Looking for a high school with amazing boys basketball coaching and academics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you compare the quality of coaching at Sidwell versus Gonzaga?

Was hoping to escape the AAU grind at some point, but maybe it’s not possible if he wants to play for a well-coached high school team.

Work backwards to get the best answer for you. Both Coach Singletary and Coach Turner are outstanding coaches. Look at the style of game their teams play and figure out which works best for your son's talent level.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

This will change in the next couple years. STA is bringing in some of these players in the area.

Will they be able to handle the academic pressure though? And will they stay and not want to transfer to a school with a more successful basketball program?

Recruiting good players won’t do any good if they leave bc of bad coaching. That’s what’s been happening. Recent recruits left for Bullis. The problem is the coaching and the program not the players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

If STA had all the kids who could be on the varsity team this year, including the ones who recently transferred out to places like Bullis, as well as the really good players who quit to focus on other sports, they would be really legitimate. Instead, players, coaches, ex-players etc are all grumbling. It really is sad.

Problems like this usually start at the top. Either the AD doesn't really care about basketball, or it's a coaching problem. But like others have noted, there are some strong JV players currently at STA. I guess it remains to be seen if they are serious enough about basketball to leave the school for other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

If STA had all the kids who could be on the varsity team this year, including the ones who recently transferred out to places like Bullis, as well as the really good players who quit to focus on other sports, they would be really legitimate. Instead, players, coaches, ex-players etc are all grumbling. It really is sad.

Problems like this usually start at the top. Either the AD doesn't really care about basketball, or it's a coaching problem. But like others have noted, there are some strong JV players currently at STA. I guess it remains to be seen if they are serious enough about basketball to leave the school for other options.

So it sounds like the JV coach is strong but not so much the varsity coach. I wonder if they can swap?

[Anonymous]

Sidwell. Great coaching, nice legacy of former players doing well at college and pro levels, who stay connected with the program. Recruiting not a big emphasis—maybe 1 or 2 kids in a given year, maybe none. They run a great JV program as well. Academics really rigorous. Can be a tough balance.

[Anonymous]

How does Sidwell recruit players? They don’t seem to have a basketball camp like Gonzaga, and the coach doesn’t seem to be affiliated with an AAU team. Does the coaching team just come to PYBL finals and spot players there? Wondering how that would work, given the tough academics would mean the coaching team would have to cast a wide net to catch talented players who are also interested in spending all their free time studying.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:DeMatha

Sports yes, academics no.

Are DeMatha academics subpar or simply not as good as the other schools mentioned here? Not OP but curious for DS looking for similar opportunities.

DeMatha academics are very good if they are honors/AP level

+1 and also SAES.

SAES allows students to be as strong as they want to be. Some kids will take all honors/AP and matriculate at top 25 colleges while others choose differently. It’s not a pressure cooker but if a student want that type of academic experience they can certainly get it there.




Dematha and St. Andrew's are not strong academically.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:DeMatha

Sports yes, academics no.

Are DeMatha academics subpar or simply not as good as the other schools mentioned here? Not OP but curious for DS looking for similar opportunities.

DeMatha academics are very good if they are honors/AP level

+1 and also SAES.

Dematha and St. Andrew's are not strong academically.

SAES allows students to be as strong as they want to be. Some kids will take all honors/AP and matriculate at top 25 colleges while others choose differently. It’s not a pressure cooker but if a student want that type of academic experience they can certainly get it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

If STA had all the kids who could be on the varsity team this year, including the ones who recently transferred out to places like Bullis, as well as the really good players who quit to focus on other sports, they would be really legitimate. Instead, players, coaches, ex-players etc are all grumbling. It really is sad.

Problems like this usually start at the top. Either the AD doesn't really care about basketball, or it's a coaching problem. But like others have noted, there are some strong JV players currently at STA. I guess it remains to be seen if they are serious enough about basketball to leave the school for other options.

So it sounds like the JV coach is strong but not so much the varsity coach. I wonder if they can swap?

The assistant JV coach is also the head varsity coach who is in charge of the overall program. He’s not going anywhere. He’s an STA alum and the AD won’t fire him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does Sidwell recruit players? They don’t seem to have a basketball camp like Gonzaga, and the coach doesn’t seem to be affiliated with an AAU team. Does the coaching team just come to PYBL finals and spot players there? Wondering how that would work, given the tough academics would mean the coaching team would have to cast a wide net to catch talented players who are also interested in spending all their free time studying.

Kids have to make first contact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does Sidwell recruit players? They don’t seem to have a basketball camp like Gonzaga, and the coach doesn’t seem to be affiliated with an AAU team. Does the coaching team just come to PYBL finals and spot players there? Wondering how that would work, given the tough academics would mean the coaching team would have to cast a wide net to catch talented players who are also interested in spending all their free time studying.

The coach is affiliated with Team Durant. Not sure if he still is, but he used to coach over there in the spring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

If STA had all the kids who could be on the varsity team this year, including the ones who recently transferred out to places like Bullis, as well as the really good players who quit to focus on other sports, they would be really legitimate. Instead, players, coaches, ex-players etc are all grumbling. It really is sad.

STA had a really talented 8th grader last year I watched him completely dominate games. Where did he go? Was a dark skinned Black kid with dreds?

[Anonymous]

^He went to St John’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Albans

This is a joke or someone who’s not an STA parent. The basketball program at STA is unbelievably bad. The last few years, we’ve had varsity players walk off the team in protest because the coaching was so pitiful. Recruited players left the school. We haven’t won an IAC championship in basketball since 2004. There is deep pain around the basketball program, dog.

Wow. That’s surprising. I didn’t know all this but I am aware of really good players in the younger years who are going to want a stronger basketball program. I wonder what they can do to make their program better. It’s a clear indication if recruited players are leaving!

If STA had all the kids who could be on the varsity team this year, including the ones who recently transferred out to places like Bullis, as well as the really good players who quit to focus on other sports, they would be really legitimate. Instead, players, coaches, ex-players etc are all grumbling. It really is sad.

STA had a really talented 8th grader last year I watched him completely dominate games. Where did he go? Was a dark skinned Black kid with dreds?

He had braids, not dreds. I didn’t know the basketball program at STA wasn’t being run right. I thought OJ would be good. Are the players leaving because they don’t like the workload? Or is it that they can’t get what they need from the basketball program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PVI

Sidwell is better academically and in basketball.