How many scholarships are there for college basketball?

I'm aiming to play basketball in college and am hoping to get a scholarship. How many scholarships are generally available for college basketball players?

NCAA colleges, particularly those in Divisions I and II, offer athletic scholarships for talented students in sports such as basketball.

For Division I men's basketball, each school can offer up to 13 full-ride scholarships and for women's basketball, up to 15 full-ride scholarships. These Division I numbers are considered "head-count" scholarships, meaning they cannot be divided between players and each scholarship goes to one athlete.

For Division II schools, men's and women's basketball programs can offer up to 10 scholarships each, but these are "equivalency" scholarships, meaning that they can be split among more athletes as partial scholarships. This allows more students to receive some level of scholarship money, although it may not cover all costs.

Division III schools, while they do not offer sports scholarships, often have academic scholarships and need-based financial aid that athletes can access.

In total, for DI and DII schools there are close to 10,000 scholarships available for talented basketball players. Pursuing one of these opportunities would entail building your athletic and academic profile, reaching out to coaches, and possibly attending recruiting events or showcases where college coaches scout for talent.

Remember that it's essential to communicate with coaches from schools you're interested in attending, as they'll be the ones making the final decision on scholarship awards. Sharing your game highlight tapes, stats, and any other pertinent information with coaches ensures that they have a good sense of your abilities as they go through the scholarship selection process.

While the NCAA is the most well-known for college athletes, keep in mind that association is not the only source of scholarships. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) also offer scholarships albeit at a smaller scale. Each NAIA school can provide up to 12 full-ride scholarships for men's and women's basketball. The NJCAA provides scholarships as well, but the number available varies by college.

Don't forget, there are many other scholarships not tied to a specific college or an athletic program that basketball players could still apply for. These include awards from local clubs, organizations, businesses, and more. These tend to be smaller in amount, but every bit helps when it comes to funding your education!