Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience Making Your Career in Basketball Case Studies Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies How to use the case studies? Basketball is a sport that presents many opportunities, throughout the world, to play professionally or to combine study with playing. It is certainly possible to have a career as a professional basketballer, although as with any athlete, there is a limit as to how long this career can last. The very best Australian athletes may make enough in their basketball career to “set themselves up for life”, however for most players, a career after basketball needs to be found. These case studies are in two parts: Australians who are currently on scholarship at a US College; Australians who have played professionally. The case studies will highlight the experiences these players have had, and the information they wish they knew earlier, but probably learnt the “hard way” (through experience). The case studies are not a guarantee that you will have the same experience as these players, they are simply some information that may assist you as you determine what your career will be. Basketball Australia would particularly like to thank each of the athletes for taking the time to provide information about their experiences. We would also like to thank Ian Stacker for his work in compiling the information from student-athletes at US Colleges. Don’t be afraid to set your goals and then to do the hard work that is required to achieve them! © Basketball Australia, 2009 Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience The US College Experience Many Australian athletes play in US Colleges, where the emphasis is on being a “student-athlete” (i.e. academics come first!). Some of these athletes will go onto play professionally, however most don’t. We’ve collected the experiences from athletes in the US in 2008. Name: Ashley Arnott At which College do you Sonoma State University play: What year are you: Medical Redshirt Sophomore What are the best things 1. The Experience about playing in US 2.Free Education College: 3. Basketball What does your scholarship All tuition payments cover? How did the US College find Vince Inglima The import from Dandenong, he also assistant coaches out about you? there. Approximately how much I pay rent for my house and utilities does it cost? (not covered by the scholarship) Is there anything you wish That the exchange rate was so terrible you had known before you went overseas: What are the worst things Some of the classes you have to do, and the bad foods about playing in US College: Does playing in US College Yes meet your expectations: What advice would you give Need to work hard to get good results to a player considering going to US College: What degree do you study? Exercise Science, & Yes Is it recognized in Australia? 3 Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience Name: Amy Browne At which College do you Newberry College, South Carolina play: What year are you: Freshman What are the best things The competition is great – so many good teams. When you’re at the about playing in US games the school spirit is awesome, it just adds another element to the College: competition. What does your scholarship I’m on a full scholarship; it covers tuition, accommodation, meals – cover? everything except travel, insurance and text books. How did the US College find The coach is Australian and he had seen me play back home. out about you? Approximately how much The main cost would be the flights – I have to pay four airfares to get does it cost? (not covered here and back. by the scholarship) The only other major cost would be textbooks – approx $200- $300/semester Is there anything you wish No not really. you had known before you went overseas: What are the worst things I don’t think there is really anything that bad worth mentioning. The about playing in US worst thing for me about being over here is that you miss all your friends College: and family from back home. It’s something you get used to though. Does playing in US College Yes definitely. The competition is awesome. The college atmosphere at meet your expectations: the games is amazing. Your teammates become your family, its an all- round great experience What advice would you give If you get the opportunity to go – do it. You’ll miss your friends and to a player considering family from home but you meet so many more new people from over going to US College: here who are from all different parts of America and different parts of the world – you develop a whole new group of friends. You just need to think of what the opportunity really is –get a free college education whilst being able to play college basketball. It really is the opportunity of a lifetime, you will not regret it. What degree do you study? I’m doing a sports management degree. Yes it’s recognised in Australia. Is it recognized in Australia? 4 Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience Name: Chris Clausen At which College do you Currently at North Iowa Area Community College, but will be at and play: attending University of North Dakota in under a month. What year are you: Sophomore What are the best things Getting to practice every day and not having to worry about anything else about playing in US except for class. The whole sporting scene is bigger here than in AUS College: What does your scholarship This year all my tuition. Next 2 years Tuition, Books and Living Expenses cover? How did the US College find Through Ricky Simpson who coached me for a few years in ABL. out about you? Approximately how much About $2000 a semester, Nothing at my next school. does it cost? (not covered by the scholarship) Is there anything you wish My freshman year, I went to another school and I hated it. I didn’t really you had known before you do much research on the school or the coach and just kind of jumped went overseas: into it. I would say do some research on the school and coach before you go somewhere. Also when I was in year 12 I didn’t take an English class because you didn’t need it for Uni back home. It made me ineligible for D1, if I had known that I would have taken it and played all 4 years at a D1 school. What are the worst things 4 and 5 hour bus rides to games! about playing in US College: Does playing in US College Yea, playing at JUCO isn’t quite what you would think playing in a “US meet your expectations: college” would be like, but the 2 years of JUCO was still fun and definitely worth it to be playing at a division 1 school next year. What advice would you give It is something that you would never experience being in AUS and it to a player considering helps a lot to improve your basketball. I am glad I am here and am going to US College: having a great time. What degree do you study? I am majoring in computer science. I am pretty sure it is recognized in Is it recognized in AUS it is a pretty common degree. Australia? 5 Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience Name: Katie Langford At which College did you Oral Roberts University play: How long did you play: 4 years What are the best things The whole college experience is amazing, the people you meet, living in about playing in US the dorms. The US is a great place to live! College: What did your scholarship Everything except my travel to and from America cover? How did the US College find The head coach was watching at the Under 18 Nationals and I was out about you? recruited from there Approximately how much Airfares + spending money so it depends on how tight you want to be or did it cost? (not covered by how much you like to shop! the scholarship) Really you don’t need much spending money at all because absolutely everything you need is covered but you’ll find you spend a bit on entertainment, going out 4 dinner – stuff like that Is there anything you wish No, ask as many questions as you need to before you go. No question is you had known before you too dumb to ask. You will learn how things work when you get there went overseas: What was the worst things After being there for 4 years it was hard to leave friends and it took a about playing in US while to adjust to being back home College: Did playing in US College Over and above meet your expectations: What advice would you give Make sure you are happy with the coaching staff and your potential to a player considering teammates because you will be spending a lot of time with them. Do as going to US College: much research as possible and take a visit if you can. What degree did you study? Mass Media Communication emphasis in Public Relations and Is it recognized in Advertising. Yes Australia? 6 Making Your Career In Basketball – Case Studies The US College Experience Name: Emlyn Dodd At which College do you University of Texas of the Permian Basin play: What year are you: Freshman What are the best things The constant practice and games are nothing like you can experience about playing in US College: playing Australian Basketball, they help improvements come so quickly.