Duke University, Harvard University and Vanderbilt University are considered to be top schools for academic rigor. However, these are also schools represented in the National Basketball Association by some of today’s top players. Schools with strong academic reputations typically do not coddle their athletes; degrees earned from prestigious colleges and universities take effort, intelligence and passion – especially when the demands of the school basketball season (with all of its distractions) are taken into consideration.
Academic Rigor and Athletic Ability – Together!
NBA players suffer the same perspective as many athletes – the image of the “dumb jock” who only knows how to throw a ball into a net. “Jock courses” allow the student athlete to maintain grades in order to be eligible to compete in the game. In a recent NCAA scandal, a major university was found to offer a course with no attendance or academic requirement for passing. There are exceptions that contradict this stereotype, however. As with any sport played at the highest level, there is a lot more going on during the course of a game than a casual fan can grasp. For example, players who are observant and quick-minded will do well in the transition game; athletes who understand the overall game plan and intricate strategies will contribute to their team’s wins and develop into impact players. Many top academic schools are represented in the NBA; here is a sampling of the top ten current NBA players who met both academic requirements and athletic demands.1. Jeremy Lin

2. Mason Plumlee

3. Festus Ezili
Nigerian pro basketball Festus Ezeli, former player for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (2012-2016), is currently a free agent. Born in Nigeria to academically-minded parents, Ezeli concentrated hard on his studies, graduating high school at the tender age of 14 years. He aspired to be a physician and in 2004 was sent to live in Yuba City California with his pediatrician-uncle. It was his uncle who encouraged Ezeli to take up basketball, mainly because of the youth’s height (6’ 8” at age 14 – Ezeli would grow up to reach 6’ 11”). Initially, Ezeli struggled with learning basketball due to his lack of experience in organized sports. He persevered, however, beginning with a low-level AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team and working his way up to a high-level competition on the AAU circuit in 2007 where he averaged 10 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks per game. It was after this, in July 2007, that Ezeli was invited to the Reebok All-American Camp. During his early years in America, Ezeli enrolled at Yuba Community College part-time at the age of 16. By studying only part-time he was able to make time to practice and play on the AAU team. After his debut on the AAU circuit’s high-level competition, Ezeli was sought after by many schools for recruitment. He narrowed his list down to University of Connecticut, Boston College, Harvard, and Vanderbilt. Though his parents strongly preferred Harvard, Ezeli was convinced that Vanderbilt University was his best option based on its solid academic reputation and the basketball program’s recent experience with international players. Though he began pursuing a degree in biology, he eventually changed his major to economics to stay focused on his basketball career. School:Vanderbilt University Image Source: The Undefeated4. Jaylen Brown

5. Russell Westbrook

6. Tyler Zeller

7. Kelly Olynyk

8. Gordon Hayward

9. Rajon Rondo

10. Victor Oladipo
