Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
Every year, thousands of guards dream of playing Division 1 basketball, but only a select few break through. At PREP Athletics, we’ve seen this reality up close. That’s why I sat down with Coach Joe Scott, head coach at the Air Force Academy, to break down exactly what separates a true Division 1 guard from the rest. His insight is invaluable for any player or parent navigating the prep school and recruiting journey.
An Air Force guard attacks the rim against Wright State — a live example of the traits D1 coaches look for in guards.
Skills, Athleticism, and Awareness: The Three Pillars
Cory: “Probably 95% of the people that reach out to me are guards. Majority of basketball players are guards. And the majority of them want to play at the D1 level, right? What’s it take for a guard to play at the D1 level?”
Scott: “Well, I think obviously it’s always a balance of your skills, your athleticism, your feel and understanding of the game from a guard perspective… it’s always a mixture of those three. And ultimately in the end, you know, like we try to develop guard play, you know, can you develop guard play? Well, guard play is developed by playing.”
The Importance of Real Playing Environments
An Air Force guard attacks the rim against San Jose State, showcasing the skills, athleticism, and awareness D1 coaches demand from guards.
Scott: “In order to play and be a guard at Division 1 level, you have to have played and played a lot and been in a lot of situations. You know what I mean? So in some respects, like we always say, you gotta be a gym rat, you gotta like that type of environment. You got to be competitive. Like I said earlier, you got to play one on one. You got to play three on three. You’re constantly putting yourself in five-on-five environments.”
Scott: “You’re not just putting yourself in five-on-five environments all the time. You’re not trying to control your environments. You’re trying to put yourself in every environment you can ever be.”
Air Force Falcons guards on the bench preparing for action — highlighting the team culture and traits D1 coaches value.
Why Awareness Separates Guards at the College Level
Scott: “For parents, like you said, the understanding of basketball is being played at such a high level in this country that you have to expose yourself to those high levels. You have to put yourself in those environments… because if you just contain yourself in your environment and you’re judging yourself off of your environment, that’s not what it takes to play guard at the Division 1 level.”
Scott: “Where does that sense and feel come from? Where does the seeing of the game come from? And that’s ultimately the separator. You got to have all three, but that last one’s the separator to say this guy, he’s got what it takes.”
Awareness in Action: Team Progress Depends on It
Air Force Falcons forward fights for position on the sideline while Coach Joe Scott gives direction — a live look at D1 competitiveness and coaching.
Scott: “Yeah, they got the skills. They got the athleticism. I know, but we’re out here playing and to play guard… What do you see? How’s the team coming together? And your understanding of that is paramount for the team to make progress.”
Final Takeaway: Building the Complete Guard
At PREP Athletics, our goal is to cut through the noise and share insights like these that truly matter for your journey. Coach Scott makes it clear: skills and athleticism get you in the door, but awareness is what keeps you there. If you’re serious about becoming a Division 1 guard, your development has to go beyond workouts — it has to be about playing, competing, and seeing the game at the highest levels.
If you have questions about how prep schools can help develop these traits, or whether a post-grad year makes sense for your family, reach out. We’ve helped countless athletes navigate this process and would be glad to help you too.
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.