Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
If you want to play Division I basketball, being the best player on your high school team isn’t enough. You’ve got to dominate your region—and more.
We touched on this topic when I sat down for an interview with Coach Harry Morra of Perkiomen School, a former Lehigh staffer who’s been on both sides of the recruiting process. Coach Morra offers a direct, insider’s perspective on what it actually takes to be a Division I guard—and how families can approach this goal with realistic, informed strategy.
This conversation is a must-read for players chasing D1 dreams, parents seeking clarity, and coaches trying to guide their athletes through today’s recruiting landscape.
The D1 Recruiting Filter: Regional Rankings Matter
Cory:
When you were on the Lehigh staff, did you care if a kid went to public school, private school, international JUCO, or prep school? Did it matter—or were you more focused on the player?
Harry:
“Absolutely. I mean, it’s a variable, right? We had luck with public school players. But you knew there was going to be some work to help them understand what the rigor was going to be like in terms of basketball training, academic responsibilities, making good social decisions, keeping yourself mentally healthy.”
Players, coaches, and staff celebrate another big win for the Perkiomen Panthers.
How Recruiters Evaluate Guards for D1 Basketball
Cory:
You’re very qualified to answer this next question. What does it take for a guard today to play at the Division I level?
Harry:
“So the framework I come out of with that is, demographically speaking, let’s say we’re talking about nationally, right? To get to Division I basketball… the way to really do it is, it’s a marketing perspective.”
Harry:
“You look within an hour radius of where you live and you have to be the best guard. And then you go—generally speaking, most people within two hours live closer to a major city. Then you probably have to be in the conversation as one of the top 10 guards in that region.”
Being the Best at Your High School Isn’t Enough
Focused and unified—Perkiomen’s roster is built to compete at the next level.
Harry:
“Just being the best player at your high school… we all know—what’s the competition at your high school? If you just look at your county or your small region, maybe your conference, that’s not the criteria.”
Harry:
“But if you can say with confidence that within a two-hour radius of where you live, you’re a top 10 guard, then you can be confident that you’re going to be in the conversation of being a Division I player.”
How College Coaches Actually Rank and Recruit Guards
Harry:
“I’ve recruited a lot of states in the United States and in North America—even in Canada. I would go to Toronto and look at all the best guards and do a rank order. I’d know that the best guard in Toronto is probably a high-major NBA prospect—not coming to Lehigh.”
Harry:
“Then you go to the 10th best guard. You’re like, okay, let’s see how good he is. Maybe he’s too good because Toronto has a huge population, a lot of people playing basketball. You just work your way down.”
Harry:
“If you get to a point where you’re like the 50th best guard in your region, you’re not a Division I player. Right? Like, that’s simple.”
A look inside the Perkiomen gym—where daily work turns into college-level opportunity.
On-Court Performance Must Back Up Your Ranking
Harry:
“That doesn’t answer your question from a player development standpoint, but it does answer the question when you go to summer leagues, AAU regionals, and high school games—and the other team has a better guard than you every game.”
Harry:
“You’re not a Division I player. Your shooting, your ball handling, your passing, your defense… you have to be a better player than 80 to 90 percent of the players you go against. The number’s probably even higher than that.”
Final Thoughts: Know Where You Stand, Then Build a Plan
The Perkiomen campus blends tradition and opportunity—both on the court and in the classroom.
If you’re serious about playing at the Division I level, you’ve got to know where you stack up—and that starts regionally. Coach Morra breaks it down in a way every athlete and parent can understand: be honest, assess your competition, and don’t rely on high school dominance alone.
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.