Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
Finding the right prep school fit is one of the most important decisions in a player’s journey. The letters—AA, AAA, or A—get thrown around a lot, but what do they actually mean for your basketball and academic goals? We dove into this topic on the Prep Athletics Podcast with Coach Marcus O’Neil of Tilton School, a veteran coach who has spent years competing at the NEPSAC AA level. His insights shed light on what families really need to focus on when choosing between levels.
The Tilton School boys’ basketball team gathers on court for a group photo during the NEPSAC prep season.
The Difference Between AA, AAA, and A in Prep School Basketball
Cory: Tell me this, you are in NEPSAC Class AA. Does it matter what class a player goes to?
Marcus O’Neil:
“Yeah, that’s a tough question. I think the most important thing is you visit these campuses and the place that sort of feels right. But I do think, what’s the difference between AA and AAA? There’s probably less difference there than AA to Class B or something. I mean, there’s great players, great teams, and certainly great coaches in every class, every level. I know these guys, and they run good programs. But yeah, of course, if you’re asking about being in a training program versus making my kid run cross country in the fall—that’s a big difference there in terms of player development. You have to know those things. But there’s guys that have gone on from all these levels.”
AA vs AAA: Oversight, Regulation, and Game Length
A Tilton School basketball player in black uniform faces a defender while preparing to make a play during a NEPSAC prep basketball game.
Cory: Is there any difference between AA versus AAA or AA versus single A? Everyone says their level is the best. What’s your pitch on AA and why a family should consider it?
Marcus O’Neil:
“I guess what I like about AA is we play a little bit longer game, so we’re at the 18 minutes. That gives you a little more opportunity to play a deeper rotation of players. I think that helps. AAA is a little more than even that. I think there’s sort of more oversight, there’s more regulating AA than AAA. AAA, you know, it’s sort of… But yeah, I think the difference between AA and AAA is not huge. There’s a huge variation from school to school, more so than AA to AAA, because every school has their own identity and how they want to do things.”
A Tilton School basketball player prepares to make a play during a NEPSAC prep basketball matchup.
Why Fit Matters More Than Labels
Marcus O’Neil:
“AAA teams—every single one of the AAA teams are saying we take basketball very seriously and every night that we play, you better be ready. I think the AA’s, some of our schools aren’t sure they’re ready to say that for whatever reason. But it’s more school to school, coach to coach. Who do you visit and feel like, I want that to be the guy screaming at me, get up the hill?”
Closing Thoughts: Focus on the Right Fit
A Tilton School basketball player in black uniform faces a defender while preparing to make a play during a NEPSAC prep basketball game.
At Prep Athletics, we believe the letters—AA, AAA, A—matter far less than the overall fit for your child’s goals, both athletically and academically. Coach O’Neil made it clear: the key is visiting campuses, understanding the daily environment, and finding the right coach and program philosophy.
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.