percent of all Division 3 athletes receive some form of aid. Student-athletes with high test scores and a strong GPA will benefit the most from Division 3 scholarships.   

NAIA basketball scholarships

Division 1

• Maximum scholarships available per team: 11
• Total # of NAIA D1 men’s basketball teams: 93
• Avg. team size: 20 

Division 2

• Maximum scholarships available per team: 6
• Total # of NAIA D2 men’s basketball teams: 137
• Avg. team size: 21

There are currently two basketball divisions within NAIA and they each award their own maximum number of scholarships. NAIA Division 1 offers 11 scholarships per team, while NAIA Division 2 offers six per team. However, the NAIA is set to combine these two divisions beginning with the 2020-21 school year, and at this time, each team can award up to eight scholarships. Furthermore, the NAIA will continue using the equivalency model where coaches receive athletic funds and decide how to distribute scholarships among athletes. Typically, to make the most of their recruiting efforts, coaches award multiple athletes on their team with partial scholarships. That does mean, however, that some student-athletes need to supplement with other types of aid, such as academic scholarships and need-based aid.

JUCO men’s basketball scholarships

• Maximum scholarships available per team: 15
• Total # of NJCAA men’s basketball teams: 430
• Avg. team size: 15

Junior college is not as cut and dry when it comes to men’s basketball scholarships. First, it depends on the division. There are three divisions within the NJCAA, and only Division 1 and 2 can offer athletic scholarships to basketball players. Even more, Division 1 is the only division that can offer a full ride. Division 2 is allowed to cover tuition, fees and books, but they can’t pay for housing. In addition to an athletic scholarship, both divisions will pay for an athlete’s transportation costs to and from the college by direct route once per year. 

Basketball scholarship requirements

Every potential NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 college-athlete is required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and submit their transcripts and SAT/ACT test scores and answer questions pertaining to their amateur status. In order to secure a roster spot and athletic scholarship, student-athletes must meet the academic requirements and be cleared by the Eligibility Center.

While the requirements differ slightly between Division 1 and Division 2, the overall method for determining eligibility is the same: student-athletes must pass 16 core courses throughout high school, maintain a minimum GPA in these core courses and pass the NCAA Sliding Scale. Learn more about the specific Eligibility Center requirements to better understand the GPA and test scores you need to qualify. 

What are the best colleges for basketball scholarships?

The key to securing a basketball scholarship is finding college programs that are the best athletic fit. Think about it this way—coaches are going to prioritize scholarships to their strongest players, so student-athletes need to find programs where they can make an impact right away. If a recruit’s athletic ability doesn’t quite match up, the coach is less inclined to offer a scholarship opportunity.  

To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of the best colleges for basketball scholarships across all the division levels. Recruits interested in these programs should visit the team’s roster to determine if they’re an athletic fit and learn more about the coach’s recruiting method, such as which areas they recruit in. Here’s a look into the best colleges within each level:

• Top men’s basketball colleges: University of North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford University, University of Michigan, University of Florida, University of Virginia, Princeton University, Duke University, University of California, Harvard University.
• Top D1 men’s basketball colleges: University of North Carolina, UCLA, Stanford University, University of Michigan, University of Florida, University of Virginia, Princeton University, Duke University, University of California, Harvard University.
• Top D2 men’s basketball colleges: University of California—San Diego, Bentley University, Point Loma Nazarene University, California State Polytechnic University—Pomona, Rollins College, Bellarmine University, California State University—Chico, Western Washington University, Truman State University, Grand Valley State University.
• Top D3 men’s basketball colleges: John Hopkins University, Emory University, Amherst College, University of California—Santa Cruz, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Hamilton College, Pomona-Pitzer College, University of Chicago, Trinity University—Texas.
• NAIA: Asbury University, University of Michigan—Dearborn, Concordia University—Nebraska, St. Ambrose University, Bethel University—Indiana, Aquinas College—Michigan, College of the Ozarks, Loyola University New Orleans, Taylor University, Indiana Wesleyan University.
• JUCO (according to the NJCAA): Florida SouthWestern State (FL), Vincennes (IN), Coffeyville (KS), Ranger (TX), John A. Logan (IL), Casper (WY), Odessa (TX), Northwest Florida State (FL), Chipola (FL), South Plains (TX) 

How many full ride scholarships for basketball are there? 

In NCAA Division 1 basketball, coaches can offer a maximum of 13 scholarships per team. These are called headcount scholarships, also known as full-ride scholarships. The average NCAA Division 1 team rosters 16 athletes, so there might be three players on the team who walked on and don’t qualify for athletic aid.

