How do you get a basketball scholarship in America?
U.S college basketball is arguably more popular than ever, especially following the Netflix series the Last Dance, which means it is a really attractive option for many talented student-athletes worldwide. Naturally this means competition for places can be extremely high, which is why using a recruitment consultancy like U.S Sports Scholarships can give you a real advantage. To increase your chances of securing the best basketball scholarship possible it is also important that you have strong basketball and academic credentials. Key elements of the process that can impact how successful you are in securing a scholarship include; your academic qualifications, entrance exam scores, playing history and basketball match highlights. Below we have given you the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about securing a football scholarship in America.
What is an U.S athletic basketball scholarship?
An athletic basketball scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a U.S college or university awarded to an individual based on their academic and athletic capabilities. A basketball scholarship can cover anywhere between 0-100% of costs and these offers are authorised by the coaches at American colleges/universities.
What determines how much scholarship I get in the USA?
Your scholarship will depend on many factors including your playing ability and academic standing, as well as your coaches assigned budget for the season. However, don’t worry it is our job to ensure that we find you an American college which best suits your preferences and capabilities. If, for example, a university costs $50,000 a year all in and the coach is giving you a scholarship worth $42,000, then this is a partial scholarship as there is a $8,000 shortfall that the coach wants you to contribute towards the costs of attending the university. Most partial scholarships come with the incentive that if you perform well, both on the court and in the classroom, then the coach can reward you with a scholarship increase and cover any costs that you had been contributing towards.
Does basketball offer full scholarships?
The level of scholarship granted is fundamentally dependent on what the coach of the American college wants to offer. A 100% scholarship or ‘full ride’ covers the costs of tuition and fees, room and board, and textbooks, leaving only incidental costs to pay for the student-athlete. In this case, 100% of the costs are covered and it can be worth up to a staggering $400,000 over four years. At U.S Sports Scholarships, one in every four of our athletes will receive a full scholarship.
Can a basketball player go on to play professional basketball in the NBA after graduating from University?
NBA teams do draft college players into their rosters after they have completed their University education and therefore for top level student-athletes playing in the NBA is definitely a realistic opportunity; however, competition for places is understandably extremely competitive. In fact under 2% of basketball players at NCAA schools do go on to play in the NBA. That being said, at U.S Sports Scholarships we are firm believers that if you are good enough you will get picked up and playing at college in America for four years gives you the perfect platform to get spotted.
How do I find out more about U.S Basketball Scholarships?
To find out more about the basketball scholarship process, fill out our form and a U.S Sports Scholarships consultant will be in touch to answer any questions you may have. You can also watch our free online seminar below. Alternatively, you can register for one of our UK Basketball Information Days where our expert team will deliver a detailed presentation that will provide you with information on the entire process and how we can help you with securing a basketball scholarship. If this is of interest please complete our free online application now.
Throughout Darren’s 22-year coaching career he has been a part of 5 winning basketball programmes. As well as coaching in the Euroleague, he has coached in the Northern European Basketball League, British Basketball League, NCAA D1, NCAA D2 and NJCAA D2 in the USA.
DARREN JOHNSON
HEAD OF BASKETBALL
Our co-founder Liam oversees our basketball programme in collaboration with Darren. Liam has unrivalled experience having successfully placed over 500 athletes at U.S schools in the past 10 years.
LIAM BARRETT
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Elliott while with HPU won the Pacific West Conferee Champions (First time in programme history) and the Conference Tournament Championship (also for the first time in programme history). At DMACC Elliott was a Region 11 Conference and Tournament Champion both years and went on to finish at the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 stages of the NJCAA D2 National Tournament in those two years.
ELLIOTT DEFREITAS
HAWAII PACIFIC UNI
Brad while at DMACC was Region 11 Conference and Tournament Champions both years as well as becoming the NJCAA D2 National Champions in 2021 (First time in Programme History) in his one of only two British players to win a National Championship with a US basketball programme.
BRAD DAY
DES MOINES CC
What are the chances of getting a basketball scholarship?
If you are aged between 15-22, in education or have been in the last 2 years and have a clean criminal record whilst playing basketball at a competitive level, you are well positioned to become a successful U.S Sports Scholarships applicant. However, only the best young players will be considered for a basketball scholarship by coaches so ideally you will have played at an Academy, Centre of Excellence or have represented your County side.
Colleges that can offer basketball scholarships
Colleges at the NCAA D1, NCAA D2, NAIA and Junior College levels can all offer scholarships. How many scholarships are available at any given school depends on how many scholarships the coach has committed, whether they are a fully funded program, how the program likes to use their scholarship money and several other factors. Check out the information section for more details about each collegiate conference and our University Database for more information about specific schools.
A basketball scholarship in America gives student-athletes the opportunity to play basketball whilst simultaneously working towards an internationally recognised university degree. By earning a basketball scholarship, you will receive a financial package that goes towards tuition fees, room and board and other relevant living costs. In return for this financial support, you will be expected to maintain the academic and athletic standards set by the University throughout your University career in order to retain your basketball scholarship. Along with top-level academics, American Universities can offer world-class match day stadia, state of the art training facilities and the best collegiate coaches in the world. To read some of the most FAQs we get regarding basketball scholarships in America please scroll to the bottom of this page. Most scholarships are one-year agreements that must be renewed each year. For most NCAA schools, a scholarship offer does not become official until a student-athlete signs the National Letter of Intent. Of course, student-athletes must first go through the recruiting process in order to secure a roster spot and get an athletic scholarship.
Why use a recruitment consultancy like U.S Sports Scholarships
U.S Sports Scholarships is like no other service provider in the world in that we only offer 50 places on our recruitment programme each year to ensure that every single player receives the necessary time and personal attention to take them through the complex process of finding a suitable school in America; helping them secure the best possible financial package. To help achieve this, each player is assigned their own designated representative who is with them every step of the way. If you think you have what it takes to play and study in the USA on a basketball scholarship, please complete our free online application now.
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