How to become a division 1 basketball player

What skills are needed to play basketball in college? And what do college coaches look for in recruits? Whether an athlete is a perimeter player or post player, this section lays out the different requirements needed to compete at the college level, from NCAA Division 1 to JUCO programs. When student-athletes know where they fit in best, they can create a realistic list of target colleges and improve their chances of connecting with college coaches. 

Quick Links

What do coaches look for in college basketball recruits?

What basketball skills are needed to play at the college level?

Elite basketball skills

Average men’s basketball player height by position and level

Men’s basketball point guard recruiting guidelines

Men’s basketball power forward recruiting guidelines

Men’s basketball center recruiting guidelines

Men’s basketball shooting guard recruiting guidelines

Men’s basketball small forward recruiting guidelines

How to get ranked in basketball

What do coaches look for in college basketball recruits? 

College coaches look at a variety of factors when determining an athlete’s ability. Here are the most important ones:

• Height and frame. The first is the most obvious: physical characteristics, like height and body frame, athleticism and strength. In NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball, the average basketball player height was just under 6’5” and the most common height listed was 6’7”. Basically, they want power players who can make an impact on the court.
• Technical ability. That being said, at the collegiate level, every athlete will be fast, athletic and strong, so coaches also thoroughly evaluate technical skills. For example, can the recruit protect the ball, or shoot with the right footwork and release point? Bottom line: coaches don’t want to bring on student-athletes who need to be taught the fundamentals.
• Basketball IQ. More importantly, coaches will determine a recruit’s “basketball IQ” and this is where position-specific skills come into play. Can perimeter players successfully drive the game and control the pace? Do post players read the right defensive rotations? Basketball IQ also includes situational awareness of the game. For example, if the clock is winding down and the game is tied, do athletes know to hold onto the ball until the last shot, instead of forcing a shot early? It also means being aware of how many time outs and fouls both teams have throughout the game. Players who are technically sound, can read the game and execute on the fundamentals will stand out.
• Academics. Lastly, there are aspects outside of athletics that can truly set recruits apart. Academics, especially at the Division 3 level, are extremely important to college coaches. High grades and test scores speak to an athlete’s discipline, leadership ability and even time management skills.

Of course, what coaches look for also depends on their program’s specific needs. Some schools might invest more in developing a tall, athletic post player, while others highly value a smaller player who has raw talent, polished skills and strong instincts. In many cases, college coaches will turn to JUCO teams to find stronger and more developed talent compared to high school student-athletes. 

Establishing relationships with college coaches is the best way to fully understand their recruiting needs. But another quick way is to visit a team’s roster. Look at which athletes are graduating versus how many underclassmen are in certain positions and compare athletic history to see which positions coaches are recruiting and what key stats they look for.  

What basketball skills are needed to play at the college level?

When compiling their lists of top recruits, college coaches evaluate three athletic factors: physical ability, fundamentals and basketball IQ. They seek out players who are conditioned, technically sound and have a thorough understanding of the game and strong instincts. They also want to coach athletes who have the potential to improve. That’s why playing nationally and against other high-level recruits is a popular way to gain exposure. Here is a quick overview of the types of players each division recruits:

Division 1 basketball skills: These recruits are ranked nationally and are included in top lists, such as ESPN Top 150, Rivals and Scout. They have elite ball handling and defensive skills and are the best players on their high school and club teams. Simply put—they are the top recruits across the country. Typically recruited through their AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) club team, these athletes receive interest and verbal offers from college coaches early in the process during the summer after sophomore year. They’re awarded top accolades, including All-State honors, and start on varsity all four years.

Division 2 basketball skills: These players have mastered the fundamentals and are considered one of the top players on their high school and club team. They have control on the court and will continue to develop under a collegiate training program. They’ve received awards like All-Region, All-District and All-Conference. Top NCAA Division 2 programs make verbal offers to these athletes at the beginning of their junior year.   

Division 3 basketball skills: These players have some club and varsity experience, earning them accolades, such as All-Area and All-Conference. They have the fundamentals nailed down and may need to continue to work on other parts of their game, whether it’s rebounding, defense, etc. A bulk of these recruits will receive offers after the summer of their junior year and into senior year.

NAIA basketball skills: These basketball recruits will look similar to some Division 2 prospects. They have varsity experience and played with a high-level club for two to three years. They’ve earned awards, such as All-Area and All-Conference. In a collegiate training program, they will continue to get stronger and improve their technical ability. These recruits can receive offers during their junior year and into their senior year as well. 

JUCO basketball skills: JUCO basketball prospects aim to fine tune their skills before transferring to a four-year institution. They are utility players and benefit from competing in a post high school setting. This level is a great opportunity for athletes to focus on core fundamentals, while working on getting stronger and faster, before going on to play at the highest level.

Average men’s basketball player height by position and level

Average men’s basketball player height by position

• Avg. point guard height: 5’11”
• Avg. shooting guard height: 6’1”
• Avg. small forward height: 6’4”
• Avg. sower forward height: 6’6.5”
• Avg. center height: 6’7.5”

In NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball, the average basketball player height is just under 6’5” and the most common height listed is 6’7”.

