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▶️ Show Notes
Coach Antonio Anderson, head coach at The Darrow School, has one of those basketball resumes that instantly earns your attention. He won a state title in Lynn, re did his junior year at Maine Central Institute, then transferred to Laurinburg Prep after committing to Memphis. At Memphis, he scored over 1,000 points and is one of only two Tigers to record a triple double, alongside Penny Hardaway. He also played professionally, including time around Kevin Durant and James Harden, and now he is building Darrow from the ground up. In this episode, Antonio gets real about what “development” actually means at a boarding school, what he looks for when recruiting, how playing time is earned, and how he attacks college placement by emailing coaches across every level. If you are a parent trying to find the right prep fit, or a guard who wants to play college basketball, this conversation gives you clear standards, not hype.
⏱️Timestamps:
(2:07) Growing up in Lynn, Massachusetts and early basketball roots
(2:18) Winning a state title at Lynn Prep and transferring to MCI
(3:46) Transfer to Laurinburg Prep and Coach Cal influence
(4:52) College recruitment: Michigan State, Memphis, UConn, Notre Dame, Missouri
(5:13) Why Memphis was the right fit
(5:28) Lessons from Coach Cal: mental toughness and discipline
(5:47) Transition from Memphis to G League and NBA
(6:31) Best and most challenging parts of being a pro
(7:11) Best and toughest aspects of high major D1 basketball
(8:37) Joining The Darrow School and rebuilding the program
(9:57) Player development philosophy at Darrow
(11:10) Post-grad academics and Syracuse University partnership
(11:53) What Antonio looks for in recruits
(12:39) Structure of Darrow basketball teams
(13:00) Playing time philosophy and accountability standards
(13:43) College placement strategy and coach outreach
(14:38) Why moving to AAA in NEPSAC matters
(15:44) Future of prep school basketball
(16:40) What it takes to be a D1 guard
(17:28) Coaching guards with pro and D1 experience
(18:16) Rolling admissions at Darrow
(20:49) How to contact Antonio Anderson
💡 Key Topics:
📌 Darrow School basketball and moving up to NEPSAC AAA
📌 Prep school player development: discipline, lifting, open gym culture
📌 Post-grad academics and college credit pathway
📌 Recruiting traits: mental toughness, competitiveness, work ethic
📌 Playing time expectations: earned, equal opportunity, standards off court
📌 College placement strategy: film, schedules, livestream links, coach outreach
🗒️ About Antonio Anderson:
Antonio Anderson is the head coach at The Darrow School and a former Memphis Tigers guard who scored over 1,000 career points. He played professionally, including G League experience and time around NBA stars, and now focuses on building college ready players through discipline, toughness, and real placement work.
🔗 Connect with Antonio Anderson:
Twitter | https://x.com/ToneAnderson5
Twitter | https://x.com/darrowhoops
Twitter | https://x.com/DarrowSchool
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/darrowhoops/
Email | andersona@darrowschool.org
Website | https://www.darrowschool.org/
🔗 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
Website | https://prepathletics.com/prep-athletics-podcast/
🏀About Us:
PREP Athletics is your trusted partner in navigating the prep school journey for your family. With over a decade of experience, I’ve successfully placed players in top prep schools, leveraging my own post-grad year experience and deep family ties to the world of prep school and professional basketball. Our mission is to guide you through the decision-making process, ensuring if prep school is the right path for you, we find the perfect fit to achieve your academic and athletic aspirations.
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