PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast

In this week's episode we welcome Andrew Osborne Academy Head Basketball Coach, Eli Gore. Eli has been around the game. He started his college career at a JUCO before transferring to D3 Salisbury to play for eventual D3 National Championship Coach Josh Merkel. After being an assistant at Salisbury he then went to Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. From here he went from low major to high major a...

We took a week 10 state road trip and visited 6 prep schools along the way. (Kiski, Andrews Osborne, Western Reserve, La Lumiere, Link Year, and Sunrise Christian.) We share some quick thoughts about each school. Then we talk about the following topics: -Should families promote their child and/or hire a college placement consultant even if you are already going to a prep school? -Coming soon: What...

In this podcast we have the pleasure of being joined by former D1 athlete Kirsten Jones. Kirsten played volleyball and transferred colleges before the portal was a thing. She also had both of her sons attend prep schools. She shares the process for finding the right school for each son, and then the steps taken to choose the right college. Her oldest son is currently in the transfer portal and she...

On this mini podcast we talk about some of the trends/concerns we have seen in the last 6-12 months in the prep school world. In this episode we discuss:  1) Expectations vs Reality  2) A real life prep school vs High Academic vs D1 Walk On decision  3) Being Transparent w/ players and families doing their due diligence  4) Summer programs for International  5) Read the fine print of the contracts...

In this episode of the PREP Athletics podcast, we welcome Cushing Academy's head boys basketball coach James Cormier. James spent two years at Proctor Academy before playing at Le Moyne College. After his college career he got into coaching and worked at Northfield Mount Hermon under legendary coach, John Carroll. From here he worked as an assistant at Dartmouth where his father was head coac...

In this mini episode we discuss my experiences w/ cold water. It started when I went to train w/ Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece at their home in Malibu. From here I was hooked. I bought a chest freezer for my home in DC and now where I live in Colorado I take advantage of the frigid mountain streams. In February 2020 I went to Poland to train w/ the Iceman himself; Wim Hof. This five day experienc...

In this week’s episode we are joined by former D1 Head Coach Jamion Christian.  Jamion was a D1 assistant at Bucknell, William & Mary, and VCU before becoming serving as head coach at Mount St Mary’s, Siena, then George Washington.  Jamion played D1 at Mount Saint Marys.  In this episode we talk about the transition from an assistant to head coach, his recruiting philosophies, how to choose yo...

On this week's podcast I am joined by Newman School Head Coach, Jackson Johnson. Jackson played baseball at Tulane for 2 years before switching over to play basketball for the Green Wave. We talk about how he chose Tulane, what he learned playing two sports at the D1 level, coaching at the Newman School and more.  Connect w/ Jackson  Twitter | https://twitter.com/JJohnson_49  Website | https:...

In this episode we welcome one of Western Reserve Academy's coaches: Matt Garvey. Matt went to prep school at New Hampton before attending Providence where he was a manager. After this he was a special assistant to Coach Ed Cooley where he worked in the video department. Now at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson Ohio, Matt talks about the program, their competition, placing players and more. C...

For six years I lived on a ten acre farm in Central Kentucky. We did not have animals or crops, but we had grass. My father wanted the ten acres to look like a golf course. It took fourteen hours to mow the ten acres and another 2-3 to weedeat around all of the trees and fences. While this felt like a burden and punishment as a teenage, I reflect in this bonus podcast on how this actually helped m...

On this week’s episode we welcome Hollywood actor Josh Hopkins. I went to the same school as Josh in Lexington Kentucky in the late 80s. I was in 6th grade while he was a senior. In this episode we talk about the passion among the University of Kentucky basketball fans, getting into acting, hanging out with Leonardo DiCaprio, reading with Tom Cruise for Jerry Maguire, having a father who was elect...

In this week's episode we welcome USA Today's Josh Peter to the podcast. This was our first time having a sports journalist on the show and Josh shared some good advice and stories. In this episode we talk about Josh's path to ending up at USA Today, some of his biggest stories, dream interviews, top sporting events he has seen live, interviewing Magic and Michael Jordan, and how on...