Men’s basketball point guard recruiting guidelines 

Top D1 / Top JC

• Height: 6’2”+
• Club Experience: Plays at the highest level in AAU, qualifying for national tournaments and elite events across the country. Ranks nationally on lists such as Rivals, Scout and ESPN Top 150. High profile player who is usually recruited through AAU as an underclassman.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter all four years of high school. Earned several top accolades, such as All-State, All-Region and All-Area honors. Best player on the team.

Low D1 / Top D2 / Top NAIA

• Height: 6’1”+
• Club Experience: Three to four years of AAU experience, playing on high level teams that compete nationally. Gets college coach exposure at club summer tournaments.
• High School Experience: Three to four years as a varsity starter, earning awards such as All-Conference and All-Region. One of the top athletes on the team.  

Low D3 / Low NAIA

• Height: 5’10”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter as an upperclassman, possibly earning some accolades such as All-Area or All-Conference. 

Low D3 / Low JC 

• Height: 5’9”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: One to two years of varsity experience. 

Men’s basketball power forward recruiting guidelines

Top D1 / Top JC 

• Height: 6’7”+
• Club Experience: Plays at the highest level in AAU, qualifying for national tournaments and elite events across the country. Ranks nationally on lists such as Rivals, Scout and ESPN Top 150. High profile player who is usually recruited through AAU as an underclassman.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter all four years of high school. Earned several top accolades, such as All-State, All-Region and All-Area honors. Best player on the team.

Low D1 / Top D2 / Top NAIA

• Height: 6’6”+
• Club Experience: Three to four years of AAU experience, playing on high level teams that compete nationally. Gets college coach exposure at club summer tournaments.
• High School Experience: Three to four years as a varsity starter, earning awards such as All-Conference and All-Region. One of the top athletes on the team. 

Low D3 / Low NAIA

• Height: 6’5”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter as an upperclassman, possibly earning some accolades, such as All-Area or All-Conference. 

Low D3 / Low JC

• Height: 6’4”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: One to two years of varsity experience.

Men’s basketball center recruiting guidelines 

Top D1 / Top JC

• Height: 6’9”+
• Club Experience: Plays at the highest level in AAU, qualifying for national tournaments and elite events across the country. Ranks nationally on lists such as Rivals, Scout and ESPN Top 150. High profile player who is usually recruited through AAU as an underclassman.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter all four years of high school. Earned several top accolades, such as All-State, All-Region, and All-Area honors. Best player on the team.

Low D1 / Top D2 / Top NAIA

• Height: 6’8”+
• Club Experience: Three to four years of AAU experience, playing on high level teams that compete nationally. Gets college coach exposure at club summer tournaments.
• High School Experience: Three to four years as a varsity starter, earning awards such as All-Conference and All-Region. One of the top athletes on the team. 

Low D3 / Low NAIA

• Height: 6’7”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter as an upperclassman, possibly earning some accolades such as All-Area or All-Conference.  

Low D3 / Low JC 

• Height: 6’6”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: One to two years of varsity experience.

Men’s basketball shooting guard recruiting guidelines 

Top D1 / Top JC 

• Height: 6’3”+
• Club Experience: Plays at the highest level in AAU, qualifying for national tournaments and elite events across the country. Ranks nationally on lists such as Rivals, Scout and ESPN Top 150. High profile player who is usually recruited through AAU as an underclassman.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter all four years of high school. Earned several top accolades, such as All-State, All-Region and All-Area honors. Best player on the team. 

Low D1 / Top D2 / Top NAIA

• Height: 6’2”+
• Club Experience: Three to four years of AAU experience, playing on high level teams that compete nationally. Gets college coach exposure at club summer tournaments.
• High School Experience: Three to four years as a varsity starter, earning awards such as All-Conference and All-Region. One of the top athletes on the team. 

Low D3 / Low NAIA 

• Height: 6’0”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter as an upperclassman, possibly earning some accolades such as All-Area or All-Conference.  

Low D3 / Low JC 

• Height: 5’10”+
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: One to two years of varsity experience.

Men’s basketball small forward recruiting guidelines

Top D1 / Top JC 

• Height: 6’5”
• Club Experience: Plays at the highest level in AAU, qualifying for national tournaments and elite events across the country. Ranks nationally on lists such as Rivals, Scout and ESPN Top 150. High profile player who is usually recruited through AAU as an underclassman.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter all four years of high school. Earned several top accolades, such as All-State, All-Region and All-Area honors. Best player on the team.

Low D1 / Top D2 / Top NAIA 

• Height: 6’4”
• Club Experience: Three to four years of AAU experience, playing on high level teams that compete nationally. Gets college coach exposure at club summer tournaments.
• High School Experience: Three to four years as a varsity starter, earning awards such as All-Conference and All-Region. One of the top athletes on the team. 

Low D3 / Low NAIA

• Height: 6’3”
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: Varsity starter as an upperclassman, possibly earning some accolades such as All-Area or All-Conference.  

