NCAA Eligibility Center NEWS RELEASE

April 2, 2025 

High school student-athletes in San Antonio are getting first-hand information on what it takes to play at the NCAA collegiate level. This week, in the run up before the NCAA Men’s Final Four in San Antonio, the NCAA Eligibility Center is presenting on the NCAA’s initial-eligibility requirements to students at Highlands High School. This opportunity will assist San Antonio high school student-athletes with the chance to learn about NCAA certification requirements directly from NCAA Eligibility Center staff.

“Making high school student-athletes aware of what is required in order to practice, compete and receive athletics aid at an NCAA member school will help ensure these students don’t miss an opportunity at the collegiate level as they work toward their college degree,” said Elizabeth Thompson, associate director of outreach and strategic partnerships at the NCAA Eligibility Center. 

As registering with and being certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center is a requirement to participate at the NCAA collegiate level, bringing information directly to student-athletes helps reduce the number of students who cannot be certified. Students who do not meet the core-course GPA or do not take the required 16 NCAA-approved core courses before high school graduation may not be certified as “nonqualifiers.” Nonqualifiers are unable to practice, compete or receive athletics aid from an NCAA Division I member school that may be recruiting them.

NCAA Eligibility Center staff will be presenting to student-athletes at Highlands High School in San Antonio at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. Additionally, NCAA Eligibility Center staff are meeting with staff from Austin Independent School District on Wed., April 2, and from San Antonio Independent School District on Thurs., April 3. 

“We are so excited to have this opportunity to work directly with each of these districts,” said Thompson. “The more we collaborate and connect with the school districts, the greater the chance their student-athletes will be prepared to be recruited and play college sports."

High school counselors, athletic directors and coaches have the largest impact on student-athletes with the dream to play at the NCAA level, and the NCAA works to support these student-athlete advocates and their efforts to move students closer to that dream. These free informational sessions will cover NCAA requirements and how high school administrators and coaches can play a part in their student’s journey to NCAA collegiate athletics.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, the NCAA Eligibility Center is the division of the NCAA responsible for certifying high school student-athletes to participate in college athletics at an NCAA Division I, II or III member schools. For more information, visit ncaa.org.