Gaining a College Basketball Scholarship

If you are extremely good at basketball and dream of playing with the professionals, you may need to do more than just play basketball. Just like in the real game of life, you have to pass through certain obstacles first before you are even considered for the big time. Here are a couple of things to consider if you want to be a professional athlete.

It isn’t very common to for athletes in boarding high schools to go directly into the pros. The athletes who do go from secondary schooling directly to the pros don’t always have the same opportunity to grow as someone who has had more years of development. Take the opportunity to really work with the skill level you are at now and develop your skills better to take you to the next level.

Yes, students from boarding high schools going straight to the pros would seem so easy, but did you know that only 1.2 percent of college students get drafted? Think of your chances as a high school student. Plan to make something of yourself in high school so that colleges will have the opportunity to find and invite you to play for them. Colleges love talent, but they also need to see that you have the ability to excel scholastically. Colleges pay for your education so that you can represent the school athletics but they mostly want to see you exceed with your schooling. 

If you are struggling to make good grades, find a tutor or a teacher for help. The great thing about boarding high schools is they usually have smaller classrooms so you have a better opportunity to engage with your classmates and teachers to enhance your education. If you have good grades and excellent basketball skills, your chances of a basketball scholarship are much higher. 

Basketball scholarships aren’t free. When students leave boarding high schools to play in college, they are expected to still do the one thing the college is most interested in: school. You should plan on making good study habits in high school so that you can carry them with you into college. 

It may be difficult to enter into the NBA, but it is certainly possible to increase your education and better your basketball skills by playing college basketball.  If you practice and work hard you can certainly reach your goal of playing with the pros. If you don’t make it, just remember that the education you gain in college can help you achieve other professional goals you may have. 

Eric Simmons is an academic writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Wasatch Academy. Follow on Twitter.