Basketball scholarship?

Why is it that I had to get a p on the subjects to get a basketball scholarship. I heard that players like oj mayo failed lots of years in school but still get a scholarship to usc.He played varsity basketball since 7th grade but I played varsity in 9th grade. I heard that iverson went to jail and still got a basketball scholarship. Don't you think you should atleast p school to get a scholarship? I know they ball better than me.