PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast Cory Heitz

In this episode, Coach Cory is joined by Coach Trey Morin of Phelps School, Coach John Zall of Vermont Academy, and Coach Lamar Reddicks of Milton Academy. They discuss current trends in the prep school world. They highlight the importance of prep school as an option for players, especially with colleges trending older and the need for advocates in the recruiting process. The coaches emphasize the exposure and connections they have to college coaches, which helps their players get placed in college. They also discuss the importance of finding the right fit for players and how prep schools prepare students for college both academically and personally. The coaches share their criteria for potential student-athletes, including a desire to be at the school, a willingness to work hard, and a commitment to improving as a basketball player. They also highlight the benefits of living on campus and having easy access to gym facilities. The coaches emphasize the importance of access to facilities and the opportunity to play with and against talented players. They highlight the benefits of AAU basketball for exposure and the value of the scholastic period in prep schools.

Takeaways
-Prep school is an important option for players, especially with colleges trending older and the need for advocates in the recruiting process.
-Prep school coaches provide exposure and connections to college coaches, helping players get placed in college.
-Finding the right fit is crucial, considering factors like academic reputation, location, and coaching staff.
-Living on campus provides easy access to gym facilities, allowing players to work on their skills and improve.
-Prep schools also prepare students for college life by teaching life skills and providing a supportive community. Quality over quantity is important in basketball training
-AAU basketball provides opportunities for exposure and playing against good competition
-Prep schools offer a unique experience and the chance to play against high-level competition
Connect with Coach Trey Morin:
Email | tmorin@thephelpsschool.org
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/phelpshoops/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/treymorin
https://twitter.com/phelpshoops

Connect with Coach John Zall:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/VermontAcadHoop
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vermontacadhoop/
Email | jzall@vermont
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

Summary
In this bonus episode of the Prep Athletics podcast, Coach Cory recaps his experience at the 2024 Final Four. He flew down to Phoenix to support his cousin Brad Miller, who played for Purdue. He describes the mix of fans from each school, with Purdue, NC State, UConn, and Alabama all showing strong support. Cory shares his experience at a packed Purdue bar, where Brad was treated like a celebrity. He also mentions celebrity sightings and the excitement of being in a stadium with a large crowd. Cory concludes by expressing his enjoyment of the event and his willingness to attend again in the future.


Takeaways
Attending the Final Four is a fun and exciting experience, especially when you have a team to cheer for.The mix of fans from different schools adds to the atmosphere of the event.Celebrity sightings and being in a packed stadium contribute to the overall enjoyment.Despite the outcome, Cory is grateful for the opportunity to attend the Final Four and considers it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.Timestamps
00:23 | Intro
01:07 | The Mix of Fans from Each School
01:42 | Going to a Purdue Bar
02:24 | Getting to the Game
03:23 | Celebrity Sightings
03:57 | Prep School Connections
04:34 | The National Championship Game
05:37 | Main Takeaways
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

Summary
In this episode of the Prep Athletics Podcast, host Cory Heitz interviews Joe Busacca, the head coach of Hotchkiss School. They discuss the unique aspects of Hotchkiss as a high academic prep school, including its location, boarding program, and extensive facilities. Busacca emphasizes the importance of building personal connections with his players and helping them improve their skills. He also talks about the college placement process and the role of essays and interviews in the admissions process. Busacca shares his approach to recruiting and developing players, as well as the benefits of having a smaller team. In this conversation, Joe Busacca discusses his journey as a basketball player and coach. He shares how he transformed himself from a poor shooter to a skilled player through hard work and dedication. He also talks about the challenges he faced as a college coach and the importance of developing a winning culture. Joe emphasizes the qualities of a successful point guard and the level of competition in Division III basketball. He concludes by advising student-athletes to find the right fit in a college program and to ask important questions during the recruiting process.

Chapters
00:00 | Introduction and What Makes Hotchkiss Special
02:09 | Recruiting and College Placement
04:43 | College Placement and Differences in Game Length
08:15 | Admissions Tips for Applying to Prep Schools
12:40 | Coaching Career and Transition to Hotchkiss
22:49 | Transition to Amherst College
25:08 | Coaching at Amherst and Differences from Curry College
29:25 | Coaching at the D1 Level and Qualities of a Point Guard
34:07 | Best Player Played Against and Coached Against
35:49 | Favorite Movie and Hobbies
36:20 | Final Thoughts and Advice for Recruits

Connect with Joe
Twitter | https://twitter.com/joebusacca2
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/joebusacca2/

Follow Hotchkiss Hoops
Twitter | https://twitter.com/HotchkissHoops
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hotchkisshoops/
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