Low D3 / Low JC

• Height: 6’3”
• Club Experience: Some AAU experience playing locally, although it is not necessary.
• High School Experience: One to two years of varsity experience.

How to get ranked in basketball 

Star ratings are a quick and easy way to convey a recruit’s level of talent to college coaches. In men’s basketball, 5-star athletes are the best recruits in the country and have outstanding athleticism far beyond their peers. Prospects who are considered the best player on their club or high school team are typically considered 4-star athletes. Student-athletes who show dominance on the court but have a few areas to improve on are usually labeled as 3-star athletes. Lastly, 1- and 2-star recruits have potential to compete at the college level and after some training and development, could become reliable starters. 

It’s important for recruits to gauge their level of talent so they know which programs they qualify for. There are a couple of ways to receive a star rating. First, they can ask their high school or club coach to help assess their skill set and research college team rosters to see where their talent aligns. Another way is to have a third-party, like NCSA, use their expertise and knowledge of the college landscape to personally evaluate the recruit.

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Check if you reside outside of the United States

Sport *

Select SportBaseballCheerleadingEsportsField HockeyFootballMen's BasketballMen's DivingMen's GolfMen's Ice HockeyMen's LacrosseMen's RowingMen's SoccerMen's SwimmingMen's TennisMen's TrackMen's VolleyballMen's Water PoloMen's WrestlingSoftballWomen's BasketballWomen's Beach VolleyballWomen's DivingWomen's Flag FootballWomen's GolfWomen's GymnasticsWomen's Ice HockeyWomen's LacrosseWomen's RowingWomen's SoccerWomen's SwimmingWomen's TennisWomen's TrackWomen's VolleyballWomen's Water PoloWomen's Wrestling

H. S. Grad Year *

Select Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

Phone *

Zip Code *

Parent Information

Parent's First Name *

Parent's Last Name *

Parent's Email *

Check if you reside outside of the United States

Phone *

By submitting, you agree to receive personalized follow-up and marketing messages from NCSA by email, phone and automated text. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Standard rates apply.

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

Athlete's First Name *

Athlete's Last Name *

Check if you reside outside of the United States

Sport *

Select SportBaseballCheerleadingEsportsField HockeyFootballMen's BasketballMen's DivingMen's GolfMen's Ice HockeyMen's LacrosseMen's RowingMen's SoccerMen's SwimmingMen's TennisMen's TrackMen's VolleyballMen's Water PoloMen's WrestlingSoftballWomen's BasketballWomen's Beach VolleyballWomen's DivingWomen's Flag FootballWomen's GolfWomen's GymnasticsWomen's Ice HockeyWomen's LacrosseWomen's RowingWomen's SoccerWomen's SwimmingWomen's TennisWomen's TrackWomen's VolleyballWomen's Water PoloWomen's Wrestling

H. S. Grad Year *

Select Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

Phone *

Parent Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Check if you reside outside of the United States

Phone *

Zip Code *

By submitting, you agree to receive personalized follow-up and marketing messages from NCSA by email, phone and automated text. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Standard rates apply.

Go get an education, it's too late for you to become a basketball player - The Jay's - Blogs

This post was written by a Sports.ru user, every fan can start writing (you can do it here).

NBA players who started playing basketball very late

We all know basketball players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan. They played basketball all their lives, they were talked about even during their school years and no one was surprised by the fact that sooner or later they would get into the world's major basketball league.

But what about the players who first picked up an orange ball not at age three, but in high school, or worse, in college? What chances do they have to achieve at least some success in the basketball field, and do they exist at all?

Everyone has a chance. This is the beauty of basketball. Today we will talk about athletes who got acquainted with basketball much later than most players.

Joel Embiid

Started: 2011 (15 years old)

Career stats: 22.8 + 9.9 + 2.8 + 2.0 (points/rebounds/assists/blocks)

Process already looks like the top 3 center in the entire league. In today's NBA, if you're a center and you don't have a good and consistent shot, you're in for the fate of Hassan Whiteside. Old-school centers are no longer interesting to anyone, their actions are predictable, there is no threat from them on the arc, therefore this gives more freedom to the defending team. And that's why players like Anthony Davis, Karl Towns, DeMarcus Cousins ​​and Joel Embiid sat down on the "basketball Olympus".

But if in the case of the first three centers, the ascent took 15-20 years, then Embiid needed only 7.

Initially, "Process" wanted to become a volleyball player and try his hand at the European championships. But when the young Embiid was 15 years old, he picked up a basketball for the first time and began to copy Hakim Olajuwon's style of play. Joel liked the game so much that in the same year he went to a basketball camp organized by Luc Mba a Mute in Cameroon.

As a result of this camp, Luke is so impressed with Embiid's game and potential that he invites him to try himself in America.

Joel Embiid moves to the USA at the age of 16 and decides to become a professional basketball player.

In the states, the "Process" continued to progress and ended up in one of the best student organizations - Kansas. In his only college season, Embiid scored something like 11+8, entered the top 30 students and entered the draft with a back injury.

