Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know

Too many families focus only on basketball or only on academics when picking a prep school—and miss the rare programs that deliver both. If you want high-level hoops and elite academics, you’ve got to find the right fit.

We covered this in detail during a recent interview with Joe Busacca, Head Coach at The Hotchkiss School. Joe brings experience as a college coach, an admissions officer, and now as a NEPSAC coach placing athletes in Ivy, Patriot, and NESCAC schools. He’s got a clear-eyed view of what makes a prep school truly worth your time—on and off the court.

The team brings energy, unity, and excitement ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Hotchkiss Basketball: A True Boarding School with Elite Resources

Cory: You are the current head coach at the Hotchkiss School. It’s a part of the Ten. It’s part of NEPSAC. It’s got a long history. Tell me what makes Hotchkiss so special.

Joe Busacca: You hit the nail on it being a Ten school. But I think that the location piece of it matched with the boarding rate—95% boarding—is huge. Kids don’t go home on the weekends. We have a really cool residential program where the kids enjoy themselves on campus. We sit on over 800 acres. We have a nine-hole private golf course. We have a 212,000 square foot athletic facility. We have our own private section of the lake.

It’s a beautiful spot in Connecticut. Spring and fall are really fun times on campus—it’s just littered with outdoor energy. Plus, a lot of our faculty live on campus too, so you develop these unique relationships. You’re going to have a bunch of different connections with adults and students. That makes us pretty unique from a school standpoint.

Understanding the “Ten Schools” Group and Academic Alignment

A Hotchkiss player rises for a jumper in a high-intensity NEPSAC matchup.

Cory: You mentioned the Ten. Can you explain what that is?

Joe Busacca: The Ten Schools is an admissions organization. We travel together from an admissions standpoint—Hill, Exeter, Andover, St. Paul’s, Loomis, and us. We go to different spots around the country, even internationally, to recruit students. A lot of our schools are aligned academically more than anything else. We’re trying to move the needle that way.

Hotchkiss Basketball Pitch: Player Development, Exposure, and Fit

Cory: When you talk to families, what’s your pitch to come play basketball for you?

Joe Busacca: I care deeply about the connection I make with my guys. I want to get to know you on a personal level and what your dreams are—how I can be part of that. I don’t promise playing time or stats. I promise that you will get better while you’re at Hotchkiss. I live in the gym. I care about skill development. I played in college and I love seeing guys improve.

We want our kids to matriculate to schools where me, the school, and the family are all happy. For us, that’s usually Ivy League, Patriot League, NESCAC—high academic schools. We want kids to go on, get a four-year degree, and be set for life with both a Hotchkiss alumni base and, say, a Columbia or Harvard one.

Hotchkiss Boys Basketball Team 2024–25

Choosing the Right Prep Fit: Are You a Hotchkiss-Type Student-Athlete?

Cory: Talk to me about the conversations you’re having with families before they come—about placement level and the right fit.

Joe Busacca: Before I recruit you, I get the transcript. But my biggest thing is: What do you want? If you want mid-major or low-major, that’s cool—but Hotchkiss might not be the place. Our niche is Ivy, Patriot, NESCAC, UAA. If you don’t get Columbia or Bucknell, are you okay with Bowdoin or Bates?

That’s the conversation I have right away. Because if you’re not okay with that, we’re probably not the right fit.

The Hotchkiss Advantage: One Team, Full Development

Hotchkiss girls varsity squad and coaching staff gear up for another competitive NEPSAC season.

Cory: You only have one team, right?

Joe Busacca: One team. Eight to nine recruited guys.

Cory: That’s important for families to understand. You’re placing three guys this year. That gives you more time for development and more bandwidth to help each kid with college recruiting.

Joe Busacca: For sure. You’re going to play. We never have more than nine guys. It’s a 32-minute-high school game—it’s impossible to play 10. Having a smaller roster means we can focus on each guy. I like that. Hotchkiss fits me and my identity. I like giving individual attention. It’s just easier.

Admissions Insights: How to Stand Out at an Elite Prep School

Cory: What tips can you give kids applying to Hotchkiss and other prep schools?

Joe Busacca: Be unique. We read the whole application. We’re trying to find students who have the capacity to be leaders, the maturity to do more when they arrive. The essay portion is huge. That’s your time to sell yourself. We read a lot of basic essays. But if you sit down for two hours and put real thought into it, that shows you care. We get some incredible stories that make kids stand out.

We’re a 10–15% acceptance rate. So, we’re looking for kids that will push the school forward. And yeah, we look at grades—mostly As with some B’s is great—but be sure to showcase who you are.

Final Fit Check: Basketball + Academics + Culture

Joe Busacca: I’ve had conversations where I’ve told kids, “I don’t think you’re going to fit here. I actually think you’d be miserable.” And that’s okay. As much as I like a kid from a basketball standpoint, if they don’t fit culturally, I don’t want to hurt them. I want them to fall in love with their experience.

Cory’s Closing Tip: Know What You Want, Then Match It

Find the Right Fit, Don’t Force It

The takeaway here is simple: don’t just chase the biggest name or the highest offer. Know what you want. If you value elite education, tight-knit relationships, and high-level hoops exposure—schools like Hotchkiss should be on your radar.

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.