As we complete another coveted March Madness and NCAA Basketball Championship, I thought I'd share some revealing stats about these college players after the final horn.
Of the approximately 345 Division I college basketball programs and 17,500 players, only one team and 15 players will finish on a win.
Needless to say, the odds of finishing the season on a win are sobering.
According to the NCAA, the odds of these players going pro can be just as staggering.
Only 1.2% of Division I college basketball players will turn pro. (At least those odds are better than high school basketball players who only possess a 0.3% chance of getting an NBA contract)
The chance of a college basketball player playing in the NBA is less than any other major sport (1.6% college baseball players go pro, 1.7% of college football players hit the NFL, and 1.3% of college hockey players go pro).
The good news is......according to a NCAA Graduation Success Rate report (GSR), 82% of Division I student-athletes earned a degree, although, that report is for all sports, not simply basketball, and not recently updated.
So even if a Division I basketball player does beat the odds and become a pro athlete remember.....
100% of professional athletes ultimately experience job termination and ALL professional athletes eventually lose their jobs, which means they must must find a life after their glory days.
As a certified sports counselor and transition consultant to pro and Olympic athletes I've seen many great athletes reach dizzying heights, and sometimes subsequent slippery slopes, and can honestly say that those student-athletes that finish their degree prior to turning pro have an easier transition following their pro sports careers.
So as we celebrate college basketball's biggest event - the FINAL FOUR & NCAA Championship - remember that after the final horn has sounded and the trophy has been awarded, numerous student-athletes will NOT make the NBA, and even if they do, they must eventually find their next championship to accomplish.
You can find out more about me, my bestselling book, my TV show, and my services at: www.kurtdavid.com
