<p>Hi everyone. So, I'm hoping to someday play for any IVY league school, and I know the best way to do so is to play at the prep level. There is no way I could pay for prep school, so I was wondering how I could get "noticed?" I'm a basketball player hoping to play at a HADES school, and I have sent letters to some of them, but no replies yet.</p>
<p>What should I do?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>xAxBxC</p>
<p>I hear Deerfield has good BBall. But if you really want to play for an ivy(but this is not all you should aim for, there are equal level schools out there) think about NMH. They have killer basketball and usually have several players committed to Ivies+MIT+etc before senior year. And I think they won some kind of championship or something this year… Oh no i think they were runners up…</p>
<p>But yeah, NMH has wicked good bball. :)</p>
<p>yeah, but I don’t think I would get a lot of playing time there, and therefore wouldn’t be able to stand out. ANy other thoughts?</p>
<p>My thoughts are that you would benefit more from digesting all of the great and helpful advice that has been offered to you on this topic over the past few weeks rather than serving up the same question daily.</p>
<p>BBall dad,</p>
<p>I’m sorry I’m posting so much about the same subject, but I really cant find the advice I’m looking for. What I’m trying to figure out is how to contact the coach, and strike interest in him. There must be some other way than emailing them! Again, sorry if I may come across as annoying.</p>
<p>xAxBxC</p>
<p>I hate to burst your bubble, but the best way into Ivy Athletics is not necessarily through the elite prep route, especially in your sport (basketball). </p>
<p>Let me explain a little about how Ivy League sports are organized. The primary objective of an Ivy sports program (not just one team), is to be as competitive at as many sports as possible given the constraints applied (above and beyond the NCAA) as a part of the Ivy League. </p>
<p>For the most part this is about managing the Academic Index (AI for short) which is comprised (for an individual) of a score based upon your ACT/SAT score and a score based upon your GPA or class rank. Each incoming athlete on a team has one and each school has a requirement to keep their overall (across all teams) at a certain level (and a few other restrictions).</p>
<p>Schools usually assign a team average AI score to each team (some higher than others depending upon the priorities of the school) that the coach must meet through recruiting some players with better AIs to offset the more talented players who may have lower AIs. Typically, you will find the best teams in any sport in the Ivies have the lowest assigned team AI which allows them to recruit players who wouldn’t stand a chance of admissions otherwise. Conversely, the teams that struggle, have an AI that is required to be significantly higher where they can’t take the normally inadmissable star player.</p>
<p>Getting back to your situation, going to a competitive prep for other than PG year play will typically yield a lower GPA and class rank than attending a lesser school, thereby hurting your AI score. Ivies do not differentiate between Andover and your normal public school with regards to the GPA and rank issues for AI determination purposes.</p>
<p>PG’s OTOH already have their GPA and rank settled and typically do not get ranked in their PG year and typically take classes to improve their GPA. Yes, it is a game played.</p>
<p>If I have read your posts correctly, currently you are in 9th grade. It is far too early to tell if you will develop enough talent to play Ivy League sports, as you haven’t finished your physical maturing.</p>
<p>My recommendation is to find a school where you will be productive in getting an education (regardless of the prestige factor) and have an opportunity to develop as an athlete. Most top prep basketball schools play their PGs and Seniors on varsity with younger players playing JV or warming the bench on the varsity. This is also to be considered when evaluating the situation.</p>
<p>I would also advise playing some summer ball (AAU type) after asking a few coaches where they scout talent. </p>
<p>If your educational options lean towards prep (as opposed to public) and you truly desire a multi-year experience, I would recommend you complete 10th grade in public and apply as a 10-repeat at a school where you will be in the top 5% academically. This will give you the extra year of development, a good AI score and a reasonable amount of exposure as well as a solid education.</p>
<p>The HADES option may get you admitted to the Ivy, but that will be entirely based upon your academic performance with your basketball ambitions possibly stopped (depending upon the team requirements) by your relatively low AI score as a result of the intense competition for grades you will face. </p>
<p>There is a tradeoff to be made. Just understand what it is.</p>
<p>Oh, and BTW, prep coaches don’t typically look at 9th graders to give a hook to. If a 9th grader is that good, they will have an NBA contract waiting for them. The best of the 10th graders may get a look, but that too is difficult without a solid BB resume. Build that first.</p>
<p>GoalieDad,</p>
<p>WOW thanks a TON!!! That really helps. In my situation, I’m a “late bloomer” (currently 5’6’ 120 At the age of 15, and my dad is 6’2"), so maybe it would be best to see how much I grow first. In the mean time, I am currently trying out for AAU teams (possibly 2), and practicing like there is no tomorrow (everyday all day). </p>
