What is NCAA D3 Basketball? Everything you need to know …

NCAA D3 is a fantastic option for basketball players and in this article we will be taking a look at some of the reasons why this is. It is advisable that as a young student athlete who is looking to play college basketball, you don’t over look the D3 level. There are a lot of positives and opportunities to be gained from playing NCAA division 3 basketball. It is always good to keep an open mind and be open to all college basketball options.

NCAA DIVISION 3 FACTS:

NCAA Division 3 basketball was established in 1973. This size of student enrollments at Division 3 schools can range from more than 24,000 to less than 300. This would give the entire division an average of 2,600 students per school. Also, on average, student athletes make up 27% of the collective student body on D3 campuses.  This means about 1 in 4 students on a Division 3 campus are also athletes!

WHAT IS NCAA D3 BASKETBALL ALL ABOUT?

NCAA Division 3 is home to more than 440 institutions and 195,000 student athletes (which is the most in any division – equal to about 40% of all NCAA student-athletes). It provides an unbiased and inclusive environment for student athletes to play and gain their education. NCAA D3 provides student athletes with a fantastic opportunity to take responsibility for their own future and learn the necessary skills to do this well.

When playing for a NCAA D3 school, players are presented with an opportunity to follow their passion for basketball AND gain an invaluable educational experience. The four-year journey a student athlete will have at an NCAA D3 institution, is designed to supplement classroom time with pursuing other activities outside the classroom (sometimes related to coursework) but others that are solely extracurricular and recreational activities.

They are looking for student athletes who are fueled by their passions. They want student athletes who strive to do their best on the court and in the classroom. NCAA Division 3 schools look for student athletes who push themselves to achieve excellence and who want to build on their academic success with new challenges and life skills. All this can be achieved within a productive, healthy and encouraging environment.

NCAA Division 3 schools (on average) have the smallest median enrollment (1,751) of the three NCAA divisions. This often creates a higher professor-to-student ratio enabling more personal learning environments. Attending a Division 3 school affords student-athletes the opportunity to discover valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, perseverance and leadership, which in turn will make them a better student athlete and responsible citizen.

There is an intentional balance between academics and athletics for Division 3 student-athletes. They are encouraged to be active members on campus and participate in other co-curricular activities. Division 3 student athletes also report significantly greater gains in time management when compared with the general student body. They show greater involvement in volunteering and, are more likely to report that they see themselves as part of the campus community.

NOTE: Data shows that a quarter of NCAA Division 3 student athletes will study abroad during their collegiate career; almost half have a job and work a median of eight hours per week. Approximately three-quarters do an internship or externship.

Quote: ncaa.org

WHAT IS NCAA D3 BASKETBALL LIKE?

There 64 men’s basketball teams in NCAA division 3. The NCAA D3 Philosophy is: to ensure athletics are an integral part of a well-rounded college experience. The athletic experience allows student athletes to focus on their academic programs and earning a degree. Division 3 men’s basketball really focus hard on practice and playing seasons and regional competition (minimize conflicts between athletics and academics) and keeping student athletes on a path to graduation.

NCAA D3 offers an intense and competitive athletics environment for student athletes who choose to compete at this level because they’re passionate about their sport and, they can play without the additional pressure of an athletics scholarship. Division 3 athletics departments place special importance on the impact of athletics on the participants rather than on the spectators – the student athlete’s experience is the focus. Also, Division 3 places primary emphasis on regional in-season and conference competition.

NCAA Division 3 hosts 28 national championships every year which are split evenly between men’s and women’s sports. This means that they annually provide opportunities for more than 18,000 student athletes to compete at the highest level. This equals to a championship opportunity for every 1 in 10 Division 3 student athlete.

NOTE: One in every six Division 3 teams competes in an NCAA championship annually.

At these championship events, Division III athletes can be watched from all over the world with nearly all championship finals streamed live on ncaa.com.

DO NCAA D3 BASKETBALL PROGRAMS OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS?

NCAA division 3 schools do not offer student athletes athletics scholarships. However, around 80% of Division 3 student athletes DO receive some kind of academic grants and/or need-based scholarships from the school.

HOW DO I GET RECRUITED TO PLAY NCAA D3 BASKETBALL?