At first, Joel did not work out in the NBA, precisely because of an unfortunate injury, and for the first two years he spent almost all of his time in the infirmary. But after the recovery and after the last season, we see a top center, who is undoubtedly far from his peak and will continue to progress.

Dennis Rodman

Started: 1983 (aged 21)

Career stats: 7.3 + 90 0.2 + 1.0002 Achievements: Hall of Famer, 5x NBA Champion, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-Star, 7x Defensive Top Five.

The best rebounder in the history of basketball, ready to rip opponents' elbows with the ball, was only introduced to basketball in high school. And it is very difficult to call this acquaintance the beginning of his basketball career. Rodman, a model of his school years, did not really know how to dribble, and his shots from under the basket left much to be desired, not to mention the shots from the middle. As a result, throughout his school career, Rodman sat on the bench. Also, young Dennis tried to get into the school football team, but failed there too.

Of course, after such a school "performance", no college offered Rodman an athletic scholarship. As a result, Dennis graduates from high school and goes to work as a janitor at the local airport. And just at that time, the young player has a so-called "growth spurt" and decides to try his hand at basketball again, despite the fact that he did not feel very comfortable in his new two-meter body.

A friend of the Rodman family, he got a position as head coach at a small college in Texas, and offered the young Dennis a scholarship. As a result of his first and only semester (Rodman was expelled for poor progress), the young player scores 17 + 13! Agree, very good numbers for a player who a couple of years ago could not get out from under the ring.

The most interesting thing is that during high school, Dennis was only 170 cm tall. But by the time he went to college at 21, Rodman was already 204 cm tall! It's amazing how he has grown so much in just 4 years.

After his first undergraduate performance failure, Rodman was given a second chance at an Oklahoma college whose team was NAIA. There he spends three fruitful years, gaining 25 + 15, becomes the leader in rebounds and gets into the 19th draft.86, where he was drafted 3rd overall by the Detroit Pistons in the second round.

Everything that happened next is history. Dennis went from a calm and reserved player who did his job in the Pistons, like other "bad guys", into an outrageous, media player.

But it is worth noting that this did not affect his game in any way. Rodman became the best defensive player of the championship 2 times, got into the top five defensively 7 times and became the best rebounder 7 times in a row. Well, it’s not worth talking about his five championships, everyone already knows about it.

Interesting fact: Father Dennis Rodman has 48 children.

Another interesting fact: Dennis Rodman is the oldest of them.

Moving on.

Khakim Potzhavon

When I started: 1979 (16 years old)

Statistics for career: 21.8 + 11.1 + 2.5 + 3.1

Achievements for Career: Member of the Glory Hall, 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 1x NBA Champion, 1x NBA MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 12x All-Star, 2x Defensive Player of the Year, one of the top 50 basketball players of all time.

The Dream, until the age of 16 he was exclusively fond of football and handball. And it was a football career that helped Hakim with footwork and body balance in the future.

At the age of 16, the two-meter-high Olajuwon is invited to take part in a basketball tournament (even though Hakim has never played it). There, a basketball coach notices him and informs Hakim's parents that their son may have a good career, but in Nigeria he will remain only budding. Hakim begins to train hard with his coach in order to achieve something in professional sports. Here's what he said about basketball:

Basketball is something unique. When I took the ball in my hands, I immediately knew that this is what I want to do all my life, you know? After that moment, any other sports lost their meaning for me.

As a result of all this, the parents of a young basketball player send him to America, where Houston College was waiting for him to watch. Hakim impressed coach Guy Lewis with his game and he accepted the young player into the squad.

Season 1980/1981 Olajuwon missed out because he was still too young to play in the NCAA (17 years old). But over the course of the next three years in college, Hakim screwed up and showed the entire student league who's boss in the paint!

He becomes the Final Four MVP, also earns the NCAA Southwest Conference MVP, and the Rockets begin to fold the 1983/1984 season in order to take Hakim with the first pick in the upcoming draft.

If you are reading this and think that Hakim was very good, you are right. But do not forget that The Dream achieved all this in 5 years from the moment of his first basketball game!

What happened next - you yourself know everything again. Hakim became one of the best centers in the history of basketball, an innovator and creator of new offensive techniques in the paint. Seriously, show me one player in the history of basketball that has played better than Hakim in the post?

Olajuwon led his hometown of Houston twice to the championship, became the most valuable player in one of the finals, the most valuable player in the league and was twice recognized as the best defensive player. Great career, great player!

DIKMBA MUTOMO

When I started: 1984 (17 years old)

Statistics for careers: 9.8 + 10.3 + 2.0 + 2.8

Achievements: member of the NBA glory, 8-time All-Star, 4-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time rebounding leader, 3-time block shot leader.

Another African who started playing basketball very late.

Until the age of 17, Dikembe "not in my house" Mutombo was fond of exclusively football and did not see himself anywhere except on a wide lawn (or sandy wasteland) with goals along the edges. So his youth passed, if not for his older brother, who invited him to play basketball.

