What D1 Programs Really Want: Coach Craig Carter of South Kent School on Basketball IQ & Decision Making

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▶️ Show Notes

In this week’s episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, I sit down with Craig Carter, the new head coach at South Kent School who took over for Raphael Chillious last August. Coach Carter shares his journey from the playgrounds of Brooklyn to playing at Rutgers and coaching at the D1 level for both men’s and women’s programs. He offers valuable insights on basketball development, the recruiting landscape in today’s environment, and how he’s transforming the South Kent program with his “Trust and Believe” philosophy.

⏱️Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction to Coach Craig Carter, South Kent’s new head coach
1:20 Craig’s background growing up in Brooklyn and playing college basketball
5:40 What made New York City basketball special in the 1980s
10:17 The trade-off between playground experience vs. personal training
12:01 Differences between coaching men’s and women’s basketball at D1 level
14:21 Craig’s approach to recruiting when he first started as a D1 assistant
17:38 Thoughts on prep school players vs. high school players in recruiting
21:49 Pros and cons of practicing with highly talented teammates vs. getting playing time
25:30 How the recruiting timeline has changed with transfer portal and NIL
27:49 Strategies for players who missed summer exposure opportunities
31:00 Managing pressure of placing post-grad players before school year ends
33:05 Craig’s pitch on South Kent School and its environment
37:05 Daily development schedule and training approach at South Kent
39:55 Quality vs. quantity in basketball training
44:45 What it takes to be a D1 guard (basketball IQ and decision making)
46:59 Quick hitters: Best players Craig played against

📌 Key Topics:

✅ Coach Carter’s basketball journey from Brooklyn playgrounds to Rutgers University
✅ The importance of playground basketball in player development and basketball IQ
✅ Differences between coaching men’s and women’s basketball at the D1 level
✅ How South Kent prepares student-athletes academically and athletically
✅ The recruiting process in today’s transfer portal and NIL era
✅ Development opportunities at South Kent for both prep and second team players
✅ What it takes to be a D1 guard in modern basketball

🗒️ About Coach Craig:

Craig Carter grew up in Brooklyn where he developed his game on the playgrounds before playing college basketball at Rutgers University in the Atlantic 10 Conference. His coaching career includes D1 experience with both men’s and women’s programs, including stints at Rutgers, University of Wisconsin, and Florida State. Coach Carter brings a wealth of knowledge to South Kent School with his “TAB – Trust and Believe” philosophy, focusing on developing complete student-athletes while helping them reach their collegiate goals. Under his leadership, South Kent continues its tradition of sending players to top programs like Kansas, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Harvard, and many others.

🔗 Connect with Coach Craig:

X | https://x.com/coachcrcarter?lang=en
Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/southkentho…
X |
https://x.com/southkenthoops?lang=en

🔗 Connect with Cory:

Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

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🏀About Us:

PREP Athletics is your trusted partner in navigating the prep school journey for your family. With over a decade of experience, I’ve successfully placed players in top prep schools, leveraging my own post-grad year experience and deep family ties to the world of prep school and professional basketball. Our mission is to guide you through the decision-making process, ensuring if prep school is the right path for you, we find the perfect fit to achieve your academic and athletic aspirations.

👉 Subscribe for insights, tips, and success stories in prep school athletics.

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FIND YOUR FIT

Find Your Fit

Get Your Free Personalized Prep School Assessment

Finding the right prep school basketball opportunity starts with understanding your complete situation. Our free assessment collects key information about your athletic abilities, academic standing, and financial considerations to provide targeted guidance specific to your circumstances. This approach allows us to cut through the recruitment noise and give you honest, practical feedback about your options. Most families find that this comprehensive evaluation saves them time and helps avoid mismatched programs that waste valuable development years.

Get Your Free Personalized Prep School Assessment

Finding the right prep school basketball opportunity starts with understanding your complete situation. Our free assessment collects key information about your athletic abilities, academic standing, and financial considerations to provide targeted guidance specific to your circumstances. This approach allows us to cut through the recruitment noise and give you honest, practical feedback about your options. Most families find that this comprehensive evaluation saves them time and helps avoid mismatched programs that waste valuable development years.

QUESTIONS?

Questions?

Fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours, or feel free to reach out via email to cory@prepathletics.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours, or feel free to reach out via email to cory@prepathletics.com. We look forward to hearing from you!