<p>I’m just wondering if my skills will improve more at a prep school rather than my current high school. Although my school is very “smart” we also have a great amount of “challenged or not too smart” students who unfortunately play for the basketball team. They are nothing but trouble, and the coach wont do anything about them. Sure they have some skill, but there going no where in life, and they are the most uncoachable kids around (mutter stuff under their breath literally after everything the coach says). They put everyone else on the team down (yet one of them is one of our team captains, don’t ask me why), and they think that they are the team. They go around like they’re king of the hill. I just don’t want to be on this team with these kids because first off, they start every game even though there not that good; they do so because the coach is afraid of the consequences of them not playing (i.e they’ll quit). He also doesn’t give anyone else a chance (i.e me and my other teammates who work their butts off). What do you think I should do in this situation? Don’t get me wrong, I think the school is great, but these kids really are putting me against my school.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>From my experience and various friends get recruited to play, it is difficult to get recruisted as a freshmen. If you are a freshmen, you must have some extradionary talent. Most of my friends (who currently play football, baseball, basketball, lax, and soccer at boarding schools) were recruited sophmore year (including me), but again I repeat you have to be really good. When I talked to the coaches, he told me most frosh/soph players arent give second looks unless they have spectatcular talent. For instance, if you are a freshmen right now, do u play JV? Or are u on frosh/soph? Possibly Varsity? Coaches don’t want players who need two or three years to develop so they can play one amazing years… there are lots of players with that potential. What they want are players “Who can place an immediate impact on the team” (direct words from a coach) Sorry for my rambling</p>
<p>Oh and also my friend who currently attends NMH and is getting looks from serious serious D1 schools such as UCLA, Ohio, and some IVYs told me that you do have to be at a certain level freshmen year if they want them to look at u</p>
<p>well, I’m on the freshman team. However, I am way behind in terms of growing (currently 5’6" and 120 pounds and 15.5 years old, my dad is 6’2" and mom is 5’10"), and definitely need time to grow. If I were to consider prep, I would first need to make my varsity team next year (as a sophomore), and see where I am then. Maybe then I will apply for repeat 10th. Or, I will play my junior year at my high school, and apply for repeat junior year, and play junior, senior at prep.</p>
<p>Whatcha think? is this a good idea?</p>
<p>I wasn’t recruited but I got into Exeter for sports. I was a freshman and I decided to repeat 9th grade so I would get an extra year.</p>
<p>it sounds like you made the right decision. Anyone else have any comments?</p>
<p>I would greatly appreciate it.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Huh. I know you’ve been posting on the AR part of this site… you need to calm down, dude. What I would do now is study so you can index (AI) as high as possible. Anyway, if you are so concerned you can look at rosters for BB teams. They normally have name/height/weight/school. Trust me, you do not need to go to a prep school to be recruited. This is a sport where they take the best, not just the best prep players. </p>
<p>Another thing that interests me is how you don’t think you’ll have much playing time on the NMH team? Just out of curiosity, but how are you going to be recruited to play if you’re not up to par now?? Enjoy the sport. If you just play to be recruited you’ll burn out faster and start hating it. Trust me… it’s happened to too many of my friends and teammates.</p>
<p>Forsty6,</p>
<p>What I was trying to say was that I’m not at the caliber of NMH basketball players yet (most of those players are going D1), and currently, I may be good enough to play for a HADES school. Sorry for any confusion I may have brought.</p>
<p>anyone else have any thoughts??? Any comments would be great!!!</p>
<p>just to keep in mind, the ivys are D1</p>
<p>I am fully aware of that, and that is why I’m and asking for advice about how to get to that level. Do you have any thoughts on my current situation???</p>
<p>I can only speak here based upon my personal experience. I was a varsity letterman at an Ivy League school many years ago. I know that sports helped me into this great college. The better you are at a certain sport, the better are the chances of you getting into an Ivy school. (In my case, I was a prep school All-American in one of my high school sports.) </p>
<p>Having a high ability in a sport, getting high grades in school, AND attending a school that has a good record of placing students into great colleges can increase the odds of a kid attending into a great university, IMHO. Believing these precepts, I have sent my son to a HADES school where, as a repeat, he has made very good grades (honor roll) and has been a starter in his varsity sports. Will these things get him into Harvard, Princeton or Yale? No. But it will increase his odds of enrolling in one of these schools, I think.</p>
<p>But what if I’m wrong? So what? He still will get a great education, make great friends from around the world for life and have a great time playing the sports he loves over the next few years. Not a bad deal at all.</p>
<p>thanks for your opinion toombs…</p>
<p>Anyone else. I’m just trying to get as many thoughts as possible.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>