Basketball meets Dikembe in style. In the first game, Mutombo cracks his chin and tells his brother that he will never play this "stupid game" again.

But still, after a couple of weeks, the brother again persuades Dikembe to play. And from that moment began the basketball adventure of one of the best defensive players in the league. Mutombo started playing in the African League and achieved excellent results. A vivid confirmation of this is a sports scholarship from Georgetown.

Mutombo enters the NCAA at the age of 21 and immediately shows excellent results. In his very first season, Dikembe manages to make 12 blocks in ONE game! And in general, the period 1988-1990 was one of the best in history for Georgetown. Under the ring, along with Dikembe, was another future member of the hall of fame - Alonzo Morning. Their bunch was even nicknamed "Rejection Row".

College career can be called successful. Mutombo was named to the NCAA East Division First Team as well as the All NCAA Third Team, and was selected with the 4th pick in the 19 draft91, aged.. 25 years old.

But even with such a late start, Mutombo had a long and fruitful career, spending as many as 18 seasons in the league!

He achieved everything, almost everything. Dikembe never received the coveted ring, but few would say that his career was not a success.

Throughout his career, the Congolese basketball player has demonstrated high professionalism, quality defense and incredible block shots. Mutombo was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year four times, was elected to the league's All-Stars three times, and took part in the All-Star game eight times.

Tim Dancan

When he started: 1991 (15 years)

Statistics on careers: 19.0 + 10.8 + 2.2

Revolutions: 5-time NBA champion, NBA, NBA, 5-time champion 2-time MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-Star (10 times first), 15-time Defensive Five, Rookie of the Year, 2003 Athlete of the Year, NCAA Player of the Year .

Tim Duncan is the best basketball player of the 2000s and possibly the greatest basketball player of the 21st century. Try to convince me of this as much as you like, but such a stable, unselfish and simply excellent player is very difficult to find. Duncan is a hard worker who does an enormous amount of work from game to game, from season to season, without requiring any attention and encouragement from the basketball community.

But it all started in the Virgin Islands, when young Tim, looking at his sister Trisha, who was a swimmer, wanted to follow in her footsteps. Duncan trained hard day after day and dreamed of taking part in the 1992 Olympic Games.

But his dream was not destined to come true. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo swept through the Caribbean and caused damage to many countries, including Tim Duncan's native Virgin Islands. And everything would be fine, but the same hurricane destroyed the only pool on the islands and Duncan now had nowhere to train.

You say - hey, if he lives on an island, then the ocean is around! Why shouldn't he train there? It's very simple - Duncan is terrified of sharks. That is why his swimming career ended so early.

At the age of 15, Duncan picks up a basketball for the first time and starts playing for the school team. And here is what his first coach said about Timmy:

Duncan was huge. He was big and tall, I haven't trained players like that for a long time. But despite all his dimensions - he was just terribly clumsy!

Gradually Tim began to improve, averaging 25 points in his senior year at school. His game has attracted a large number of universities and colleges from all over America. And Wake Forest offered the young player an athletic scholarship.

In college, Duncan begins to develop his usual playing style. Simple but effective. Duncan combined many aspects of the game, such as high-quality post play, open mid-range shots, and tough defense. It was this style that helped not only him, but also his team, to show good results in the NCAA.

Duncan, one of the few superstars (if not the only one) who spent all four years of college! All because he promised his mother, who died the day before Tim's 14th birthday, that he would graduate from college and get an education.

In the end, over 4 years in college, Tim was 97-31, scored over 2,000 points, 1,500 rebounds and 400 blocks and was automatically selected for the 1998 draft, where he was selected with the first pick of the San Antonio Spurs.

With the Spurs, Duncan first became David Robinson's assistant, then became a team leader himself for many years. San Antonio is a 15-year dynasty, just like the New England Patriots (as a fan of all Boston teams, I just had to compare the two franchises). And all this time, the main face of the team was Tim Duncan, the man who achieved everything in the NBA.

Yannis Antetokunmpo

When I started: 2007 (13 years)

Statistics for career: 12. 2 + 6.6 + 2.9 + 1.1

Achievements: the most progressive player NBA, 2-fold All-Star Team Member, 2nd NBA Team.

Giannis was born in Grezzi, in a family of Nigerian immigrants and until the age of 13 he played only football, having absolutely no idea what basketball is and who needs it at all.

Yannis and his family had a hard time, to put it mildly. There was a catastrophic lack of money, so he and his brother sold all sorts of trinkets, watches, bags on the streets, trying to somehow help their parents with finances. Well, after a hard day, Giannis and his brother went to the football field and chased the ball until late.

That was until 2007, when basketball appeared in the life of the young Antetokounmpo.

The young player fell in love with the game and started devoting all his free time to developing his basketball skills. And it paid off! Two years later, in 2009, Giannis starts playing for Fylatlitikos youth team.

In 2012, The Greek Freak made the main roster, spent a mid-season in the Greek League Two and entered the 2013 draft, where the Milwaukee Bucks nonetheless were selected.

