Co-Founder & CGO @PrepNetwork_ | Head Coach @TGEaglesNest
Minneapolis, MN
- Tweets 11,535
- Following 375
- Followers 9,281
- Likes 24,252
Vic Lombardi
ATTENTION PARENTS:
I was coaching 3rd graders today when a kid came to the bench & asked me if I could "make his dad go home."
Whatever your intent, feedback during a game is NEVER the key to motivating your child.
They need to know:
1. You love them
2. You are proud of them
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
No college coach expects you to play well every game.
As a matter of fact, most colleges WANT to see you on an off-day so that they know what they’re getting when things don’t go your way.
🗣Allow yourself to be human. Today is a new day.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS: Some perspective on D3 basketball...I had my fully sponsored 17U team play in the local D3 summer league a few years ago:
Our roster:
1 high majors
2 mid majors
1 low major
2 D1 JC
2 D2s
1 Partial D2
We went 1-7
When you get to that level, hoops is hoops.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Between flights, car rentals, hotels, entry fees, gas, and food, it costed a group of people time and money that they didn't have to spend so that you could pursue your dreams this weekend.
Those people are fueled by your gratitude. Take time to THANK THEM.
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🗣Attention Prospects: You can’t bring high school credentials to a college with you.
Captain
All-Conference
All-Metro
All-State
All-American
Scholarships
Rankings
Articles
...everyone had em’
Walk into a college gym with what you had before you got there & you’ll get torn up.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Very soon...
The sprints you run aren't sprints, they're deadlines.
The weights you lift aren't weights, they're bills.
Your teammates aren't teammates, they're a family.
🗣Your future is calling. When the 🏀 stops bouncing, are you ready to answer?
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Attended a couple of AAU tryouts the past 2 days.
Here's the deal:
1. The fastest way to stand out is TALKING really loud all the time.
2. In scrimmages, if you have any type of athleticism, pick up full court.
3. Legitimately celebrate the success of others. It looks good.
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ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL HOOPERS:
On average, by the time you graduate high school, you will have spent 80% of the time you will spend with your parents in your life.
Cherish every car ride, day in the gym, and post game meal 🏀🙌
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Skills required to thrive at any level:
Rip Right/Left
Jab Right/Left
1 Dribble Pull Up
Floater
Catch & Shoot
Right/Left Hook
Post Counter (up & under or reverse pivot)
Materials required:
🎾 = 0
Chairs = 0
Cones = 0
📹 = 0
📱 = 0
🏀 = 1
🗣KEEP IT SIMPLE
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Playing at a mid-major is better than sitting at a high major…
Playing at a D2 is better than sitting at a D1…
Playing at a D3 is better than sitting as a partial or non-scholarship D2…
🗣…playing is better than sitting, regardless of level.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Watch this any time you feel like you're gaining ground on your competition.
Timeless Sports
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🗣HOOPS PARENTS: Stop tearing down other people’s kids when they have success! The more talent & recognition in a market the better. It brings more colleges, media, & overall visibility to the entire community.
Celebrate the successes of local talent. IT WILL ONLY HELP YOUR KID!
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ATTENTION GUARD PROSPECTS: You have to be able to shoot the basketball. You can break as many ankles as you want, jump as high as you want, run as fast as you want, if you can’t shoot, you can’t play at the next level.
It may not make the highlight tapes, but it pays the bills.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS: If you don't visibly celebrate your teammates' successes, I can't trust you on the court.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Your parents and AAU coaches/directors just gave 4 months of their time, money, and care to your journey…
…one heartfelt “thank you” makes it all worth it for them.
🗣Before you hit the road, take a minute to show gratitude to the people in your corner.
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HS COACHES: Want better players? Open up your gym! Elite players want 24 hour facility access. Top programs have doors open and rims down.
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🔑s to building trust:
Take shots within your skill set
Treat your ⏱ on the bench with the same urgency you treat your ⏱ on the court
Develop a deep appreciation for the value of keeping the 🏀 in front of you
Feverishly celebrate the success of others
Talk. Talk. Talk. 🗣
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I will never understand loaded 17U teams carrying 10+ players with legit scholarship kids rotting on bench.
…and don’t tell me it’s the only way to play in front of coaches.
Over 150 pre-registered D1 coaches @PHCircuit this weekend alone.
🗣Play where you can PLAY.
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The @NCAA should mandate that colleges verify when a scholarship has been “offered” to a player.
School would just log into an account & fill out a digital form w/ player name, grade, high school, & date of offer.
Then make lists public so we can see who’s REALLY been offered.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Whether in basketball, business, or relationships, the worst mindset you could have is that you can not be replaced. Production and results are not binary. They can be redistributed to accomplish the same, or even a better result.
No one is irreplaceable.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
You can't bring your jumper or your handles with you when your career is over, but your ability to 🗣 will last you a lifetime.
KG's Area 21
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS: You will become what you are surrounded by. Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.
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3️⃣ things that keep you off the court in college:
1️⃣Strength
2️⃣Ability to Defend Your Position
3️⃣Scout Comprehension
If you want to play, start these habits TODAY:
🏋️♂️Take weights seriously
🗣Own urgency & communication every possession
📚Study your own & your opponents’ film
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🗣ATTENTION PROSPECTS: As a college freshman you are virtually guaranteed to play a lesser role than you did as a high school senior.