On this week’s episode we welcome Romone Penny.  Romone went to Mercersburg Academy for a post-grad year before playing at Florida State.  He then transferred to American University where he last game as a senior was in the NCAA tournament.  While living in DC he was invited to play basketball with President Obama and became a regular at those weekly runs.  He now runs Pursuit Sports Group where h...

On this episode we welcome Coach Raphael Chillious of the South Kent School back to the podcast. I wanted to have Coach Chillious back to go over some of the most asked questions in the prep school and college recruiting world. In this episode we answer the following questions and more: -Is it better for a player to leave high school early to go to a prep school for multiple years, or graduate fro...

On this week’s episode we welcome agent Kevin Tarca.  Kevin is the founder of Kreation Talent Agency and a former D1 basketball walk-on at Quinnipiac University.  In this episode we talk about the pros and cons of being a D1 walk on, why Kevin became an agent, traveling the globe, making in person connections, the confusion about “playing overseas” and much more.   Connect w/ Kevin Website: https:...

This week we welcome Dr. Brian Konik to the podcast.  Brian is a psychologist and also the head boys basketball coach at The Frederick Gunn School.  Brian has a unique background that most basketball coaches don’t.  In this episode we talk about:  -the benefits of Brian being a psychologist and a coach -mental health trends he is seeing with today’s teenagers -suggestions he gives to improve menta...

In November 2022 I took my annual New England road trip. During this week I visited 17 prep schools and attending the National Prep School Showcase. In this mini podcast I share my observations which include:  -New prep school coaches  -Schools owned by the Chinese  -What college coaches are saying about recruiting  -Parents concerns about college placement  Connect with Cory: Website | https://ww...

On this podcast we had the pleasure to speak with Navy Seal Commander, Rorke Denver. Rorke is a neighbor of mine in Colorado and we have gotten to know each other over the past few years. We both love dipping in cold creeks and have done so down the canyon in Cleark Creek. Rorke is a dynamo! An NCAA national champion lacrosse player at Syracuse, and defensive All American. We talk about getting in...

This short podcast is a refresher on the basketball academy world. Each week a family asks me about these options, and I wanted to put out a current video on the present state of this world. As I always say, "Do your due diligence." Here are some links that are mentioned in this podcast: > Prep Schools VS Basketball Academies: What Are The Difference And Why Does It Matter? > Quest...

In this episode we welcome High School, NCAA, and NBA champion Sasha Kaun.  Sasha came from Russia at the age of 16 to Florida Air Academy.  He didn’t speak any English.  Within three years he learned to speak the language, won a state title and got a scholarship to Kansas.  After winning an NCAA title he was the last draft pick in the history of the Seattle Supersonics.  He chose instead to play...

On this week’s episode we welcome Coach Nick Whitmore.  Nick is the son of a former D1 head coach and spent his college years as a student assistant at both Rhode Island and Boise State.  Nick then went to coach under Rex Walters at the University of San Francisco.  Nick went back to his home state to be an assistant at NEPSAC AAA school New Hampton.  After a few years he was promoted to the head...

On this episode we welcome Coach Brad Calipari.  I have known Brad since I coached him at the Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington Ky.  He went from there to play at MacDuffie which is a New England prep school.  From here he played for his father, Hall of Fame coach, John Calipari at the University of Kentucky. He then transferred to play at Detroit Mercy.  After graduation he was an assistan...

On this week’s podcast we are joined by Holly Smith Abbott.  Holly ran track and cross country at Wofford University before working in compliance at the University of Richmond.  From here she went to work for the NCAA as the Assistant Director of International Academic Certification in the Eligibility Center at the NCAA National Office. She was responsible for validating and certifying the academi...

In this mini podcast Coach Cory talks about the top 5 things you need to include in your basketball highlight video, as well as what to leave out. Your highlight video is a prep school or college coaches first look at you and first impressions are important. In this Coach Cory will talk about: -length, bio page, grouping skills together, having game tape ready and more. If you like this episode fe...

In this mini episode Cory talks about the basics of a post-grad year. He mentions the four benefits which include growth in basketball, academics, and emotional maturity. There are also cultural benefits as well. He also talks about what kind of players prep school coaches and admission departments are looking for. Prep school is not for everyone and he lists what type of player should pause befor...