Basketball Scholarships
in the United States and Canada
Thanks to a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada, you will be able to live a unique experience. Traveling across the United States and Canada while representing your educational institution nationwide is just one of the many advantages this option offers. Moreover, you will train academically and athletically while learning a new language and creating new friendships from all over the world. Athletes are treated like true professionals, with the best facilities, professional training, travel opportunities, sports equipment…
To obtain a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada, every detail must be carefully managed. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and Canada, making it one of the most widely played by athletes in these countries. For these reasons, securing a basketball scholarship in the United States and Canada is challenging due to the large number of applicants from all over the world each year.
Additionally, college basketball is known as the cradle of professional basketball (NBA, ACB, or European leagues). Many players from these leagues have gone through college basketball.
Sports coaches receive applications from thousands of basketball players from the United States, Canada, and around 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 early. There are many institutions with basketball programs in the United States and Canada. These institutions belong to college leagues such as NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA.
At Awex Education, we take care of the entire process so that you don’t have to worry about anything and can enjoy this incredible experience thanks to basketball.
High School Basketball
If you are between 12 and 17 years old, have an intermediate level of English, and a GPA higher than 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 old or older, have an intermediate level of English, and a GPA higher than 6 out of 10, you can apply for a scholarship to study at a university in the United States or Canada.
Basketball in the United States and Canada
Our CEO, William Touchard, explains in detail everything you need to know about the sports program.
Do you have any questions?
The American educational system is the only educational system that allows competitive basketball to be combined with university studies. In addition, with an athletic scholarship, basketball players can cover a percentage of academic expenses. Often there are even possibilities of adding academic scholarships that also reduce the total costs.
Schools in the United States and Canada offer basketball scholarships for their team members that allow basketball players to finance their studies through basketball.
Thanks to this opportunity, basketball players can live an experience that provides many advantages over the Spanish system: combine studies and sports, travel throughout the United States and Canada with the team, obtain an academic degree from a center in the United States and Canada, learn perfect English, meet people from many different countries, live unforgettable experiences….. All this opens up a world of possibilities for basketball players thanks to basketball.
Each sports league has a maximum number of basketball scholarships available. Within those limits, institutions allocate funds for full or partial basketball scholarships to team players. Typically, players must be among the best on the team to receive a scholarship.
Other opportunities, known as walk-ons, allow players to join the team without receiving a scholarship. After a year in this role, players may earn a scholarship based on their performance.
he number of basketball scholarships available varies by institution. Each league has a maximum number of scholarships it can offer, but institutions may choose to offer fewer due to budget constraints.
For example, Ivy League universities (like Harvard) do not offer sports scholarships, although other forms of financial aid may be available.
Coaches can also divide scholarships among team members. In NCAA Division I basketball, for instance, the 13 scholarships available can be split among multiple players. Women’s basketball in NCAA Division I, on the other hand, has up to 15 scholarships for 15–16 players, increasing the likelihood of full scholarships for eligible players.
Men’s Basketball
| College League | Number of Schools | Scholarship Limit | Average Team Size |
| NCAA D I | 351 | 13 | 16 |
| NCAA DII | 310 | 10 | 17 |
| NCAA DIII * | 426 | – | 18 |
| NAIA I NAIA II | 94 134 | 11 6 | 20 21 |
| NJCAA | 430 | 15 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 1.745 |
Women’s Basketball
| College League | Number of Schools | Scholarship Limit | Average Team Size |
| NCAA D I | 349 | 15 | 16 |
| NCAA DII | 311 | 10 | 15 |
| NCAA DIII * | 442 | – | 15 |
| NAIA I NAIA II | 97 134 | 11 6 | 16 17 |
| NJCAA | 391 | 15 | 13 |
| TOTAL | 1.724 |
(*NCAA Division III institutions do not offer sports scholarships but may provide academic or financial aid.)
Awex Education simplifies the process of obtaining a basketball and/or academic scholarship for access to U.S. and Canadian educational institutions. We aim to find the best universities for each player while securing the highest possible scholarships.
Step 1: Preparing Academically and Athletically
- Maximizing Basketball Performance:
The higher the player’s basketball level, the better their chances of securing a scholarship and having more options to choose from. Consistent high-level competition and training are key. - Achieving Academic Excellence:
Strong academic performance increases the range of options available and enhances the possibility of earning academic scholarships to reduce costs. Early preparation for the TOEFL and SAT exams is essential.
Step 2: Awex Education’s Role
Awex Education handles the remainder of the process, providing the following services:
- Individual Evaluation: Analyze the athlete’s basketball and academic levels and family expectations to assess scholarship possibilities.
