The career maturity of student-athletes at different competition levels

This research explores the differences in career maturity scores of male student-athletes playing intercollegiate basketball at different competition levels. The use of the Career Maturity Inventory was used to assess the respondents overall career maturity, decisiveness, involvement, orientation, independence and compromise. The population included 125 student-athletes from NCAA D-I (n = 19), NCAA D-II (n = 9), NCAA D-III (n = 44) and NAIA (n = 53) institutions from across the southeastern United States. Career expectations were also measured by respondents by asking them to indicate their expectations at playing professional basketball. The results showed that 32% (n = 39) responded yes to the question, Do you expect to play professional basketball? This was a significantly high number since the research shows that less than 2% actual ever play any type of professional sports. There was a significant difference in overall career maturity, involvement, independence, and compromise scores of student-athletes based upon competition level (p-value \u3c .05). There was no statistically significant difference in decisiveness and orientation scores of student-athletes compared by competition levels (p-value \u3e .05)