The average Division I men’s basketball player is worth $170,098 per year to his school

The average college basketball player at the University of Louisville would be worth $1.7 million per year if they were able to play in a free market system and receive compensation in a manner similar to that of the NBA.

We calculated the Fair Market Value of college basketball players at the 20 schools that bring in the most revenue from their men’s basketball program, according to data provided by the Department of Education. Using the NBA’s most recent collective bargaining agreement in which the players receive a minimum of 49% of all revenue, each school’s men’s basketball revenue was split between the school and the athletes with the players’ share divided evenly among the 13 scholarship players.

Using this method, we can estimate that the University of Louisville has the most valuable players at $1.72 million per year based on the program’s $45.6 million in annual revenue. Overall, the average Division I player is worth $170,098 per year with the 351 Division I basketball programs taking in more than 4.5 million in revenue on average each year.

Diana Yukari/Business Insider