- Tailored Support: Assist with exams, creating athletic videos, and developing academic/sports profiles.
- University Outreach: Contact suitable institutions, negotiate scholarship terms, and present several options to the family.
- Comprehensive Guidance: Assist with admissions, visas, housing, insurance, and arrival logistics.
- Ongoing Support: Provide continuous assistance throughout the athlete’s time in the U.S. or Canada, including academic job placements and preparation for professional careers in the athlete’s third or fourth year of university.
Another important aspect of securing admission to a good educational institution is the academic component, including high school grades, SAT scores, and TOEFL results. If two students have a similar athletic level but differ significantly in academics, the coach will typically offer the basketball scholarship to the better-performing student academically.
This is because students must meet certain minimum standards, making academics just as important as basketball in several ways:
- Sports Eligibility: Students must achieve minimum scores in exams to be eligible for participation in sports leagues.
- Institutional Admission: Athletes must meet academic requirements for SAT and TOEFL to be accepted into schools.
- Additional Academic Scholarships: Good academic performance can also lead to academic scholarships, which can be added to athletic scholarships for a higher total award. To qualify for academic scholarships, students need strong high school grades and good SAT/TOEFL results.
Therefore, the better the grades, the broader the options available to the basketball player and the higher the financial support from the institution.
Each institution or coach has different academic minimums. At Awex Education, we analyze each student’s academic and athletic profile to find the university that best suits their needs.
In the U.S. and Canada, there are over a thousand educational institutions with basketball teams competing in various leagues. The basketball level required varies widely. Below is a general reference based on the league, though individual cases may differ. Awex Education evaluates each player’s profile to determine their options.
NCAA Division I
Overview: The largest universities with the most sports programs, generally offering the highest sports level.
- Academic Requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s Basketball Level: Experience in Third Division, top amateur leagues, youth categories of professional teams, or regional/national teams.
- Women’s Basketball Level: Experience in First Division, youth categories of professional teams, or regional/national teams.
NCAA Division II
Overview: Smaller universities with competitive sports programs, sometimes exceeding NCAA Division I in athletic level.
- Academic Requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s Basketball Level: Experience in national youth leagues or competitive local teams.
- Women’s Basketball Level: Experience in Second Division women’s leagues.
NCAA Division III
Overview: Universities that cannot offer athletic scholarships due to league regulations but provide significant academic scholarships to reduce costs. These institutions are typically academically prestigious.
- Academic Requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams with strong scores. Good academic performance is essential.
- Men’s Basketball Level: Experience with local and regional federated teams.
- Women’s Basketball Level: Experience with local and regional federated teams.
NAIA
Overview: Universities similar in size and facilities to NCAA Division II. They have more flexible age requirements for competition.
- Academic Requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s Basketball Level: Experience in competitive youth leagues.
- Women’s Basketball Level: Experience in Second Division women’s leagues.
Junior College (NJCAA)
Overview: Two-year colleges where students complete the first two years of their degree before transferring to a four-year institution. This is a good option to improve academic and athletic standing for a better final opportunity. Basketball here is highly valued, and coaches from four-year universities often recruit NJCAA players.
- Academic Requirements: SAT is not required; TOEFL may also be optional in some cases.
- Men’s Basketball Level: Players of all levels, including the highest NCAA Division I level.
- Women’s Basketball Level: Players of all levels, including the highest NCAA Division I level.
Basketball scholarships in the U.S. and Canada cover a percentage of the following expenses. For a full scholarship, all these costs are covered:
- Tuition and fees.
- Books.
- Housing (residence halls or apartments).
- Meals.
- Health insurance.
Additionally, all basketball team members, whether on scholarship or not, have their basketball-related expenses covered, including:
- Basketball training and physical conditioning.
- Sports equipment.
- Official competitions and related travel (transportation, accommodations, and meals).
- Academic tutoring if needed.
- Sports medicine and physiotherapy.
Coaches evaluate basketball players using several factors:
- Athletic Resume: Personal information, results, statistics, etc.
- Participation in National and International Tournaments.
- Height.
- Basketball Video: It’s essential to record competitions and compile a strong highlight video.
- Awex Education Evaluation.
- In-Person Visits by University Coaches: Awex Education organizes visits from coaches for top-level players, allowing players and families to meet the coaches. Coaches can assess the players directly, increasing the likelihood of securing a scholarship at a high-level institution.
Awex Education uses this information to evaluate each player and work with educational institutions that match their basketball level, ensuring good scholarship opportunities and team placement.
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