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

The reality is this: D1 basketball recruiting isn’t what it used to be. The transfer portal and NIL have changed the game, and fewer high school players are going straight to Division I. We touched on this topic when I sat down with Drew Dawson, head coach at Choate Rosemary Hall and former D1 assistant, for a recent PREP Athletics podcast. Drew has seen it from every angle—player, coach, and recruiter—and shares what athletes and families really need to know about navigating today’s recruiting landscape.

The D1 Dream vs. Today’s Recruiting Reality

Cory: Do kids come to you and say, “I want to come to Choate, and my goal is to play D1?” Knowing how the game is older now and the transfer portal is kind of king, how do you handle that?

Drew: Everything I just said sounds cute. But at the end of the day, if you don’t have some type of process tailored—especially coaching prep school—like, these kids are coming to prep school for a certain reason.

Drew: You recruit families just as much as the player. What voices are these players listening to? Tell me the voices they’re listening to, I’ll tell you the decisions they’re making. Then you have to be able to lean in and prove to them that you understand the process of college recruitment and the college decision process.

Drew Dawson brings D1 experience to Choate, guiding athletes through today’s recruiting maze.

The Transfer Portal and NIL: Game-Changers for High School Athletes

Drew: The poor, the influence that’s had on college recruiting. The NIL, which is only complicating it from a sense of urgency for these families and kids to create a brand for themselves in a given moment.

Drew: Go on to play competitive college basketball, either D1, D2, or D3. Now mix in the world’s very flat international recruiting. Then look at the numbers at Division I influenced even more so with the NCAA transfer portal. Those percentages get dire.

Early Education is Everything

Choate’s top basketball talent competes under the bright lights, aiming for the next level.

Drew: Just trying to educate them and not starting in November. When a kid commits to Choate in the spring, you start to have those conversations. There’s the recruiting piece, but then you want to start to have a set of conversations that are more specific.

Drew: What about getting better? It’s amazing how quickly the conversation goes below the surface when there’s a healthy ego. It’s not just me being on a bully pulpit. You learn more from your players than they do from you.

What Today’s Players Need to Hear

Drew: We need to put voices in front of you that can paint this reality. We’re not trying to kill a kid’s dream, but let’s make sure we navigate here and keep certain options open. At the end of the day, it’s about finding the right fit.

Drew: Kids today have more access to information than ever before. They’re very resourceful. Instead of having to always lead them to water, you put them in the right direction and put some guardrails around them. You have to mentor.

Drew: If you don’t take my word for it, you need to find voices that can paint this reality. We’re not magicians. It doesn’t matter if I’m a former D1 coach. It’s about collecting data, getting better, being in the right shop window. All that sits on a pretty heavy educational piece at this point in time.

Final Whistle: Reality Over Hype

A coach delivers instruction during Choate basketball practice—where development is the priority.

Drew laid it out perfectly: today’s D1 landscape is not built for hype—it’s built for the prepared. The transfer portal and NIL have shifted priorities, and high school players need to understand the numbers, educate themselves early, and stay open to all levels. At PREP Athletics, we’re here to help you navigate this new world

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.