Top 10 Basketball Colleges in the United States

Basketball as a sport is very popular both among players and spectators. The top 10 basketball colleges in the US are rated not just on their performance but also by how their fans rate them. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) control college basketball in the US. Each of these organizations is subdivided based on the number and level of scholarships offered to athletes. They each have different conferences to divide the best basketball teams into groups based on their location.

Each of the top 10 basketball colleges has a team with a fervent fan following and there is big money for the colleges in the game. Students who play for the best basketball teams don’t get paid nor can they charge for appearing in advertisements. However, the coaches of the top 10 basketball colleges laugh all the way to the bank with their earnings.

The top 10 basketball colleges are:

  • University of Kentucky
  • Duke University, North Carolina
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Kansas
  • Villanova University
  • University of Louisville
  • University of California – Los Angeles
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Florida

1. University of Kentucky

‍The Kentucky Wildcats – that’s the name of one of the best basketball teams, represents the University of Kentucky and is perhaps the most successful NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I basketball program. They have the maximum wins and the best all-time winning percentage. John Calipari, the coach of the team is a legend known for spotting talent and building teams of National Championship caliber.

The most favored majors at this top basketball college are:
  • Business
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Education
  • Communication
  • Journalism
  • Health Professions 
  • Engineering

For more majors at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www.uky.edu/academics/

International students are eligible for merit-based scholarships.

For more information about applying for scholarships:

https://international.uky.edu/Apply/Scholarships

For more information about financial aid at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www.uky.edu/financialaid/

Watch a video of one of the best basketball teams:

https://www.youtube.com/user/KentuckyVids

For more information about one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www.uky.edu/admission/

2. Duke University, North Carolina

‍The Duke Blue Devils is the name of the basketball team that represents Duke University. The team has won 5 NCAA championships and has been in the top four contenders in innumerable games across the US. Mike Krzyzewski has been coaching the Blue Devils since 1980 and has crafted innumerable victories for the team. He is perhaps the only coach to have led so many victories.

For more information about one of the best basketball teams:

https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball

The most favored majors at this top basketball college are:
  • Computer Science
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Psychology

For more majors at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://admissions.duke.edu/academic-possibilities/

There is limited financial aid for international students. 

Need-based aid is offered to 20-25 international students.

For more information about financial aid at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://financialaid.duke.edu/awarding-and-policy

Watch a video of one of the best basketball teams:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DukeBluePlanet

For more information about one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://admissions.duke.edu/

3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Tar Heels, the basketball team at this university is famous for producing the all-time basketball great – Michael Jordan. This is one of the best basketball teams to have won seven Men’s Basketball National Championships. Roy Williams has been coaching the Tar Heels since 2003.

For more information about one of the best basketball teams:

https://goheels.com/

The most favored majors at this top basketball college are:
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication
  • Journalism
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Management
  • Marketing 

For more majors at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://catalog.unc.edu/undergraduate/programs-study/

International students are not eligible for need-based aid.

For more information about financial aid options at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://studentaid.unc.edu/special-circumstances/international-students/

For more information about athletic financial aid:

https://apsa.unc.edu/financial-aid/

Watch a video of one of the best basketball teams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuZEf-NcQT4

For more information about one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www.unc.edu/

4. University of Kansas

The first coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, James Naismith is considered the inventor of the game of basketball. The Kansas Jayhawks basketball program is classified in the NCAA Division I and competes in the Big 12 Conferences. Bill Self has been coaching the Jayhawks successfully since 2003.

For more information about one of the best basketball teams:

https://kuathletics.com/

The most favored majors at this top basketball college are:
  • Engineering
  • Business/accounting
  • Psychology
  • Journalism
  • Pharmacy
  • Biological sciences
  • Education

For more majors at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://ku.edu/academics

International students are eligible for aid.

For more information about financial aid at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://affordability.ku.edu/document-audiences/international-students

Student-athletes are also eligible for aid.

For more information about athletic financial aid:

https://kuathletics.com/502c-student-athletes-athletic-financial-aid/

Watch a video of one of the best basketball teams:

https://www.youtube.com/user/KUAthletics

For more information about one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://ku.edu/

5. Villanova University

The Villanova Wildcats men’s basketball program represents the University and competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. They have won the National Championship thrice and won the Philadelphia Big 5 a record 27 times. In all the Villanova Wildcats have 1,803 victories to their credit. Jay Wright has been coaching the Wildcats since 2001

For more information about one of the best basketball teams:

https://villanova.com/sports/mens-basketball

The most favored majors at this top basketball college are:
  • Business
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Social Sciences
  • Communication
  • Journalism
  • Health Professions 
  • Engineering

For more majors at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www1.villanova.edu/university/programs.html

International students are eligible for merit-based and need-based aid.

But as a first-year international student you will need to demonstrate that you can pay for your education for the first year. 

For more information about financial aid at one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/enroll/finaid/process/international.html

Watch a video of one of the best basketball teams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkOF3mdplSM&list=PLcV_UpoDi-ur03dlMC32v01ZtIPb-_dkm

For more information about one of the top 10 basketball colleges:

https://www1.villanova.edu/university.html

How Many NCAA Men’s College Basketball Teams Are There?

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association there are nearly 1,100 schools across the country, with teams divided within three divisions and more than 100 conferences. The 350 best men's college basketball teams play within Division I and are split among 32 conferences.

Every year, the team that wins their conference championship gets selected into the NCAA tournament, with the remaining 36 teams chosen by a selection committee. The NCAA tournament takes place each March and uses a single-elimination format to narrow the field to a Final Four and then a national championship game.

The most indispensable thing in a basketball academy is basketball games. Holding various basketball games can not only promote the friendship between students and strengthen the cohesion of the team but also help students realize their strengths and weaknesses during the game.

To make the basketball game more exciting, award medals are indispensable. Schools can encourage students to participate in games by issuing medals and customizing different medals according to the theme of the basketball game. Customized medals are not just distinctive, but also symbolize an honor.

If you want to show your support for your favorite basketball team or particularly like a certain basketball star, you can show your support for them by customizing some related pins, keychains, or patches to wear on your body, at BPS.com, you can find what you want.

https://ukathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball

Do College Basketball Players Get Paid?

In an endeavor to protect the recruitment process and level the playing field for smaller schools, the NCAA made it illegal for men's college basketball teams to pay student athletes for their services. Colleges can give students with scholarships and stipends, but those grants must only cover the costs of earning an education.

In 2020, still, the NCAA Board of Governors supported a shift in the rules that would allow student athletes to profit off of their name and likeness. Under the new ruling, players would be able to make money as long as the funds do not come from the school.

What Percentage of Men’s College Basketball Players Go to the NBA?

With nearly 500,000 student athletes in the NCAA system across all sports, the odds of a basketball player reaching the NBA remain extremely low. Since there are less players on each NBA team than in other sports, the odds of getting drafted in the NBA are lower than in the MLB, NHL, and NFL.

In men's college basketball, nearly 19,000 student athletes participate, with over 4,000 players becoming NBA draft eligible. Each year, only 60 players get drafted. While some players sign with teams as undrafted free agents, it is still very difficult to earn a roster spot in the NBA.

Share: