Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
Choosing the right prep school is one of the most important decisions a family can make in the recruiting journey. The stakes are high—academics, athletics, and long-term opportunities all come into play.
We touched on this topic when I sat down for an interview with Coach Thomas Adams-Wall, head girls’ basketball coach and admissions officer at Western Reserve Academy in Ohio. With his dual perspective in coaching and admissions, Thomas brings clarity to what really matters in the prep school process.
The Western Reserve Academy girls basketball team gathers in a huddle with coaches, showing teamwork and focus during prep school competition.
Academic Requirements and Eligibility
Cory: You also work in admissions. What do listeners need to know about what admissions looks at in student-athletes?
Thomas: “I think for any school, you’ve got to want to be at the school first and foremost, and it’s pretty easy in a conversation with parents or kids if they’re looking at the school for the wrong reason. Students who are looking at prep school, you’ve got to have good grades.”
The Truth About the Post-Grad Year
A Western Reserve Academy player drives the ball while defended during a prep school basketball game, with coaches and teammates watching closely from the bench.
Thomas: “Especially post-grads—the post-grad year is not a year to improve your grades necessarily. You can only replace one core class if you’re doing a post-grad year for your core GPA. A lot of people think post-grad years are just an extra year of grades, and it really isn’t.”
Thomas: “The post-grad year can be great if you’ve missed a season due to COVID or injury. That’s where it’s a good reason to be doing it. Families that are doing it for the right reasons—those are the easy ones to pick out. Those are the good students who aren’t chasing a dream that’s not going to come.”
Coach Thomas Adams-Wall leads a huddle with the Western Reserve Academy girls basketball team, emphasizing strategy and focus during prep school competition.
What Admissions Officers Look for in Athletes
Thomas: “Not every kid’s going to be a Division I player. Not every kid’s going to be a division II player. But go watch a division III men’s or women’s basketball game—it’s really good basketball. We’ve seen this trickle down because of the portal. Division III programs are picking up transfers from Division I, and the competition level is extremely high.”
Thomas: “My advice for kids looking at prep school is you are where you get recruited. It’s no one else’s fault. Go where you’re going to be a fit. Don’t chase a pipe dream that’s never going to come.”
Final Word: Fit Comes First
The Western Reserve Academy girls basketball team and coaches watch intently from the bench, ready to support their teammates during a prep school game.
At the end of the day, admissions officers want good students who genuinely want to be at the school, not just athletes chasing a scholarship. Prep school can be an incredible opportunity—but only if families understand the realities around grades, the true purpose of a PG year, and what coaches and admissions officers really look for.
If you’re considering prep school, make sure you’re asking the right questions and focusing on fit above all else. That’s where real opportunities happen.
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 YouTube or our podcast to dive deeper.