In the past, you used to be able to go to the N.B.A. straight from high school. The top high school basketball players knew that they were going to the pros and sadly many of them didn’t attend class or take school very seriously. The N.B.A. rule that went into effect after the 2005 draft prohibits athletes from going to the N.B.A. straight from high school. In spite of this rule, there is a loophole. If the athlete attends a prep school with a post graduate program for one year, he could then declare himself as an “early entry” player for the N.B.A. draft. This means that there will be some athletes that can still make it to the N.B.A. without ever attending college. However, for the majority of high school players, college basketball and the training that it provides is a must if you want to go to the N.B.A. Now what? Besides working on your game feverishly, attending multiple camps, and joining the AAU circuit, you need to get decent grades in high school in order to qualify for college. There are three crucial things that you must do: (1) you need to think about future career goals (2) research different colleges and see what programs fit your interests (3) contact the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse and complete the registration process. The NCAA will send you test score and grade point average requirements for initial eligibility in Division I and II athletics. Keep in mind that the NCAA Clearinghouse calculates 16 “core courses” and a combined SAT/ACT sliding scale score that matches your core GPA in order to determine your eligibility. However, the admissions office at most colleges use your overall grade point average in order to determine if you qualify for admission into their college. Athletes need to consider many factors when searching for a college. Don’t be one of the many misinformed athletes that believe that talent alone is enough to receive a scholarship for the school you want to attend because it’s not. The two most important things are choosing colleges that have what you want and visiting the school while it is in session with a parent or guardian. Many athletes get lost in the shuffle because they chose the wrong college for them. You need to be realistic about your basketball ability and the type of athletic experience you would enjoy. Some people want to be part of a particular athletic program because they’re on television a lot, even if that means little or no playing time. There are plenty of respected and prestigious universities with good athletic programs at all levels and extremely talented athletes can make it to the professional ranks regardless of the division of the school.
If you’re as good as the top analyst predict, then the school that you go to really doesn’t matter because you will get drafted regardless. For example, if CarmeloAnthony had chosen to attend Coppin State University (MD) instead of Syracuse, he would still be in the N.B.A. However, keep this example in perspective because Carmelo Anthony is 6’8” and has a variety of basketball skills at his disposal. A talented point guard, which by the way are a dime a dozen, might not have been so fortunate in the same circumstances. A good example would be former Duke University star William Avery. If he decided to attend Savannah State (GA) instead of Duke, he may not have been drafted at all. The point that I’m trying to make is that elite prospects only come along once in awhile and that the majority of athletes wind up in the lower levels of college basketball such as Division II or III, where there are limited or no athletic scholarships. Even those who are fortunate enough to make it to a Division I or an elite Division II program on an athletic scholarship are not guaranteed to get a shot. The ideal situation is to choose a college that will provide you with both the educational and athletic experience that you desire.
