Understanding Basketball Factories

[Deep Creek]

Would you guys that understand this stuff, please explain to this old man how places like the two listed in this article (and others similar to them) operate? I call them basketball factories. I don't understand how Prolific Prep, Link Academy, IMG, Oak Hill, etc operate. It seems to me like they operate like colleges do. And according to this article, things are a changing at the high school level. I'm just old fashioned and don't get it.

Montverde Coach Leaving

 

[jontaejones]

I did not know high school players could do NIL. That is something.

I think the transition to high school basketball factories started in the early 2000s.

It was around that time in NJ that private schools in the middle of the boonies with no history of basketball success would all of a sudden be able to recruit tremendous players from the urban areas and even overseas.

Luol Deng and Kyrie Irving and such.

Since then, it's even more out of control.

But I also think basketball has become less of a city game. The realy good players will now just move to attend the best schools.

 

[Deep Creek]

I did not know high school players could do NIL. That is something.

I think the transition to high school basketball factories started in the early 2000s.

It was around that time in NJ that private schools in the middle of the boonies with no history of basketball success would all of a sudden be able to recruit tremendous players from the urban areas and even overseas.

Luol Deng and Kyrie Irving and such.

Since then, it's even more out of control.

But I also think basketball has become less of a city game. The realy good players will now just move to attend the best schools.

How are these places funded? I’m assuming here (and we all know what that does) that these schools have “boosters” that pay the freight for these places. One would think only a few parents could afford to foot the bill for such.

 

[PeoplesChicken]

How are these places funded? I’m assuming here (and we all know what that does) that these schools have “boosters” that pay the freight for these places. One would think only a few parents could afford to foot the bill for such.

Alumni, boosters, endowments, grants

Oak Hill has been around for at least 30 years. When I was in HS in the early 90's they came and played a team in my area. Team had Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace

 

[Red_Alert]

How are these places funded? I’m assuming here (and we all know what that does) that these schools have “boosters” that pay the freight for these places. One would think only a few parents could afford to foot the bill for such.

Yes, it's alumni/ boosters.

Omaha has 'Creighton Prep' which is a private Catholic high school.
They recruit all around Omaha for the best athletes and the alumni/boosters pay their tuition.

 

[Deep Creek]

Alumni, boosters, endowments, grants

Oak Hill has been around for at least 30 years. When I was in HS in the early 90's they came and played a team in my area. Team had Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace

Yes, it's alumni/ boosters.

Omaha has 'Creighton Prep' which is a private Catholic high school.
They recruit all around Omaha for the best athletes and the alumni/boosters pay their tuition.

I understand those old, traditional private schools. How about places like iMG, Link Academy, Prolific Prep, etc? They funded with some kind of fat cats that just like to pay for accumulating hoops talent?

 

[PeoplesChicken]

I understand those old, traditional private schools. How about places like iMG, Link Academy, Prolific Prep, etc? They funded with some kind of fat cats that just like to pay for accumulating hoops talent?

yes very fat cats. Just like the old privates, they have alumni, many pro athletes send their kids there so they pay and cooperate sponsors

 

[Deep Creek]

yes very fat cats. Just like the old privates, they have alumni, many pro athletes send their kids there so they pay and cooperate sponsors

Thanks. I figured as much.

So high school is just about like college is now...at least for most of the good ones. Recruit and pay for talent to play with other talent as opposed to the old traditional way of developing talented kids along side his classmates that ain't so talented.

Unless they just flat don't want to be away from home, I'm wondering why some of those top notch players DON'T go to one of the basketball factories. If they can make some money and practice against better players, get better exposure, why not?

 

[PeoplesChicken]

Thanks. I figured as much.

So high school is just about like college is now...at least for most of the good ones. Recruit and pay for talent to play with other talent as opposed to the old traditional way of developing talented kids along side his classmates that ain't so talented.

Unless they just flat don't want to be away from home, I'm wondering why some of those top notch players DON'T go to one of the basketball factories. If they can make some money and practice against better players, get better exposure, why not?

I am sure being away from family plays a part. Take LeBron James' kids for example. Those kids are used to moving around. At one point during LeBron's second stint in Cleveland his kid was playing on a travel team in Florida while residing in Ohio. Just a different culture and lifestyle most people have no concept of because that is for the 1 percenters.