Giannis' NBA career developed over three seasons. The coaching staff worked very competently here, which, as Antetokounmpo performed in the league, gradually loaded him with new baggage of knowledge and skills. Giannis soaked it all up like a sponge and as time went by, his minutes played and his role in the team increased.

Now Giannis is the future of basketball, the second LeBron, the man who can make the Eurostep from the three-point line. I'm afraid to imagine what will happen to this player in the future, because Giannis is only 23 years old! And he is already a franchise player and will progress in each next season.

Mark Eaton

Started: 1977 (21 years old)

Career stats: 6.0 + 7.9 + 1.00003

Achievements: 2x Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star, 4x Block Shot Leader, 3x Defensive Five.

Mark Eaton's story is probably the most amazing of all the players featured. Despite his rather impressive height (224 cm), Mark preferred to play water polo (???) than basketball.

After Eaton graduated from high school, he went to college to major in auto mechanics. Immediately after graduation, Mark moves to Anaheim, where he begins to work in his new profession.

After three years of carefree life as an auto mechanic, he is found by Tom Lubin, who was fixing his car at Mark's. Tom was a chemistry teacher and assistant head coach at a small college in California. It was he who suggested that Mark try his hand at basketball and did not lose.

In two years of college, Eton averaged 14 points and led his college to victory in the California Collegiate Championship. After that, Mark chooses the Phoenix Suns in the 19 draft.79 in the fifth round. Eton had the right to refuse and return to college, which he did.

But this was not a small college somewhere in the middle of California. Eton received an offer from the famous UCLA, which he, of course, accepted.

Career at the main college of Los Angeles did not go up, but flew down with terrible force. In two years, Mark spent only 42 minutes, gaining 1+2 in 11 matches. And of course, no one wanted to take him in the draft. Nobody but Utah. The leadership of "Jazz" was guided by iron logic - everything can be taught to the big, the main thing is that it is big.

Fun fact: Wilt Chamberlain was in attendance at UCLA once Eton played. The great center saw the frustrated Mark and gave the young player some advice, in particular: to "score" on attacking actions and focus on protecting his own ring, collect rebounds and pass the ball to faster partners, instead of competing with the same fast opponents. The conversation is said to have marked a turning point in Mark's career.

"Utah" did not lose. In his first season, Mark becomes the team's starting center while setting a new league record for blocked shots in a season. In the 1973-1974 season, Mark averaged 5.5 blocks per game and also grabbed 11 rebounds and was named the best defensive player.

Eton's career can hardly be called great. But the fact that he was an excellent defensive player should not be in the slightest doubt. Two titles of the best defender of the league and fixed by “Utah” 53rd number is a vivid confirmation of this!

Players who also started late: Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O'Neal, Manute Bol, Michael Olowokandi, Steven Adams.

As you can see, everything depends on desire, hard work and everyday training. If you are over 20 years old and you are an African seven-footer, then you have a good chance of getting into the world's major league. But if not, you still have a chance. 1 out of 100,000, 1 out of 1,000,000, but it's there. Train, improve, love basketball and you will succeed!

Thank you for your time!

College & Basketball (18+ years) - Pro Futuro Sports

College & Basketball (18+ years) - Pro Futuro Sports | PFS

Admission to universities in the USA and Canada, in the leagues NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA and USPORTS

College and basketball in the US or Canada

More and more basketball players from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries continue their basketball career and education at American colleges and universities.

PFS is the absolute world leader in providing basketball scholarships to universities in the US and Canada. Our clients play at all levels of college basketball in America, including at the most famous universities such as Stanford, Gonzaga, UCLA.

PFS objectives for US universities

Saving you money

Our clients receive exclusive conditions for studying at American Universities. Working with us, families save an average of 50-70% of the possible costs of teaching a child basketball player abroad. The savings are often in the tens of thousands of dollars a year.

How do we do it? We know the mechanisms of working with scholarships and grants, as well as the universities themselves are interested in partnership conditions due to the large number of our clients from all over the world - this allows us to receive exclusive offers for our clients.

Find the right university for a young basketball player

Our client can be either one of the best young athletes in Europe, or a novice athlete who is only striving for great success in sports - the task of PFS from the whole variety of American universities is to select the university that suits all the criteria for a young athlete, where he can maximize his potential.

Essentials you need to know about college basketball in the USA

You need to be a world class star if you want to play basketball and study in the USA - is the main myth we want to dispel!

You will be surprised, but in the USA, both at school and at university, an athlete of any level can play basketball - both a future NBA player and one for whom basketball is just a hobby. There are more than 1,500 universities in America, and basketball is available in almost every one of them.

The system of any sport in the USA, and basketball in particular, is built in such a way that sports are included in the system of school and university sports, i.e. in fact, in America there are no “basketball schools” or “youth clubs” analogous to our SDUSSHORs, where the general education school and the sports school are third-party organizations and big sport is incompatible with study.

In the US, athletes fully combine their sports career and education.

Thanks to the inclusion of sports in the curriculum of schools and universities, in the US you can study, for example, at Harvard or Stanford and play on the varsity basketball team with future NBA players.

