Basketball scholarships in the United States and Canada
The experience that will change your life
Thanks to a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada, you can enjoy a unique experience. Traveling around the United States and Canada while representing your school across the country is just one of the many advantages this option offers. In addition, you will receive academic and athletic training while learning a new language and making new friends from around the world. Athletes are treated like true professionals, with the best facilities, professional training, travel, sports equipment, and more.
To get a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada, you have to work on every detail. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and Canada, and therefore one of the most played by athletes in these countries. For these reasons, it is difficult to get a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada due to the large number of applicants each year from all over the world.
In addition, college basketball is known as the cradle of professional basketball (NBA, ACB, or European leagues); many players from these leagues have come through college basketball.
Basketball coaches receive applications from thousands of basketball players from the United States, Canada, and all over the world. That is why it is important to stand out and start the process to obtain a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada with enough time. There are many schools with basketball programs in the United States and Canada. These schools belong to college leagues: NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA.
At Awex Education, we handle the entire process so that you don’t have to worry about anything and can enjoy this amazing experience thanks to basketball.
High School Basketball
If you are between 12 and 17 years old, have an intermediate level of English, and a grade above 6 out of 10, you can apply for a scholarship to study at a High School in the United States or Canada.
University Basketball
If you are 16 years or older, have an intermediate level of English, and a grade above 6 out of 10, you can apply for a scholarship to study at a University in the United States or Canada.
Our CEO, William Touchard, explains in detail everything you need to know about the sports program.
Do you have any questions?
Why the United States and Canada?
The American educational system is the only system that allows combining competitive basketball with university studies. In addition, with a sports scholarship, basketball players can cover a percentage of academic expenses. Often, there are also opportunities to add academic scholarships, further reducing the total costs.
Schools in the United States and Canada offer basketball scholarships to their team members, allowing basketball players to finance their studies through basketball.
Thanks to this opportunity, basketball players can experience numerous advantages compared to the Spanish system: combining studies and sport, traveling across the United States and Canada with the team, obtaining an academic degree from a U.S. or Canadian school, learning perfect English, meeting people from many different countries, and living unforgettable experiences. For all these reasons, basketball opens a world of possibilities for players.
Basketball scholarships in the United States and Canada
Each sports league has a maximum number of basketball scholarships to distribute. Within these limits, the school allocates the scholarship funds to players as it deems appropriate.
Coaches at the schools distribute full and partial basketball scholarships to the team players. Usually, a player must be among the best on the team to receive a basketball scholarship. There are also other opportunities called walk-on, which allow players to join the team without receiving a scholarship. After a year in this position, depending on the player’s performance, they may earn a basketball scholarship for the following years.
Scholarship limit per team
The number of basketball scholarships available at each school varies. Each sports league has a maximum number of basketball scholarships they can offer, but they may offer fewer scholarships than the limit if they decide to or if they do not have the budget to provide the maximum.
A clear example is the universities in the IVY League (prestigious academic universities such as Harvard), which do not offer sports scholarships.
Additionally, basketball is a sport where coaches can divide the number of basketball scholarships among team members. For example, in NCAA D1, coaches can divide the value of 13 scholarships among as many players as they wish. Women’s basketball in NCAA D1 has a maximum of 15 scholarships for about 15–16 players, so if a player has the right level, it is possible to receive a full basketball scholarship.
Here are tables showing the scholarship limits, average team size, and number of universities:
Men’s Basketball
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Players per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 351 | 13 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 310 | 10 | 17 |
| NCAA D III * | 426 | – | 18 |
| NAIA I / NAIA II | 94 / 134 | 11 / 6 | 20 / 21 |
| NJCAA | 430 | 15 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 1,745 |
Women’s Basketball
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Players per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 349 | 15 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 311 | 10 | 15 |
| NCAA D III * | 442 | – | 15 |
| NAIA I / NAIA II | 97 / 134 | 11 / 6 | 16 / 17 |
| NJCAA | 391 | 15 | 13 |
| TOTAL | 1,724 |
* Universities in NCAA Division 3 cannot offer sports scholarships, so they do not provide basketball scholarships, but other types of financial aid or academic scholarships may be available.
