"In fact, over 98 percent of collegiate basketball players never play professionally, and it is even more unlikely to land a spot on a NBA roster."

Is there background data available to show how these numbers were calculated?

Because past calculations appearing the NCAA website in the past have been flawed, IMO. The "Competing Beyond High School" link is currently broken on the "Men's Basketball Administration" page.

Thanks for the comment, Mike.

I was curious to find out more information, so here is what I was able to discover:

1.2 percent of college basketball student-athletes end up getting drafted by a NBA team. The article that I linked to in the original post seems to be a little misleading because it says "plays professionally," but really it should say "drafted in the NBA." If you consider overseas and minor leagues in the U.S., I would guess the percentage is considerably higher. I haven't been able to find any statistic that gives the an exact percentage for this (but I will keep looking and asking around).

Here is a link that explains how the numbers are calculated: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=2335

No matter what the exact numbers are for playing professionally, the chances of making a living from basketball are extremely long odds. And even a smaller percentage will ever become millionaires from basketball, which makes an education a valuable commodity for everyone.

how sad it is..

One fact seems to always be omitted when talking about Brandon Jennings, He is not eligible to play DI in the NCAA. He is probably making a great choice for himself to try and get to the NBA or make a career out of basketball. He could end up being a very wealthy man if he just plays in Europe.

Let's talk about the option for other elite players. If they are really elite they would be able to sign right away and receive shoe endorsement money if they skip college. So there is even more money they could obtain. Also, how is it not educational to go and live and work in Europe to expand their world views. They actually live life and not talk about it in class as a theory. Is there an age requirement about later in life going back to college and getting degree? It's always funny that the people seem to harp on it the most didn't have the opportunity.

JM...is he really "living life" in Europe by living in a fancy apartment with his mom and brother and eating food from McDonalds and other American restaurants? Doesn't exactly sound like he's exactly exploring the world.

For Jennings, this is probably a good move, considering he isn't eligible to play at the DI level. But should other players follow suit (who are eligible to play in the US)? No, for most people, I agree that it would be a big mistake to go to Europe...play ball here, go to school, and see what happens.

Here's a cautionary message gone bad . . . Why shouldn't a player follow Jennings path? He's got income this year approaching $1 million, and the opportunity to develop his game.

What's the downside ? Only the marketing of NCAA basketball.

Should Jennings succeed in making the jump back to the NBA, he's overcome the 99-1 odds of a college player making it to the league. Should he fail to make the jump, he's got a career in Europe. Should that career fail, he's got a bank account that any 19-year old would love to have, and a whole lifetime ahead of him.

If he doesn't make it to the show, there won't be an impediment to him going to college later in life - the way plenty of "late bloomers" have - and he'll know he doesn't have to work three part-time jobs to do it.

I don't rember to many "American Restaurants" when I was in Italy less than a year ago. I do believe McDonalds or he is seeing another culture first hand. You camnnot simulate that experience. Here is a pretty good article talking about his mother and brother who went with them and their experiences. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/sports/basketball/05family.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

jm, that's a nice story and it's good to see him and his family doing well. Again, while jennings might be successful, this move shouldnt be made by everyone. However, many high school grads could see his success and follow him over there, and trust me, it won't work out nearly as well for many others. It sounds like jennings has a good family to support him and be there full time, something that wouldn't be the case with many others. Let's all hope this doesnt end up being a trend.

The goal of America is to make money! Look at Wall Street. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of property, which requires scads of loot.

As a former college football player, the elite athletes, unless they played for Coach K at Duke, and some other schools, rarely earn their degree. Shoot, they barely got out of high school, so please, spare me the value of education as a commodity. They have been coddled all the way to college, and by that time, it is too late.

One player got a degree after he played in the NBA a few years. He did not remember his major. We are fooling ourselves: some institutions give away their degrees. Especially with the new NCAA rules, more athletes will be given thier degrees than earn them.

If you don't believe me, test them out. Give them the GMAT or GRE, which is a fair exam coming out of 4-years of college and see what they score.

If a guy has a chance to go pro, that is what he has to work on. In fact, that's all he's been working on. AAU, Pop-Warner, redshirt in grade school so you can get an advantage in high school, college prep camps. How come their is no college prep camp for academics? Sport, sport, sport. What else are they going to do? Study physics or economics. They are going to be machines. That's what they are training for.

That is a myth to think that you can be a great student and a great athlete at the same time. Please spare me the exceptions. Let's look at the rule.

Also, don't forget, a lot of coaches don't want their guys studying. Please, I know from first hand experience. "What do you mean you have a lab at 4pm, you've got to be on the field or court, you can't take that lab Change that class, now!"

You want equity in terms of athletics and academics, share the revenue that is made by the coaches and university. Give the players 10 percent of the revenue from the tickets and jersey sales. Have the athletic department pay the insurance premiums for their elite athletes.

Don't give me the education exchange. It's not a fair exchange. Coaches contract, tv revenue, bcs revenue, apparel revenue, etc, compared to a $100K scholarship that has to be renewed every year.

These are poor kids going to these well-endowed institutions. The schools get richer and the elite athlete has to bide his time and hope he doesn't get hurt.

Good for Brandon Jennings. You need to make your money just like AIG, Lehman, WaMu, Enron, World Comm, etc. Talk to Warren Buffett about where to invest, get a great insurance policy, and enjoy European culture. Good for you.

Too bad you can't play futbol.

Dude, Anderson, you're crazy.

So many points here that are so far off.

"Some institutions give away their degrees?" Too bad you went to a school like this. Trust me, at my school (as a athlete), nothing was given away. It probably depends on the school and the ncaa has been working to crack down on those type of schools with apr, etc.

No academic camps? Are you serious? There are tons, I want to one the summer going to my jr yr of high school at the Univ of Michigan where you get on a college campus, take some classes, and get a feel for collefe life. I had tons of programs like this to choose from, so obviously you weren't looking in the right places.

Plenty of examples of big-time athletes who are good students. The Florida state rolle kid is a stud on the field, and is an all-american scholar. countless other examples too. so don't give me this that its not possible - you just have to apply yourself in class, something that many people dont do.

I agree high school stars should not take that big money and go to Europe, but at the same time it would be very difficult to turn down a free ticket. Going over there and playing out a contract and make more than enough money to be set for life is very appealing. I would advise them to sign short term deals rather than saying do not do it at all.