The American sports system has all the best advantages for athlete development - the most gearing sports infrastructure, the strongest coaches, a huge number of teams at the school and university level. The only caveat is that studying in the USA is very expensive.

However, in America there is a program sports scholarships , which helps athletes reduce the cost of training. A scholarship in the USA means a discount on tuition, i.e. this is not money that is handed out, but the amount that the school or university subtracts from the cost of your education.

Our company helps to receive scholarships for training athletes of various levels of sports training, age and physical data.

What is the NCAA American Collegiate League?

The NCAA League is the major American college sports league in which most American universities compete.

In the structure of the NCAA, universities are divided into 3 divisions, depending on the level of basketball at the university.

In addition to the NCAA, there are other student leagues, the main ones are: NAIA (analogous to the 2nd division of the NCAA), NJCAA (junior college league), USPORTS (Canadian student league). Our company works with all of these leagues.

NCAA Division 1 - The best young basketball players from around the world play in it, this is a transitional stage for future NBA and Euroleague players. To be on the NCAA Division 1 varsity team, you must be on or recruited for your country's youth team and have significant international accomplishments.

NCAA Division 2-3, NAIA league, USPORTS - this is also a very high level of basketball, but it is more accessible to most young boys and girls involved in basketball at the level of sports schools and sports schools.

Estimated cost of studying at a university in the USA

What expenses should a family prepare for if they want to send a basketball player child to a university or college in America while working with PFS?

NCAA Div 2-3, NAIA, NJCAA: minimum $10,000-13,000 per year

This is the minimum estimated budget for a year of study for 95% of young basketball players from the CIS countries that a family will need to pay for a university / college in the USA when working with our company. The amount includes tuition at the university, accommodation and meals, a sports program.

On average, a year of study at a university in the United States for a foreign student (official cost, without scholarships and discounts) will be $30,000-70,000 per year, depending on the location of the institution, type of residence and education elite.

Our company helps young basketball players receive scholarships/discounts from the official cost of educational institutions, reducing the cost of education by tens of thousands of dollars a year.

95% of the young basketball players we mentioned above are the majority of young boys and girls involved in basketball at the level of sports schools and sports schools, who are not included in the national youth team of their country and do not have significant basketball achievements at the international level.

NCAA Division 1 - 100% coverage of all tuition fees.

For the most talented basketball players in Europe.

In the USA, at the NCAA Division 1 level, the full coverage format is practiced, when the university fully sponsors the costs of training, accommodation and meals for the athlete. This offer is relevant only for the most promising young basketball players in Europe. This offer covers 1-5% of basketball players in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries (depending on the level of development of basketball in the country).

A complete combination of education and sports

Only in the USA youth sports are included in the program of schools and universities. Playing basketball in the USA, an athlete fully combines basketball and studies, thus receiving a full-fledged education that you will need to build your future professional career outside of sports.

International Diploma Recognized Worldwide

After graduating from high school and university in the USA, you receive a diploma that is recognized worldwide. With an American diploma, you will be a sought-after specialist both at home and in the USA, Europe or other countries of the world.

Experience of living abroad and native English

At a young age, the child will experience independent living in another country, become more aware and responsible for himself and his actions. Our experience shows that the majority of young men and women who have experience of living and studying abroad are more successful in building their careers in the modern world, and knowledge of English, which, after studying in the USA and immersing in the environment, will be at the level of a native speaker, will allow you to easily establish contacts around the world. the world.

About

Pro Futuro Sports

PFS is one of the world's most respected sports and academic scholarship companies. The company was founded in 2007 and has offices in Serbia, Russia, Brazil, Italy, Lithuania and Bulgaria.

4,000 clients from 53 countries

To date, over 4,000 clients from 53 countries have continued their careers and received PFS scholarships to study abroad.

The purpose of our service is to help athletes enter the best, proven and recommended teams, academies, schools, colleges and universities in the US, Canada and Europe, correctly assessing the capabilities and potential of an athlete.

Our clients receive exclusive conditions for training - working with us, families save an average of 50-70% of the possible costs of training a child-athlete abroad.

We know how to work with scholarships and grants, we have a wide network of sports contacts around the world and this allows us to receive exclusive offers for our clients.

Sports and Academic Department

The main profile of the agency is to work with athletes on their placement in schools, universities, sports academies, clubs in the US, Europe and other countries of the world.

In 2020, PFS launched the Academic Scholarship Department, which deals with obtaining discounts and grants in secondary and higher education institutions abroad.