How does the process of obtaining basketball scholarships in the United States and Canada work?
The goal of Awex Education is to help basketball players gain access to a school in the United States or Canada with a basketball and/or academic scholarship. For this reason, we look for the best universities for each player, as well as the highest basketball scholarship possible.
Here’s how the process of obtaining a basketball scholarship at an American school works. The first part is where the athlete must work to achieve the best athletic and academic results:
Achieve the highest possible basketball level: The higher the player’s basketball level, the greater the chances of obtaining a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada. In addition, a wider range of options will be available to choose from. It is important to continue competing and training at the highest possible level.
Achieve the highest academic level: Focusing on studies is essential to reach the maximum academic level. This increases the available options, and may even allow the player to receive academic scholarships to reduce annual costs. Proper preparation for TOEFL and SAT exams well in advance is fundamental.
The second part of the process is handled by Awex Education. Contacting us well in advance is very important, so the process can be prepared carefully, increasing the chances of obtaining a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada, and providing more options to choose from. We recommend starting the process 1–2 years before the start date.
We analyze each case individually, evaluating the basketball and academic level and the expectations of the student and family for scholarship opportunities.
At Awex Education, this evaluation is FREE and without obligation. We meet with the athlete and family to explain the real possibilities. Once the family decides to begin, we handle the following steps:
Analyze each athlete individually, considering athletic level, academic level, and preferences regarding the school. We find the best options that match the student’s and family’s profile.
Create a personal tracking sheet for each athlete, planning steps, exam dates, preparation (depending on league focus), and short-, medium-, and long-term objectives.
Provide support for SAT and TOEFL exam registration.
Support in the creation of a sports video, giving advice and guidance. The final video is crucial as it is the main tool for recruitment. We handle the final editing.
With the final video, we create an academic and athletic profile of the basketball player to contact coaches.
Start contacting schools that match the athlete’s profile and family preferences. We work with most schools in the United States, in all states suitable for the athlete.
Negotiate with each coach or university to obtain the highest scholarship and best conditions for the athlete.
Present a report with multiple options including school name, location, size, academic and athletic level, cost without scholarship, scholarship amount, and annual cost.
Offer several options within the budget for families to choose from.
Advise the athlete and family in selecting the school, providing guidance while the final decision is with the family.
Process the signature of the final school offer.
Handle the admissions procedure for the league in which the school competes (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA).
Manage the school admission process (sending grades, SAT/TOEFL results, admission paperwork).
Arrange the athlete’s meals and accommodation.
Obtain health insurance in the United States and Canada.
Handle the student visa process for the United States and Canada.
Organize flights and arrival, ensuring someone is there upon arrival.
Assist on arrival with advice and support (money transfers, bank cards, first-day questions).
Help with academic tasks within the school.
Provide continuous support throughout the athlete’s stay in the United States and Canada for any need, school changes, questions, or paperwork—without any extra cost.
For athletes in their 3rd or 4th year of university, we offer a course at an English university preparing them for the workforce and helping them secure job opportunities.
An essential part of our service is personalized support. We stay in continuous contact with athletes and families via WhatsApp or calls, and in emergencies, we are reachable outside office hours.
Academic requirements
Another important factor in securing a good educational institution is the academic performance—high school grades, SAT and TOEFL scores, etc. If two athletes have very similar athletic levels but differ in academic performance, the coach will usually award the athletics scholarship to the stronger student academically.
This is because students must meet minimum academic requirements, so academics are just as important as athletics in several aspects:
Sports acceptance: Minimum scores in exams are required to be accepted into sports leagues.
School admission: The athlete must meet the academic requirements on SAT and TOEFL exams to be accepted by the schools.
Additional academic scholarships: It is possible to obtain an academic scholarship that can be added to the athletics scholarship, increasing the total scholarship amount. To qualify for academic scholarships, students need strong grades and good SAT and TOEFL results.
