Feinstein’s Adalberto Bueno, right, and West Warwick’s Bruce Sobers, left, played against each other last March, but they’ll be teammates at CCRI next season.

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The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

PROVIDNCE –– There are kids all over the country playing basketball on playgrounds and in gymnasiums who will tell you that they want to be an NBA star.

Unfortunately, that is not a realistic goal.

Most of them won’t even get to play in college.

According to a study recently released by the NCAA, less than one in 35, or 2.9 percent of high school seniors playing interscholastic league basketball will go on to play in college.

In addition, according to the study, less than one in 75, or 1.3 percent of NCAA male senior basketball players will be drafted by an NBA team. Furthermore, approximately 3 in 10,000, or 0.03 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic league basketball, will be drafted by an NBA team.

Experts say that it’s normal and natural for a parent to push their kid to work hard in a sport when they show signs of promise. But the dream of playing a professional sport usually dies when their high school career is over.

There are a select few Rhode Island Interscholastic League boys basketball standouts who graduated last month who are beating the odds and will continue playing at the next level next year.

The Community College of Rhode Island hosts the quarterfinals and the semifinals of the RIIL playoffs each year, so CCRI men’s basketball coach Rick Harris and his staff get a chance to see most of the top Interscholastic League players at the same venue during the state tournament.

As a result, the Knights normally help local players compete at the next level by recruiting them during the state tournament.

CCRI had nine former Interscholastic League players on its roster last year.

This year, 6-foot-4 small forward, Adalberto Bueno, a former second-team All-State selection who averaged 25.1 points and 11.7 rebounds for Feinstein Academy last season, committed to play for CCRI, as did North Kingstown first-team all-division point guard Mason Kenney, who averaged 17 points, and 5 assists last season for the Skippers, and West Warwick first-team all-division power forward Bruce Sobers.

Sobers isn’t the only player from West Warwick who will play basketball in college next season. West Warwick’s 6-foot-7 forward, Ryan Coburn, will play for Springfield College.

In addition, Bueno isn’t the only player from Feinstein who will showcase his talent at the next level this winter. Feinstein’s sharp-shooting guard Josh Hilario will attend Johnson & Wales.

First-team All-Stater Brendan Degnan, who averaged 16.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game to help Bishop Hendricken win its fifth consecutive state title last season, will play for Wheaton College.

“From the moment he walked in the gym I knew he had what it took to become a great player,” Hendricken coach Jamal Gomes said of Degnan during the season.

Second-team All-Stater Jeff Holmes, who averaged 21 points and 16 rebounds for St. Raphael Academy last season, has committed to play for Amherst College next year.

“We wouldn’t have made the playoffs without him,” St. Raphael coach Tom Sorrentine said of Holmes after the season. “He did everything for us.”

Central’s top player, 6-foot-3 guard Carl Mangum, a first-team all-division selection and 1,000-point scorer for the Knights, will play for Virginia Union next year while former Smithfield star and first-team All-Stater Mike Marra has committed to play for Louisville.

“He is one of the top five players in the state,” Central coach Floyd Narcisse said of Mangum after Central’s season ended in the playoffs.

These are just a few players from the Interscholastic League whose basketball journey will continue for at least one more season.

roblee@projo.com