Our customers

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Florida State Georgia

Samson Ruzhentsev

Tennessee Russia

Ilya Tyrtyshnik

Arizona Ukraine

Nestor Dyachok

Washington State Russia

Sergey Grishaev

State of Florida Russia

Daniil Kasatkin

Virginia Russia

Ksenia Kozlova

State of Florida Russia

Arina Khlopkova

West Virginia Russia

Buka Peikrishvili

Georgia Georgia

Lazar Zhivanovic

Real Madrid Serbia

Mark Tikhonenko

State of Pennsylvania Russia

Marko Simonovich

Illinois Montenegro

Testimonials from our customers

Samson Ruzhentsev

Russia

Victor Vovchuk

Ukraine

Lazar Milinkovic

Serbia

Alexandra Antonova

Russia

Georgy Maslennikov

Ukraine

Luka Andjusic

Serbia

Prospects for further growth

Stage 1

Youth sports

13-19 years old

School level

Stage 2

University

18-23

Leagues: NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, USPORTS

Stage 3

Professional career

23+ years

Professional sports

Career, Business

Frequently Asked Questions about Studying Abroad

What does it take to get into a school and sports team in the US/Europe?

For most educational and sports institutions, the package of documents is small: translation of school grades for the last 3 years of study into English, extract of vaccinations from a medical book, bank statement on the availability of funds to pay for the school year at school.

What if I have no significant sporting achievements and my family is not able to pay for my education in the US/Europe?

If you do not have great achievements in sports and your family is not able to finance the minimum budget for education in the US / Europe (from $10,000 per academic year), then today we will not be able to offer you the opportunity to study and sports abroad.

What does your agency offer?

The main goal of our work is to select a list of schools / universities / clubs that meet the criteria of the athlete and his family, in which he will receive a scholarship / discount on education. Further, we guide the client throughout the entire process of admission, execution of all documents, communication with coaches and representatives of educational institutions, and also provide visa support after admission.

What educational and sports institutions do you work with?

We have more than 1,000 schools/universities/sports clubs and academies in our database with whom we cooperate and every day we expand the list of partners. Nevertheless, the candidacy of each applicant and the possible amount of the scholarship must be personally discussed with each educational / sports institution separately.

Why should we contact you specifically for team and school selection in the US/Europe?

We have been on the market since 2007 and we have extensive experience working with athletes of all levels from all over the world - our knowledge of the American / European sports and educational programs market, as well as a huge network of contacts, allow our clients to receive exclusive offers. We have been on the market for so long that some of our clients, after graduating from the USA, have already become trainers in American schools and universities themselves and help our current clients get the best training conditions.

How safe is it to send a child alone to the US/Europe?

Safe. Educational institutions are fully legally responsible for foreign students. In many educational institutions, strict discipline and children are constantly under the supervision of employees of educational institutions, as well as the presence of a supervisor and a medical office.

Can you help an athlete of any level get into a school/university/club school in the US or Europe and receive a tuition discount?

We can help an athlete of any skill level and age to receive a scholarship in the range of 30-70% of the official tuition fee. Our knowledge of the US/European sports and education market, as well as our huge network of contacts, allows our clients to receive exclusive offers, regardless of their level of sports training.

Who determines how much scholarship/discount I will receive and by what criteria?

Employees of our agency evaluate an athlete according to a number of basic criteria: physical data, level of technical and athletic training, sports IQ, the level of competition at which you are currently performing, statistics, achievements and other parameters. Athletes provide us with video clips of their game moments and statistics from performances, which allows us to give the most accurate forecast about the athlete's prospects for his training in the USA/Europe. Further assessment of the athlete is carried out by the coaches of schools / universities / clubs, guided by our characteristics and the above-mentioned data on the athlete.

What level of English is required for admission?

It is desirable to speak English at least at the pre-intermediate level, but even for athletes with basic or no English, we can find sports and academic programs in the USA/Europe. Many institutions have an adaptation program that helps foreign students learn English and join a new team.

How do schools take athletes if they can't see them?

Scouting and selection are very developed in the USA and Europe, basically long screenings are our Soviet “know-how”, abroad, at almost all levels, athletes are taken by video and statistics. In order to increase your chances of getting into a good club, prepare a video clip of game episodes, a link to your statistics, as well as information about your achievements.

How are things with visas? Are there any problems getting them?

Obtaining a student visa (aka study visa) is 1 month (on average). There are no problems with visas now.

Is there a guarantee that the child will be given playing time in the team?

Game time cannot be guaranteed. Every athlete has ups and downs during the season. We try to assess the level of an athlete and offer him the educational / sports institution where he will really be in demand.

If a child travels and doesn't like the school/team, what then?

In this case, we talk with the child, understand the cause of dissatisfaction, if he does not like everyday life or he is faced with everyday misunderstandings, then we try to influence the situation by joint efforts. In order not to get into such situations, we do not cooperate with educational / sports institutions about which we receive bad reviews.

Where do children live while studying abroad?

In the US/Europe, there are 2 types of accommodation: campus or host family. The campus is a hostel. Typically, the campus is located on the territory of the educational institution, it is inhabited exclusively by students of the educational institution.

---

Learn more

• 
  How much does a hardwood basketball court cost
• 
  How to make a fake basketball shot
• 
  How to coach a bad basketball team
• 
  How did james naismith come up with basketball
• 
  How far is the 3 point line in nba basketball
• 
  How to make a basketball rim at home
• 
  How to watch isu basketball
• 
  How do you start a game of basketball
• 
  How to juke in basketball
• 
  How to watch basketball games on hulu
• 
  How steph curry changed basketball