The NCAA oversees the NCAA Division 3 recruiting operations.  The Division 3 recruiting rules are more relaxed than the other NCAA D1 & D2 divisions.  There is no set NCAA Division 3 Recruiting Calendar. NCAA D3 College Coaches can contact and recruit players without certain dead periods, contact periods, and quiet periods.  NCAA D3 schools don’t have the big athletic recruiting budgets like at the Division 1 level. This is why they are afforded the flexibility in recruiting as it helps level the playing field. Recruits with good grads have a better chance at getting recruited.

NOTE: The NCAA defines recruiting as “any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.”

Quote: ncaa.org

CAN I TRANSFER FROM A NCAA D3 SCHOOL?

Yes, you can but you first have to complete a Permission to Contact: Self Release Form and, you can only transfer to another NCAA division 3 institution. Completion of this form does not allow the student athlete to contact NCAA D1 or NCAA D2 school.

CAN I VISIT A NCAA D3 SCHOOL FOR A TRYOUT?

NCAA Division 3 schools are not allowed to hold practice tryouts with college-bound student-athletes. However, you can arrange a visit. Any visit to a college campus by a college-bound student-athlete or their parents paid for by the college is an official visit. Visits paid for by college-bound student-athletes or their parents are unofficial visits.

During an official visit the college can pay for transportation to and from the college for the prospect, lodging and three meals per day for both the prospect and the parent or guardian, as well as reasonable entertainment expenses including three tickets to a home sports event. The only expenses a college-bound student-athlete may receive from a college during an unofficial visit are three tickets to a home sports event.

WHAT ARE THE ADMISSION & ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS TO PLAY NCAA D3 BASKETBALL?

NCAA Division 3 student athletes are subject to the same admission and academic standards, housing policies and support services as the general student body attending the school. In Division 3, student athletes must meet the admissions standards set by the school as opposed to the required divisional standards set in Divisions 1 and 2.

NOTE: Data shows that D3 student athletes graduate at a rate approximately 5% higher than that of the general student body.

Quote: ncaa.org

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO PLAY NCAA Division 3 BASKETBALL?

According to the NCAA there is no set age limit for any athlete. At the Division 3 level, student athletes still have only four years of eligibility, but they can spread these seasons out. Student athletes have five years to play four years of basketball. This time starts from the time the student athlete first matriculates at a college (this just means starts classes).

DO BASKETBALL PLAYERS HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THE NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE?

If you are planning to attend a Division 3 school then you DO NOT need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. This is because the NCAA Division 3 schools set their own admissions standards.

NCAA DIVISION 3 ACADEMICS

Academics are the primary focus for Division 3 student athletes. Participation in athletics is a way to enhance this priority, as it provides valuable life lessons for student-athletes such as teamwork, discipline, perseverance and leadership. Student athletes most often attend a college or university in Division III because of the excellent academic programs they offer and their primary focus is on learning and achieving a degree. Division 3 basketball minimizes the conflicts between athletics and academics through having shorter playing and practice seasons, the number of contests, out-of-season organized activities and a focus on regional in-season and conference play. Student-athletes are integrated on campus and treated like all other members of the general student-body, keeping them focused on being a student first. In 2019 academic success rate at the NCAA D3 level was 87%.

ADMISSION INTO A NCAA Division 3 Basketball SCHOOL

There are no NCAA course requirements for Division 3 eligibility. You just have to meet the admissions standards for the particular school you wish to attend. While there are no minimum national standards for establishing or maintaining eligibility at a Division 3 school, student athletes must be and stay, in good academic standing and make satisfactory progress toward a degree as determined by the school. Also, student athletes must be enrolled in at least 12 semester (or quarter hours) regardless of an institution’s own definition of “full time.”

FAMOUS BASKETBALL PLAYERS WHO PLAYED NCAA Division 3 Basketball:

You might think that playing NCAA D3 basketball isn’t an option if you want to play professional basketball after college. Well, you might want to re-think that. Devean George was a young player from Minneapolis, Minnesota who graduated from Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School to play for Augsburg College, which is NCAA Division 3 school. From here he went on to become a 3x NBA Champion!

Devean George never got looks from any top Division 1 schools during his high school career. As a senior, he led Augsburg to a 24-4 record and an appearance in the NCAA D3 tournament. George was a very versatile college player who could really score. In his senior season performance, George caught the eye of many NBA scouts – despite being at a Division 3 school. The end result … the NBA of 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers, selected Devean George as the 23rd overall pick. GOALS CAN BE ACHIEVED.