Therefore, the higher the grades, the more options the athlete has and the higher the scholarship amount offered by the school.
Each school or coach sets different minimum academic requirements, which is why Awex Education evaluates each academic and athletic profile to find the school that best fits each athlete.
What level of basketball is required?
In the United States and Canada, there are more than 1,000 schools with basketball teams that are part of various leagues. Within this wide range of schools, the basketball level also varies greatly. Here’s a reference for the basketball level required to qualify for basketball scholarships in the United States and Canada depending on the league. However, this level may vary, as a player’s level does not depend solely on the league they compete in. That is why Awex Education analyzes each case individually.
NCAA Division I:
These are larger universities with more sports programs. Universities in this league generally have a higher level of sports than those in other leagues.
Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams
Men’s basketball level: Experience in Tercera, División de Honor, lower categories of professional teams, or national/regional teams.
Women’s basketball level: Experience in first division women’s leagues, lower categories of professional teams, or national/regional teams.
NCAA Division II:
These are smaller universities with a good sports level; sometimes the athletic level can be higher than in some NCAA Division I schools. Comparable to NAIA universities in size and facilities.
Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams
Men’s basketball level: Experience in national youth leagues or competitive regional teams.
Women’s basketball level: Experience in second division women’s leagues.
NCAA Division III:
These universities cannot offer athletic scholarships due to league rules but provide other types of aid, like academic scholarships, which can significantly reduce costs. These schools are mainly academically strong universities.
Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams with good scores.
Men’s basketball level: Experience in federated local and regional competitions.
Women’s basketball level: Experience in federated local and regional competitions.
NAIA:
Universities with characteristics similar to NCAA Division II, with simpler rules regarding ages for competition.
Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams
Men’s basketball level: Experience in youth preferred leagues.
Women’s basketball level: Experience in second division leagues.
Junior College (2-year colleges):
Two-year universities where students complete the first two years of university before transferring to a 4-year institution. This can be a good option to improve academic and athletic level and achieve a better final opportunity.
Basketball is an excellent option since 4-year university coaches focus on recruiting players from these colleges, monitoring them during their NJCAA 1-2 year stay. Students can do one year and transfer to NCAA/NAIA or two years and then transfer.
Academic requirements: SAT not required, only TOEFL (sometimes TOEFL is also not required)
Men’s basketball level: Players of various skill levels, including NCAA D1 level.
Women’s basketball level: Players of various skill levels, including NCAA D1 level.
What do basketball scholarships cover?
Basketball scholarships in the United States and Canada cover a percentage of the school expenses listed below. In the case of receiving a full basketball scholarship, all of these expenses are covered:
Tuition and fees
Books
Housing (dormitory or apartment)
Meals
Health insurance
In addition, all basketball players on the school team, whether they have a scholarship or not, always have their basketball-related expenses covered:
Basketball training
Physical training
Sports equipment
Official competitions
Travel to competitions (transportation, lodging, and meals)
Academic tutoring if needed
Sports medicine and physiotherapy
How do American coaches measure an athlete's level?
Coaches measure a basketball player’s level through several factors:
Athletic résumé (personal information, results, statistics…)
Competitions in national and international tournaments
Height
Basketball video – It is important to record competitions and have a good highlights video.
Awex Education evaluation
In-person visits from college coaches – At Awex Education, we organize visits for top-level players so that the players and their families can meet the coaches in person, and coaches can watch them play firsthand. This increases the chances of obtaining a basketball scholarship at a high-level school.
With all this information, at Awex Education we evaluate each player and work with educational centers that match their basketball level, with good possibilities of obtaining a sports scholarship and playing on the team.
Awex Stories
Real stories from our students and families in the United States and Canada. Discover how they lived their experience, what they learned, and how this adventure transformed their lives.
Awex Stories
Real stories from our students and families in the United States and Canada. Discover how they lived their experience, what they learned, and how this adventure transformed their lives.
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The most highly valued company in Europe
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