everyone in the general public, so why should it be for those who want and can play football or basketball professionally?

There is an obvious recognition that many high school students do not have the acumen for college and are better served learning a trade or pursuing employment in areas that don’t require a college degree. Yet we somehow think that those who play professional sports are all intellectually equipped to meaningfully attend college. Obviously, many aren’t and forcing them into college and expecting them to remain academically eligible ends up making a farce of the whole enterprise.