Top Basketball Scholarships with 2024 Deadlines

Scholarships are the most sought-after form of financial aid available to student-athletes. They provide a no-strings-attached type of benefits, so students are not required to pay back any money received through scholarships upon graduation. Thanks to the unique experiences scholarships open doors for, all students are encouraged to take advantage of them.

While scholarships have mistakenly been known to offer solely academic and merit scholarships, there are countless opportunities for those who are part of a basketball team. Students who play college basketball or are high school athletes might be eligible for athletic scholarships.

The sport is notorious for bringing people together, and it has been an essential part of American culture for decades. Each year, basketball teams from across the nation at every level compete against each other in hopes of bringing a trophy home for their community.

Around the world, basketball brings excitement to stadiums as supporters rally for their team. In addition to growing communities, basketball players acknowledge the positive influence on their personal growth and ability to work on a team.

For a lot of student-athletes, basketball transcends into a future career goal. Considering that college basketball is the first step in playing for the Professional National Basketball Association (NBA), it is crucial for those students to have the opportunity to play at a university in the NCAA division first.

Because of its financial freedom and ability to open doors to better opportunities, a basketball scholarship can allow qualifying students to focus on the game as well as their future. Regardless of whether it is a full or partial scholarship, it can make a big difference for a student-athlete.

If basketball is a sport you demonstrate commitment to, either through future endeavors or past experiences, applying for basketball scholarships might be worthwhile. In addition to external resources, Bold.org is a great tool to find new and innovative scholarships.

With new scholarships posted routinely for students in high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, Bold.org ensures to advocate for your success.

Create a free account today to gain access to the hundreds of open scholarships!

What Is a Basketball Scholarship?

A basketball scholarship works like any other scholarship, except the agreed-upon terms will center around a certain commitment to the sport. In order to be a qualifying candidate, most student-athletes are required to present their past exemplary sportsmanship skills or legally agree to play college basketball in the future.

College coaches award athletic scholarships to incentivize college basketball recruits so that they are more inclined to join their team. These awards will vary depending on the student and their institution to account for whether or not the college athletics is division I, II, or III.

While basketball scholarships are not predominantly assessed based on academics, grades, and merit, they will still be indicative of your application. Despite receiving an offer from the college coach basketball program, you are still required to submit a formal application to the university like every other student.

Even with a coach's good word, other aspects of the application must satisfy the college's minimum eligibility requirements. If approved, you earn a spot on the team while simultaneously receiving higher education.

For students who are not interested in playing college basketball, do not worry because there are opportunities for you as well. Some donors will offer basketball scholarships for students who play as a hobby or on the side. Not every opportunity will legally bind you towards playing for a team.

Be vigilant to scholarship obligations prior to accepting!



Best Basketball Scholarships

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA division)

Over 1,000 colleges and universities across the country participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, most commonly known as the NCAA. These schools are separated into three divisions, which are determined by the team's sizes and performances.

The higher division, D1, has more funding, thus offering more scholarship money. Typically, D2 schools will offer a financial aid package close to or slightly lower, while D3 schools offer none. Unlike the first two, division 3 schools are prohibited from providing extra financial benefits to student-athletes.

At the Division 1 level, there are roughly 4,500 players on Men's basketball scholarships and 5,000 players on women's basketball programs with scholarships. In order to be a competitive applicant for the NCAA scholarship awards, it is crucial to start connecting with college recruiters in high school.

Bold.org Scholarships

In addition to the NCAA basketball scholarships, there is an abundance of scholarships offered through Bold.org that are updated for students of all backgrounds - including basketball scholarships. These are some of the best opportunities for students featured on the website.

Students may apply to all the scholarships they are eligible for in addition to the basketball scholarships. Committed to fighting against student loan debt, Bold.org exists to help you graduate college debt-free!  

Scholarships for High School Students

High school is often the best time to apply for scholarships because it allows you to prepare for college a lot earlier. The financial freedom that scholarship awards provide can truly open doors to make more schools accessible for you!

While most students apply during their junior and senior years, there are tremendous benefits to applying earlier. It gives you a better chance at maximizing your scholarship opportunities.

