Football, Basketball, and Baseball
Special Considerations
Football, basketball, and baseball are the three sports that
dominate the American media’s attention. These sports all
originated in America and each has a rich history of great
players, great plays, great games, and zealous fans. Because of
their traditions and histories, each of the games is experienc-
ing intense media coverage that in no small part motivates
young people with athletic interest to aim for participation,
if not glory, by competing in one of the sports.
Not long ago, basketball and football players aspiring to
the professional leagues learned and perfected their craft
while in college. Aspiring baseball players developed their
major-league skills at the minor-league level. Few college
baseball players went on to become major-league stars.
While professional football leagues have wisely maintained
(except in a few highly publicized instances) their policy of
drafting players from college, professional basketball leagues
have begun drafting high-school players who are college-
basketball prospects. Both sports allow college underclass-
men to announce their availability for their sport’s draft.
More baseball players are emerging from the college ranks,
although the best prospects are inundated with offers of
money to forego their college education and continue their
development in the minor leagues.
Football, basketball, and baseball are securely woven into
the sports culture of America and are the goals for most
aspiring American athletes. Because of this, special atten-
tion must be paid to the necessary preparation required
to become a prospect and to the recruiting circumstances
unique to each.
124 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide