The U.S. college basketball season reaches its finale this week. Michigan plays Villanova in San Antonio, to decide the championship to conclude what's known as "March Madness". CGTN's Owen Fairclough talked with two high school players hoping to make the next step in their development and how they plan on navigating this ultra-competitive industry.

The Texas midday heat is oppressive, but there's no easing up for Steele Knights basketball in the off season - those medicine balls weigh nearly 10kg. Byron P. Steele High School won its San Antonio league with two of the highest ranked young players in the US: Gerald Liddell and Jayden Martinez, both moving to university with scholarships earned through their talent.

Their days are filled with drilling every aspect of their game and juggling all of that with studying.

"What do you do to unwind?"

JAYDEN MARTINEZ STEELE KNIGHTS BASKETBALL PLAYER "Sleeping, icing, resting."

Just one percent of some 18,000 students who play in college make the NBA - the most lucrative sports league in the world. It's also littered with broken careers. Even so, some are questioning the need for potential NBA stars to even go to college following a recent bribery scandal and grievances over not paying student athletes. But giving up an education is not an option for these athletes.

As Gerald and Jayden graduate to chase their hoop dreams, Coach Lonny Hubbard's job is done. But there's always the next generation to worry about.

OFA, CGTN, San Antonio.