1. Scholarships for High School Freshmen
2. Scholarships for High School Sophomores
3. Scholarships for High School Juniors
4. Scholarships for High School Seniors
5. Scholarships for High School Students

Scholarships for Undergraduate Students

There exists a common misconception that scholarships are primarily for high school students pursuing collegiate programs but not current undergraduate or graduate students themselves. Here at Bold.org, there is an abundance of opportunities available for college students attending an accredited university.

Student-athletes can apply for any of the scholarships that they qualify for throughout their time in college. Scholarships are updated daily, providing endless opportunities waiting to be applied for. Begin your scholarship journey by applying to any of the scholarships below!

1. Undergraduate Scholarships
2. Scholarships for College Freshmen
3. Scholarships for College Sophomores
4. Scholarships for Community College
5. Scholarships for College Students

Create your Bold.org account today, and begin browsing through the magnitude of scholarships offered on the website. Apply as early as today to get one step closer to graduating college debt-free!

How Do You Get a Basketball Scholarship?

The best advice a student-athlete can receive is to start applying early!

Basketball is among the most popular sports, with thousands of students fighting for the same dream. In order to get opportunities that best align with your academic and professional aspirations, you want to be prepared sooner than later.

Beginning early will put you on every college's radar a lot quicker which could potentially increase your odds of receiving a scholarship and spot on their basketball team. Given the competitive nature of an athletic scholarship, you want to stand out.

Prior to reaching out, ensure to build up your portfolio. Whether it be a video or awards, give college basketball recruiters something tangible to look at. This material should be used to advocate for your skills so that coaches can envision how you would play on their court.

All scholarships offered through Bold.org are extended to students as young as 14. Students are welcome to begin applying for basketball scholarships at a young age so that they already have some money saved up well before college begins.

Can You Lose a Basketball Scholarship?

It is possible for students to lose their college basketball scholarships. Upon acceptance, students agree to maintain the eligibility requirements highlighted in the terms of conditions. A scholarship might not be guaranteed for the entire duration of school if student-athletes do not fulfill their side of the deal.

As mentioned earlier, athletic scholarships also take into account academics. Your grades might play a big role in the aid package given to you. Scholarship sponsors and coaches expect similar academic performance in order to keep their position on the team.

Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing with their school, which includes meeting the minimum GPA requirement. Similarly, they must meet all obligations that were agreed upon in the contract.

If a student injures themselves and is no longer able to play for the rest of their time at the university, they might also risk losing their scholarship. While some coaches will allow students to keep their academic scholarships or other forms of partial scholarships, others might not.

After winning a scholarship through Bold.org, winners might be asked to reconfirm their eligibility criteria in order to deposit the money. If this information does not match what was indicated or asked of in the scholarship application, then the scholarship may be revoked. 

Every scholarship is different, but at the very least, they are there to help you succeed. It is always best to reach out to the school if you have difficulty with anything related to your scholarship.

Do Ivy League Schools Offer Athletic Scholarships?

The Ivy League, an American collegiate athletic conference, is composed of 8 schools: Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.

Among the toughest universities to get admitted into academically, the Ivy League schools offer rigorous college athletics programs. The opportunity at one of these schools may jumpstart every basketball player's dream out of junior college.

Despite being an athletic conference, athletic scholarships are not offered at any of these schools. Need-based aid for student-athletes is determined the same way for every student - using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Aside from grants determined by the School's financial aid counselor, there are no extra opportunities for academic scholarships or athletic scholarships. However, students may apply for scholarships featured on Bold.org to cover tuition.

Can You Get Athletic Scholarships for More Than One Sport?

At Bold.org, there is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for. If you have a background playing multiple sports, feel free to apply to opportunities that cater to all of them.

If you are looking to play various college sports at your institution and receive a scholarship that way, it might be a little trickier. While not impossible, one college sport alone can be demanding and take a strenuous amount of time for a student. Considering that academics are far more important, it can be difficult to balance multiple sports while focusing on school.

Additionally, colleges that do offer athletic scholarships may only have a limited amount to give. There might be none left over after extending proposals to the other members of the team. 

Luckily, there is an abundance of exclusive scholarship opportunities featured on Bold.org that are suitable for students of all different backgrounds. Create your account and begin applying today!!