In this conversation with Tom Bower, President of Athlete Advantage, we cover the changes in the NIL landscape,  including mistakes and risks, finding an attorney for deals, donor fatigue, the employee model for college athletes, and NIL in the Ivy League. On top of that, we discuss hiring an agent for NIL deals, capitalizing on marketability, creative fundraising for college athletes, discussing NIL during recruitment, and locker room issues involving NIL. We also go into NIL for high school and prep school players, compliance and transparency in NIL deals, setting up an online store for NIL, the percentage of profits for athletes, and the best and worst case scenarios for NIL. This conversation explores the importance of building a brand as a student-athlete and how it can lead to business partnerships. It also discusses the role of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) as an added tool in sports.
Chapters
00:00 | Introduction and Overview
00:36 | Changes in the NIL Landscape
04:03 | Mistakes and Risks in NIL Deals
06:07 | Finding an Attorney for NIL Deals
08:24 | Donor Fatigue in NIL Deals
11:19 | Employee Model for College Athletes
13:23 | NIL in the Ivy League
14:04 | Hiring an Agent for NIL Deals
17:00 | Choosing the Right Agent
22:26 | Capitalizing on Marketability
24:46 | Creative Fundraising for College Athletes
29:49 | Discussing NIL during Recruitment
32:49 | Locker Room Issues and NIL
35:05 | NIL for High School and Prep School Players
36:09 | Compliance and Transparency in NIL Deals
38:24 | Setting Up an Online Store for NIL
41:06 | Percentage of Profits for Athletes
44:25 | Best and Worst Case Scenarios for NIL
47:21 | Final Thoughts
48:29 | Building a Brand for Business Partnerships
50:39 | Building a Brand as a Student Athlete
52:35 | NIL as an Added Tool to Sports

Connect with Tom:
Website | https://athleteadvantage.com/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/TomBowerII
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bower-b5541149/



Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

Summary
In this conversation, Tim DiFrancesco, former head strength coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, shares insights and experiences from his time in the NBA. He talks about working with Kobe, Pau, Steve Nash, Metta Sandiford-Artest, and other NBA legends. He emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset and open-mindedness in achieving success. Tim discusses the challenges of building trust with players and managing different training approaches. He also highlights the significance of recovery methods, such as float tanks, and the common training mistakes basketball players make. Tim shares his favorite lifts, his favorite Lakers player to work with, and his hobbies.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
00:25 The Importance of a Growth Mindset
03:22 Building Trust with Players
06:01 Working with Players' Personal Trainers
09:41 Challenges of Managing Different Training Approaches
10:03 Kobe Bryant's Work Ethic and Recovery
14:55 Recovery Methods in the NBA
15:54 The Benefits of Float Tanks
18:32 Players' Work Ethic and Mindset
21:20 Focus on Injury Prevention and Durability
24:26 Best and Worst Parts of Working with the Lakers
27:00 Impressive Non-Star Players
28:24 Changes in Training Basketball Players
30:49 Common Training Mistakes
32:45 Changes in Nutrition Approach
34:05 Recommended Supplements
35:29 Favorite Lifts
36:44 Favorite Lakers Player Worked With
37:27 Coolest Celebrity Interaction
38:59 Favorite Movie of All Time
39:25 Hobbies Outside of Work
40:10 The Basketball Strong Podcast
44:49 Where to Find Tim DiFrancesco

Connect with Tim:
Website | https://www.tdathletesedge.com/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/tdathletesedge?lang=en
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/tdathletesedge/?hl=en
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-difrancesco-29502710


Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

Description:
In this podcast episode, Cory interviews Hollman, a former prep school basketball player who is now a walk-on at James Madison University. They discuss Hollman's decision to do a post-graduate year, his experience at Tilton School, the benefits and challenges of prep school basketball, dealing with homesickness, and how prep school prepared him for Division I basketball. They also talk about the importance of choosing the right coach, Hollman's decision to attend James Madison, his experience as a walk-on, and the unseen pressures in Division I basketball. Hollman shares advice for kids considering a post-graduate year and offers insights into his career and personal life. The episode concludes with a discussion on Hollman's favorite movie and hobbies, as well as final thoughts and advice for listeners.

Timestamps:
00:00 | Introduction and Post-Grad Year Decision
01:12 | Choosing Tilton School
02:10 | Benefits and Challenges of Prep School Basketball
03:27 | Dealing with Homesickness
04:18 | Surprises and Preparation for Division I Basketball
05:36 | Advice for Kids Considering a Post-Graduate Year
06:28 | Importance of Choosing the Right Coach
07:25 | Choosing James Madison University
08:10 | Experience as a Walk-On
09:34 | Best and Most Challenging Parts of Being a Walk-On
11:38 | Impact of James Madison's Top 25 Ranking
12:37 | Unseen Pressures in Division I Basketball
13:38 | Advice for Hollman's Brother and Others
14:52 | Best Wins and Toughest Opponents
16:57 | Favorite Movie and Hobbies
17:38 | Final Thoughts and Advice
18:31 | Social Media and Conclusion

Connect with Hollman: 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_hollman_/ 
Twitter | https://twitter.com/H_smith25
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic