In our last blog article, we discussed why character matters to college coaches when recruiting student-athletes. In this blog post, we will cover how your grade point average (GPA) and transcripts can have a direct impact on the number of college basketball programs that can recruit you and the amount of scholarship dollars you may qualify for. When most student-athletes think about getting recruited to play college basketball, their first thought is usually having great statistics, film or game performances. While those things are very important, your grades can have just as much, if not more of an impact on your college opportunities.
Many student athletes overlook the importance of academic performance in the recruiting process, but the reality is your grades can directly affect:
- The number of schools that can recruit you
- Your ability to qualify for scholarships
- Your overall financial aid package
The Higher Your Grade Point Average (GPA) the More Schools That Can Recruit YOU
There are over 1,900 colleges and universities throughout the United States that sponsor college basketball programs. All levels of college basketball (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College) have academic admissions and eligibility standards at their respective institutions. NCAA and NAIA schools have a required minimum GPA that a student athlete must have to be eligible to play. NJCAA has the fewest academic requirements, but transferring from a junior college to a four-year college will require meeting eligibility requirements. There are also several “high-academic” institutions that require an even higher standard (minimum requirement) than that of the NCAA or NAIA. For example, many of the Ivy League schools require a higher GPA to be admissible to their school than that of the minimum GPA required to play at most NCAA Division I schools. The bottom line is the higher your GPA the more colleges and universities can recruit you without concerns about admissions or eligibility.
The Higher Your Grade Point Average (GPA) the More Scholarship Money You Can Qualify For
Earning a basketball scholarship at the collegiate level is highly competitive. NCAA Division I, II, NAIA and NJCAA schools can offer “athletic” scholarships. The only fully funded athletic scholarship level is NCAA Division I. The other levels can provide great scholarships but many programs at the D2, NAIA and JC levels only have a limited number of athletic scholarships to offer. However, if you have a strong GPA, you can increase your chances of maximizing scholarship dollars at those levels because schools can stack academic scholarships on to athletic scholarships, which can significantly reduce the cost of college. The NCAA Division III level does not offer athletic scholarships so many athletes and families discount this level because they automatically assume it will be “too expensive.” I have spent decades in the basketball recruiting space and have seen firsthand, Division III schools offer more grant and aid than some scholarship level schools. A student-athlete with a high GPA can earn significant amounts of academic and institutional scholarships at the D3 level.
Better Academics = More Scholarship, Grant and Aid and Less Student Debt
Even if a school doesn’t offer you a large amount of athletic scholarship money (or any), your academic performance can still make a huge difference in your total scholarship and financial aid package. Most schools offer merit-based scholarships for students with high GPA’s. Schools can also offer institutional grants or need-based aid that you won’t have to pay back. The difference between a 3.75 GPA and a 3.2 GPA could be thousands of dollars per year. A student-athlete with a 2.5 GPA might be admittable to a college but there is a strong chance that 2.5 GPA won’t qualify the student-athlete for any academic scholarship money making the cost for college even more expensive.
How to Set Yourself Up for Success
Here are some helpful tips that can ensure your academics don’t hold you back in the recruiting process:
- START EARLY: Every grade counts toward your cumulative GPA so take your coursework seriously starting your freshman year of high school.
- MAKE A PLAN: Meet with your High School guidance counselor and make sure you are on track to meet NCAA and NAIA eligibility requirements.
- TAKE THE ACT/SAT: Most schools are still test optional, but a strong standardized test score could open up more scholarship opportunities at various schools.
- SEND COLLEGE COACHES YOUR TRANSCRIPTS: Coaches will need your transcripts eventually so get out in front of that. Send your transcripts to coaches and show them you are a committed student and can handle the academic rigors at their school.
- APPLY EARLY AND ASK ABOUT ACADEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Most schools cannot offer you a final scholarship package until you are admitted. Apply early and ask what type of academic and institutional scholarships the school offers. It is the only way you will fully know what a school can offer you.
Final Thoughts
In the end, your grades matter just as much as your game when it comes to college basketball recruiting. A higher GPA will do three things for a prospect. It will open more doors at the college level, provide access to more scholarship money and it can even help set you apart from other recruits who don’t take their academics as serious. If you want to maximize opportunities and scholarship dollars at the next level, make sure you are keeping your foot on the gas pedal in the classroom and give maximum effort to your school work just as you do on the court.
Net Results Recruiting is a full-service recruiting solution that will help you get your name in front of college coaches and provide expert advice and guidance on every step of your recruitment journey. If you need assistance, then contact us today. Don’t leave your future to chance. Get started today with Net Results Recruiting and take control of your basketball journey!