At the Division 2, NAIA and JUCO levels, college coaches award equivalency scholarships. This means they can distribute their allocated athletic aid to as many players as they wish. Therefore, you’ll often find student-athletes on partial scholarships, especially at the D2 and NAIA levels. Even though JUCO programs offer equivalency scholarships, they receive a maximum 15 per team, which usually means athletes receive close to full-ride scholarships here.

However, not all college basketball programs are fully funded. For example, a Division 2 coach is allowed to offer a maximum of 10 scholarships per team, but their budget may only allow for seven. So the best way to fully understand your financial aid package opportunities is to connect directly with a college coach at a program you’re interested in—and the same goes for Division 3. Even though D3 coaches can’t award athletic scholarships, they can still work with the admissions department to create appealing aid packages for student-athletes.

How sports scholarships work in the NCAA. Vitaliy Pisetsky and IJ Woods - First & Goal

Before the next season, the issue of monetary compensation for players has become relevant again in the NCAA - this is due to an attempt by the state of California to invalidate the association's ban on paying salaries to its students. First of all, this concerns basketball, but college football, with its wild popularity, will definitely not remain aloof from the discussion. So much so that the NCAA even threatened local programs with exclusion from the championship.

We decided to look into how student scholarships work and asked Vitaly Pisetsky and E. Jay Woods, who played for elite university teams, to talk about it.

Vitaliy Pisetsky, ex-Wisconsin Badgers kicker:
— When I graduated from high school, there was a lot of interest in me, but about 10 universities made specific offers. I chose Wisconsin because several guys from my school went there, and I needed to decide quickly - the fact is that my entire education was shifted by a semester due to the fact that my family moved to the USA in December. Accordingly, I went to school only in February, and graduated in December 1995, and I did not have as much time to think as others. I went to the University of Wisconsin, I really liked everything there, and since then I have never regretted it. I was given a scholarship that covered tuition, room and board. The tuition fee never concerned me, I did not see any bills for it, it all happened by itself. And in the last paragraphs there was a certain freedom - you just had to meet the budget. In the first two years I lived in a hostel and I had to play 150 dollars a month. And starting from the third year, it was possible to move to separate housing and I rented an apartment.

Vitaliy Pisetsky and Melvin Gordon

NCAA Division I has a scholarship limit of 85 people, and the roster can hold up to 105 people. It turns out, 15-20 people in the team, who study for their money and play football. They are called walk-ons. These are guys, most often local ones, who did not particularly star at school and were not noticeable to the scouts. Sometimes it happens that the school is small and it is not even possible to play with a full team. They play 7x7 and it is very difficult for scouts to assess their level. They are given the opportunity to pass a priority screening, and those who excel can even qualify for a scholarship. They also live and eat separately, although at away games all the players are already together.

I once sat down to calculate how much time I devoted to the university and the team, including football training and general physical training, and was shocked. Especially since I played as a kicker and didn't have to learn the entire playbook. Out of the season, especially in the summer, you can get some work and the University even helped a little in this, thus encouraging the players to keep fit. That is, you can take an easy schedule of two or three subjects, swing, run and earn money somewhere. This is sometimes done even by players on scholarships.

Embed from Getty Images

But it's not realistic to earn money during the season. In my time, we never thought that college football players could be paid to play. To be honest, I'm totally against it. Firstly, the players get an education, which in itself costs crazy money. Secondly, large universities have far from one sports program, of which only football, basketball, and maybe hockey bring in money. Another million sports need to be supported somehow. Thirdly, just think about how this can be implemented in practice. How much to pay? Let's take a conditional $500. In Wisconsin, this is one money, and in Los Angeles, it is completely different. Universities in wealthy regions will pay much more and this will tip the balance in their favor.

The NCAA has no control over student-university relationships, but if you get caught, there will be consequences. It’s probably happening somewhere that the university quietly pays especially valuable players, but definitely not on a large scale. When they catch it, everything is very serious. You can recall the example of Reggie Bush, who got caught, and all the titles of the team during the period that he played there were canceled. The player cannot take money for anything, except that in the summer they can get you a job. And if a person comes up to you and says “sign me 10 T-shirts, I will pay $10 for each”, then this is already a very serious violation.

Read also - Vitaly Pisetsky: “When you enter the NFL, you come to the office. Everyone keeps to themselves”

***

And Jay Woods, ex-UCLA Bruins and New Mexico Highlands player (now a wide receiver and defensive back for Spartak):

— When I graduated from high school, I was one of the top 100 players in the country, so I had over 50 scholarship offers. But the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) first offered me to apply to them when I was 15 years old. At that time I had no idea about any scholarships, I just trained a lot, played and won the MVP award, after which they made me an offer - so far in words. And then I immediately agreed. After high school, my shortlist was Oregon, Washington, All Miss, Florida State and UCLA. But who wants to leave sunny California? And I made a final commit to the Bruins, it was an easy decision.

