Only 7.6 percent of high school athletes play college sports, according to ScholarshipStats. Percentages vary by sport, with 11.7 percent of ice hockey players and 11.2 percent of baseball players making the transition from high school to college, but only 3.3 percent of wrestlers, 5.9 percent of basketball players and 7.8 percent of football players. The NCAA reports that a mere two percent of high school athletes are awarded scholarships to compete at the college level.
Student athletes who want to compete in college are being held to higher GPA requirements. As of 2016 NCAA will require high school athletes to have a 2.3 GPA, up from a 2.0 GPA, to compete in Division I or II colleges. No minimum national GPA standard exists in Division III; although NCAA specifies that "student-athletes in that division must be in good academic standing and make satisfactory progress toward a degree as determined by the institution."
High school and college athletes serve as role models to student bodies and should be held to quality academic standards. Allowing failing or nearly failing students to compete encourages the message that student athletes do not need to achieve academically. The goal of secondary and higher education is to prepare students for their futures; the best way to do this is by ensuring their successful academic career.
Of all college athletes, only 1 percent go professional, according to USA Today. Without a backup plan, such as academic preparation in one or more disciplines, college athletes struggle to find fruitful and meaningful work. The NCAA's stricter requirements for college players' high school GPAs acknowledge that athletes need to build a foundation for attainable careers while they are in high school.