Height: 6'2", Stats: 10 points per game, 6 assists, GPA: 3.2

While you made it through college on a basketball scholarship, you knew that you never had the size or talent to play professionally. Fortunately, you got the most out of your studies and picked up a double degree in political science and economics. Now you're ready to go out there and hit the job market like the rest of us. Hey, that's life.

Height: 5'9", Stats: 12 points per game, 12 assists, GPA: 3.7

While you're a great passer and floor general, you're undersized for the pro game. You're a smart kid, though, and a student of the game. So you've set your sights on a career as an NCAA coach.

Height: 6'4", Stats: 22 points per game, 8 assists, GPA: 2.6

You had a successful career playing at a D-II program, but you were never the cream of the crop. You will not get drafted by the NBA. Womp womp. But you're determined to play professionally, so you've started to consider a career outside the states. (We hear Turkey is pretty.)

Height: 6'6", Stats: 8 points per game, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, GPA: 2.4

You were known mostly as a defensive specialist at your perennial top-25 college program, but this past season, you really perfected your jump shot. Your team's success has given you the opportunity to be scouted and scrutinized. The consensus is that you don't have the athletic ability of some of your peers, but your tenacity keeps you competitive. An NBA team might take a gamble and sign you to their developmental squad. At least you can still tell people you're in the NBA. Not too shabby, if you ask us.

Height: 6'10", Stats: 19 points per game, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, GPA: 2.8

You have proven yourself as one of college basketball's top athletes. You have the size and skills to make an impact at the pro level. An NBA team will most likely draft you this spring. Now, it's time to work on getting that endorsement deal. How do you feel about Brazilian energy drinks?

Ever hear the phrase, "one in a million"? Well, you'll need to be exactly that if you want to go pro. Think about the best high school athlete in your district of 10 high schools. The absolute Big Man in the area. He gets headhunted so hard by colleges that he can barely spare time for his school work, let alone friends. Then, he gets into college and is a total all star there...of the 12 best all stars on his team that year. Well, guess, what? Only one of those guys will be a pro in five years...if this is a top class of athletes out of the the past several years. 

So, even if you're in the 95th percentile of all NCAA athletes in your sport, you've still got a snowball's chance in a microwave of going pro. Not to mention actually mattering at all. More than likely, you'll still be struggling to eke out a living on the bench for a year or stuck on a farm team until you're forced to look for other work. We could bludgeon you with more data and stats, but as you dream about success, just make sure you're hedging your bets.

In other words: enjoy that "alternative" career, Shmooper. (#realtalk)