The Last Amateurs

The Last Amateurs follows one complete season of Patriot League college basketball, tracking the 1999-2000 campaigns of seven Division I schools. The book documents the unique culture of this conference, where players receive no athletic scholarships and must balance rigorous academics with competitive basketball. Feinstein embeds with teams throughout the season, capturing the experiences of players, coaches, and staff at institutions like Navy, Holy Cross, and Lafayette. The narrative tracks key games, practices, and behind-the-scenes moments across multiple schools as they compete for the conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth. Through extensive interviews and on-site reporting, the book shows how these student-athletes manage demanding course loads while playing high-level basketball. The scope includes road trips, team meetings, recruitment stories, and the intense rivalries between these academically prestigious schools. The book stands as a portrait of college athletics before the era of NIL deals and transfer portals, examining what it means to play sports purely for passion rather than professional aspirations. Its themes center on the intersection of academics and athletics, and the value of amateur competition in an increasingly commercialized sports landscape.

Readers describe this as an in-depth look at Patriot League basketball that captures both the sports action and academic challenges faced by Division I athletes at elite colleges. Readers appreciated: - The focus on student-athletes who play for love of the game rather than NBA prospects - Behind-the-scenes details about lesser-known basketball programs - The portrayal of players balancing rigorous academics with D1 athletics - Coverage of all seven Patriot League schools Common criticisms: - Too much focus on certain teams (especially Holy Cross) while others get minimal coverage - Repetitive game descriptions - Less compelling than Feinstein's other sports books - Some found the writing dry and the pace slow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (244 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (62 ratings) "A refreshing look at college basketball before big money took over," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user commented that it "drags in places but offers unique insight into small conference basketball."

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🏀 The Patriot League started in 1986 as the Colonial League, adopting its current name in 1990 to better reflect its all-sports nature. 📚 John Feinstein has written over 35 books, including the bestseller "A Season on the Brink" about Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight. 🎓 Holy Cross, featured prominently in the book, was the 1947 NCAA basketball champion and produced NBA legend Bob Cousy. 🏫 The Patriot League was one of the last NCAA Division I conferences to prohibit athletic scholarships, finally allowing them in 2013. ⭐ Many players featured in "The Last Amateurs" went on to successful careers in fields like medicine, law, and business, with only a handful pursuing professional basketball.