College Basketball

What is it like to play college basketball ?

Playing college basketball was the sole, only goal of my life from the time I was 10 until I finally earned a Division-II scholarship. Seriously. It's all I thought about.

Once I got to my first school, I realized that some things about the game that had done so much for me would change while playing in college versus high school. First off - you're being paid via your scholarship, so expectations of performance would differ than high school. Playing hard was not enough, and playing the right way, the way the coach wants you to, is not enough. You have to perform, you have to make shots, you have to make plays - or you will be recruited over, and you will not continue to be a scholarship player.

Some people think that there is something wrong with that, but really, why should it be any other way? The head coach and his staff are all investing their lives into this, and when they invest in you via scholarship aid, they're instilling the belief that you will help make their program win. I remember one time, my first coach laying into me when I commented (innocently enough) that I had lost confidence in my shot, him exclaiming that "I gave you a f****** scholarship - I should not have to help you regain your confidence."

Once I settled in, I realised that it was going to be one of the most, if not the most, beneficial things to my life that you could do as you're going from adolescence to adulthood. I utilise lessons every single day that I learned while playing hoops, and the stories that you have from being with your teammates never go away. Stuff like going to shoot around after a 6-hour flight, playing 40 minutes in 7 straight games as a chubby freshman, being forced to guard a future NBA-player while running the offence - that's much harder than anything in my line of work. I still to this day joke around about the time I booted a ball to the top of the grandstand on a Thanksgiving Day practice at 7AM and the whole team continued to play like nothing had happened. Sure, there are jobs out there like being a cop or firefighter that put things in front of you that are harder than making a free throw in front of lots of people - but there's also a reason that many of those positions are filled with former college athletes.

I think the main takeaway from playing hoops in college, especially at a scholarship-level program, is that while you still love the game and it is still somewhat "fun," it is also a job, and you have a responsibility to treat it that way. If you do, the rewards you reap from it will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

What are the biggest college basketball team rivalries of all-time ?

Duke vs. North Carolina is by far the largest rivalry in college basketball. It receives national multi-channel, comprehensive ESPN coverage. As a resident in the state of North Carolina, I have seen the rivalry firsthand.

Other large rivalries include Kansas-Missouri (although this rivalry has been broken due to Missouri's departure from the Big 12 Conference), North Carolina-North Carolina State (known more in the 1980's and early 1990's), and Kentucky-Louisville (there is much bad blood between these programs, especially in the fields of coaching and recruiting).

How do I play college basketball without playing in high school ?

If you played no organised basketball at all during your teenage years and are not a phenomenal 7 foot plus tall athlete with potential, then you stand no chance of playing basketball at a NCAA D-1 or D-2 college.

However, you could play No basketball for your high school and be an AAU basketball “all star” and get recruited to play college basketball.

Or you could be a superior athlete and get a chance to try out for a NCAA D-3 team.

Attend the college that is best for You. Then check out the college’s intramural basketball program, get on a team and Prove yourself. Play lots of pick-up ball with the people who know the college’s basketball program. Take PE basketball. If you do have the talent you will have chance for a try out with the team.