SPEARFISH, SD - OCTOBER 27, 2012: E.J. Woods #3 of New Mexico Highlands leaps towards Black Hills State University defenders Randall Hill #16 and Scott Boner #30 during their game Saturday afternoon at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish, S. D. Woods scored a touchdown on the play. (Photo by Richard Carlson/dakotapress.org)

Division 1 only provides full scholarships that cover everything: room, food, even clothes. Basically, you don't need money. At the very beginning of my studies, I purchased a set of textbooks for a total of about $1,000, and the university then returned this money to me. Teams always have people who study for their money and sometimes they are even better than other players with a scholarship. Of these guys, Kevin McDermott and Christian Yant were on the team with me. Very modest and hard-working players - after the university they were among those who got into the NFL.

When I was in college, it was strictly forbidden for us to work and receive any money from outside. Even selling a chocolate bar for a dollar could get you in serious trouble. We didn't even really discuss it, taking it for granted that education is worth it. Then we grew up and realized that Universities make millions for us, but for me personally, at the time of my studies, money did not matter. I thought that I would start playing football professionally and earn my own.

See also - And Jay Woods: “A lot of great football players don't get into the NFL because they can't make it through the college football system. Unfortunately, I'm just one of those"

If you find a mistake, please highlight the text and press Ctrl+Enter .

US College Sports Device - Sports and Education in the USA - Blogs0007 NCAA

In this article I will talk about what college sports are like in America, what sports you can get a sports scholarship (paying for your education at the expense of the university) and why American students do not make money by playing for their university .

Let's start with the fact that those American student competitions that we can see on TV, with 20,000 seats on the grounds of which future players of the NBA, NFL, NHL, etc. perform. This is just the tip of the student sports iceberg.

There are thousands of colleges and universities in the US, and not every university has millions of dollars of budgets and includes future world-class athletes in its ranks.

NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is divided into 3 divisions:

NCAA Division 1 (about 350 universities)

Kany University, Dukes, North Carolina University .

First Division Universities are the largest US universities that invest heavily in their college sports.

Huge sports arenas, training conditions that are not worse than those of the NBA teams, the most promising young athletes from around the world are the 1st division of the NCAA.

Football game attendance Georgia University

NCAA Division 2 (about 315 universities)

The second division is represented by smaller universities, but still students live, study and train in excellent conditions and attendance at sports events is quite high.

The level of sports teams in the second division of the NCAA is certainly weaker than the teams in the first division, but I would not say that the difference in terms of the level of play is enormous.

The strongest second division basketball teams are quite capable of playing on par with the average division one.

Ben Wallace, for example, came from the second division.

University Basketball Arena Division 2

NCAA Division 3 - (450 universities)

The third division is represented by smaller universities.

The main difference from the 1st and 2nd divisions is that in the 3rd division they do not give sports scholarships, the athletes themselves pay for their education.

In the third division, the level of sports is already much lower

For example, the guy scored 138 points in one basketball game of the 3rd division

However, in addition to the NCAA, there are other college sports leagues in America.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - about 250 universities) is another college sports league.

NAIA is divided into two divisions (NAIA D1, NAIA D2), the level of play is approximately the same as in the second division of the NCAA.

The NAIA also offers an athletic scholarship.

In addition to 4-year universities, there are 2-year colleges in America (Junior College or Community College)

exams (SAT, TOEFL).

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association, 440 colleges)

NJCAA is a 2-year college league, also divided into 3 divisions.

It is worth noting that in Junior Colleges sports are at a high level, many athletes go to junior colleges due to the fact that they could not get good enough grades to enter a 4-year university.

Junior College campuses also look good enough

An American University or College Athletic Scholarship is available for quite a few different sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Hockey
• American football
• Artistic gymnastics
• Football European
• Tennis
• Water polo
• Athletics
• Golf

All sports eligible for scholarships in NCAA Division 1 (columns 2 and 3 are the number of full scholarships for a given sport that the university can award)

Many people do not know that students in America do not receive any money for playing for the university, and despite the fact that student sports in the USA are at a very high level, they are still considered amateur.

Learn more

• 
  How do u play horse in basketball
• How big is a basketball diameter
• 
  How to dispose of a basketball hoop
• 
  How to shoot higher in basketball
• 
  How many gold medals does team usa basketball have
• 
  How many full ride scholarships for basketball
• 
  How did michael jordan get into basketball
• 
  How to go between the legs in basketball
• 
  How many laps is a mile around basketball court
• 
  How many timeouts in basketball nba
• 
  How can i get a basketball scholarship