Education is a key part of life, and college athletes aren’t getting a complete education because they are essentially living a professional athlete's lifestyle. College athletes have to go to practice and work out, go to film sessions and team meetings, plus they have to go to road games. There simply is not enough time in the day to live this lifestyle and get a complete education. My next-door neighbor went to play women’s soccer at UCONN, but she had to quit soccer because she physically couldn’t do both soccer and get a complete education. Many athletes chose to stick with their sport, however, they won’t be able to get a full education like a regular student. According to an article from KU Athletics, the Kansas football team had an average GPA of 2.87 during the fall semester, while the average GPA at Kansas University is 3.6, according to Prep Scholar. The players on the Kansas football team were not able to achieve academically as well as the average student at Kansas. The players on the Kansas football team had to practice for their sport, go on road games, work out in the weight room, and as a result, they missed classes and their academics took a hit. They weren’t able to get the complete education of a regular student which will impact their future after football. Most college athletes won’t ever be professionals, and because they aren’t getting a complete education, they are behind the average person and it will hurt their future. The same is true for an athlete who gets hurt in college. Some people will argue that athletes should be focusing more on their education and that it is on them that they don’t make up classes and work they miss when they are on the road, but the athletes are living professional athletes lifestyles and are being told to spend more time practice and lifting rather than study as long as their grade is good enough. Paying athletes salaries will fix this issue because they will have money to help them as they are coming out of college and could be struggling to find out what to do beyond sports.

    College sports are extremely popular, but if the athletes aren’t paid salaries, soon there won’t be high-level college sports. Some top-level athletes are choosing to go play in the minor leagues of sports instead of going to college, so they can make money sooner. To enter into the NBA draft, you have to be 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. Traditionally, this means that you have to play at least one year of college basketball before entering the draft. Jalen Green, the nation's top-ranked high school basketball player in 2019-2020, decided to spend his year before the draft playing in the G League, instead of attending college. This allowed him to still play a high level of basketball, but also get paid a salary. According to The Washington Post, Jalen Green earned a salary of $500,000 during his one year in the G League. Following his one G League season, he was drafted second overall in the NBA draft. Jalen Green proved that going to the G League will not cause your draft stock to plummet. Jalen Green proved that you can earn money in your year before the NBA draft while playing against a high level of competition. Jalen Green, and a few other players, have shown us what all high-caliber players will do in the future if they don’t get paid salaries. Some people will argue that players will want to go to college for their education. However, athletes don’t get a complete education in college, so they might as well earn a salary in the G League instead of making no money in college. The only way to prevent other players from going to leagues like the G League is to pay college athletes salaries. 

    Paying college athletes is simply a matter of equity and fairness, and it needs to happen now before it’s too late.