Matt Cotton, a senior, who committed to Yale University for basketball, has some advice. “Always work hard even if things aren’t going your way,” he said. “Stay consistent.”

Cotton is one of the thirteen students from Eastern who will play at a Division I college in the fall of next year.

There are over 350 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division one colleges with over six thousand teams, and more than 170 thousand athletes.

The NCAA will give a one time distribution of $200 million dollars to each Division I school. In order to prevent clap-back, they posted a Q&A. According to the NCAA website, “The $200 million is being funded from a liquidation of NCAA Quasi-Endowment” and “(it is) for the direct benefit of the student-athlete and their academic success, life skills, career success, health and safety and student-athlete focused diversity and inclusion initiatives. Schools have discretion in using funds among these areas.”

This grant will allow for more athletic scholarships.

Athletic director, Mr. Hill said, “(Eastern) did recognize for the first time other student athletes continuing even Division III.”

When deciding on going to a Division I school you have to consider other factors besides sports. Senior Olivia Perrone, committed to Lehigh University for field hockey said she ultimately decided to go there “because of the beautiful campus and the opportunity to get a good education.”

Cotton started to consider Yale University when he visited the school. He said, “(Yale) is the best for basketball and education. I also had a good bond with the coaches and team.”

As advice to student athletes, Perrone said, “Don’t doubt and never let anyone tell you what you can and can not do.”