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▶️ Show Notes
We’re excited to bring you our latest episode featuring Connor Merrill, Head Basketball Coach at Deerfield Academy, where we dive deep into the world of prep school basketball and player development. From Coach Merrill’s own journey as a post-grad at Vermont Academy to his coaching stops at Springfield College and Middlebury, we explore what makes Deerfield’s program unique in NEPSAC Class A.
Our conversation covers everything aspiring student-athletes need to know – from reclassing benefits to college placement strategies – plus we get some fascinating insights about The Holdovers movie filmed on campus and what it really takes for guards to make it at the D1 level. Whether you’re a player, parent, or coach, you won’t want to miss Coach Merrill’s perspective on balancing elite academics with competitive basketball at one of New England’s most prestigious prep schools.
⏱️Timestamps:
0:00 The Journey to Vermont Academy
4:37 Transformative Experience at Vermont Academy
7:25 Choosing Skidmore College
10:04 Coaching Journey and Lessons Learned
13:04 The Deerfield Experience
15:40 Recruiting Philosophy and Player Placement
18:16 Understanding Prep School Basketball Levels
21:19 The Future of Prep School Basketball
24:06 Reclassing vs. Post-Grad Decisions
26:45 Keys to Playing Guard at the D1 Level
29:19 Quick Hitters and Personal Insights
📌 Key Topics:
✅ Connor Merrill’s journey from Vermont Academy post-grad to becoming Deerfield Academy’s head coach
✅ Deerfield Academy’s prestigious academic standing (12-13% acceptance rate) and competitive Class A basketball program
✅ The differences between NEPSAC divisions (AAA, AA, A) and finding the right fit versus focusing on division classification
✅ College placement process and coach’s active role in student recruitment
✅ Benefits of reclassing and prep school experience for college readiness
✅ Behind-the-scenes insights about The Holdovers movie filmed at Deerfield’s campus
🗒️ About Connor:
Connor Merrill has served as the head boys varsity basketball coach at Deerfield Academy since summer 2022, bringing extensive experience in both prep school and collegiate basketball. His journey began as a post-graduate student at Vermont Academy, where he later returned as an assistant coach, working with future NBA talents like Bruce Brown and Marcus Santos Silva. During his collegiate playing career at Skidmore College, Merrill was part of historically successful teams that made two NCAA tournament appearances and won two Liberty League championships.
His coaching career includes six years at the collegiate level, serving as the top assistant men’s basketball coach at Middlebury College for four years and as a graduate assistant at Springfield College for two years. Under his leadership at Deerfield, Merrill has focused on building a championship culture while maintaining the school’s prestigious academic standards.
🔗 Connect with Connor:
Email | comerrill@deerfield.edu
Twitter | https://x.com/connormerrill33
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/cmerrill33/?hl=en
Twitter | https://x.com/DeerfieldHoops
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/deerfieldbasketball/
🔗 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.
👉 Subscribe for insights, tips, and success stories in prep school athletics.
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