Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
To play Division 1 basketball as a guard, it’s not enough to just be talented—you have to be elite at something. That was the message from Coach Cade Lemcke, Head Basketball Coach at Blue Ridge School, when we sat down for a recent episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast. With years of experience helping student-athletes reach the college level, Cade pulls no punches about what separates the guys who make it from those who don’t.
In this conversation, we go deep on what high school guards need to understand if they’re serious about playing college basketball—whether they’re in a public school, transferring to a prep program, or reclassifying for a postgrad year.
The D1 Guard Reality: You Must Be Elite at Something
Cory:
Kade, what does it take to be a guard at the D1 level?
Coach Cade:
You have to be elite at something. That could be being an elite shooter, an elite on-the-ball defender, an elite athlete, or an elite connector or high-IQ player—but you need to be elite at something.
The Blue Ridge Barons varsity squad lines up for their official team photo in front of school banners.
Overcoming Weaknesses with Relentless Effort
Coach Cade:
You better be able to compensate for any weaknesses you have by being that much better at something else.
Coach Cade:
I still remember taking a visit to St. Bonaventure when I was in high school. They had offered me, and we were at a team camp that summer. One of the coaches pulled me aside after a game and said there was a loose ball on the floor that I didn’t dive for. I either bent over or let someone else get it. He told me, “At the next level, you can’t just bend over to pick up that ball. You’re not good enough to do that.”
Why Hustle Plays Matter at the College Level
A postgame huddle captures the unity and focus of Blue Ridge basketball
Coach Cade:
It wasn’t until I got to Virginia when I realized—I’m probably the least athletic on the floor, and I don’t have the same margin for error. I better dive on the floor for every loose ball. I better take every charge. I better do all the little things, because I didn’t have the other parts of my game, especially on the athleticism side, to do it any other way.
Coach Cade:
That’s what I try to get across to our guards. Unless you’re an uber-athlete who can just run and jump, you better be super elite at something. And you better be willing to do all the things that most people aren’t willing to do—taking charges, diving for loose balls, setting great screens.
The Blue Ridge Barons claim their tate title, posing mid-court with their winning bracket and championship plaque.
High Standards Lead to College Readiness
Coach Cade:
We’ve been able to impart that wisdom, and our players have learned how to do it. That positions them pretty well when they get to the next level to be successful.
Final Thoughts: Earn Your Spot With Toughness and Intentionality
Coach Cade:
You better pursue that ball. You better dive on that floor. You better take every charge. Because if you don’t have the physical tools, those are the things that allow you to stick.
From the Trenches: Why This Advice Matters
Blue Ridge players and coaches celebrate their state championship win with medals and a team plaque.
(Cory’s Takeaway)
I’ve worked with hundreds of athletes and families, and the ones who succeed at the college level are the ones who internalize what Coach Cade just laid out. You don’t have to be the most athletic or the most hyped recruit—but you do have to find your edge and master it. Then be relentless about doing the little things most won’t.
If you’re looking into prep school, reach out to us at PREP Athletics. We’re here to help you explore your potential and make choices that align with your athletic and academic future. We’ve also got a long list of resources to get you started in the right direction, so check out our latest prep basketball updates on YouTube or our podcast to dive deeper.