Pick a school that you enjoy while you climb the ladder 🧗🏼♂️
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Parents, as a general rule of thumb, don’t yell at other people’s kids during games. It makes everyone, most notably your child, extremely uncomfortable.
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This is as real as it gets. nitter.app/ISteeleABC6/status/108…
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“If I gotta convince you to do something you said you wanted to do, it’s not for you.”
Inky Johnson
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Sometimes things happen that make you wonder if there is someone watching over you, working in mysterious ways.
Minutes after the final game of a banner @PHCircuit season, Laura & I welcomed our first daughter, Layla Belle Carroll.
I loved you before I even knew you, angel.
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Reasons to explore new AAU team:
⏰Often play < 40% of game
👀No colleges -> 16U & 17U only
💪No development
NOT reasons to explore new AAU team:
🗣NOBODY can guarantee offers
👟Can't trade gear for scholarships
✈️Flights don't = exposure
💸Free doesn't always = better
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PROSPECTS: Most schools that see you will decide not to recruit you. It's up to you to make them they regret it.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
If you're going to "play up" with the intent of exposure, you better be sure you're ready to flourish at that level.
Colleges do not give you the benefit of the doubt if you're blending in as a young player & recruiting is not a process to experiment with.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
If you have to be asked for effort & enthusiasm, you're in trouble.
🏀 may be what you love today, but at some point, something will take its place.
The urgency you have in your passions today is the foundation for how you will treat your passions in life.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS 🗣
High school is 4️⃣ years. Whether you get recruited the 1️⃣st or last day of those 4️⃣, it’s mission accomplished ✅.
Everyone has a different timeline & fate works in mysterious ways.
Give yourself ⏰ and trust the process 🙏. What is meant to be will be.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Your parents and club coaches are getting ready to make some massive sacrifices for this July to happen for you and your team.
🗣️Frequent expressions of gratitude are strongly recommended
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3 takeaways from the 2019 Tournament Season:
1️⃣@PrepHoops is the leading grassroots 🏀 media outlet in 🇺🇸
2️⃣I’d take my @PrepHoopsEvents team over any in the country
3️⃣The @PHCircuit hasn’t scratched the surface of its potential
Thanks to everyone who made 2019 what it was 🙌
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS: I’ve coached in fully sponsored & non-sponsored programs.
3 things I’ve learned:
1️⃣Connections & history matter most in recruiting.
2️⃣You don’t need to be on a circuit to get a scholarship.
3️⃣Riding the bench to “play” in front of colleges is a mistake.
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KIDS: No matter what social app is created, nothing will ever replace the value of interpersonal communication. Take time to TALK.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
There are good & bad trainers, AAU coaches, & high school coaches. History has proven that none of those factors are the common denominator when it comes to your recruitment.
The common denominator is YOUR WORK.
Pick your circle and stick with them.
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🗣High School Students: Even if you don’t know anything about the activity or you don’t have any friends competing, when a team or individual makes it to the state tournament...GO SUPPORT!!!
Enjoy these years. You won’t regret it.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Chest pumping aside...
...the margins between the shoe circuits are thinner than they've ever been...
... and the number of scholarship players on non-shoe teams is higher than it's ever been.
🗣️Get in where you fit in.
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Andrew Kauffman
Just got our traffic summary for September.
👉 2,064,153 unique visitors across @PrepHoops, @PrepDig, and @prepgirlshoops in the last 12 months.
Our staff has a truly unique opportunity to positively impact the recruitment of high school athletes. We’re taking full advantage 💯
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Words can’t describe how proud I am of our @PHCircuit team. We set out in July to host the safest events in America while continuing to provide best in class competition & coverage. So grateful for the teams & families for supporting & trusting us to bring that vision to life.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
The truth is, nobody from high school will follow your career once you get to college.
You’ll get some retweets & likes when you commit, then 99.9% of your peers move on.
🗣 Now is not the time to worry about “cool”…all that matters is fit & opportunity.
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I will fulfill a 20+ year dream to coach in the @MSHSL State Tournament this week.
I’m filled with gratitude for the @TGEaglesNest teams who came before this one, pride for the growth of our program, and humility for the infinite support from the @TotinoGrace Community.
❤️🦅🏀
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Next week our @PrepHoopsEvents team will release the format for the 2020 @PHCircuit.
We have new partnerships, regions, and events.
I am so proud that @PrepHoops has the opportunity to host the most comprehensive independent recruitment platform in grassroots basketball.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
It’s easy to get caught up in the race to interest & offers.
We don’t know each other well, so you’ll just have to trust me:
Once you get to college, the opinions you value today will change.
1️⃣Focus on fit
2️⃣Go where you can play
3️⃣Write your own story
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Here are 6️⃣ things that players get away with in high school that will never work in college:
Thread 👇:
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I am proud beyond measure to share that @PrepNetwork_ has been recognized by USA Today & Front Office Sports as one of America’s Top 25 Employers in Sports.
The list includes professional franchises, tech innovators, marketing agencies & more.
Article: usatoday.com/story/sports/20…
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ATTENTION YOUNG HOOPERS 🗣🗣🗣 nitter.app/NBAonTNT/status/103824…
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99% of kids aren't getting recruited when they get on an airplane. Most college coaches aren't going out in July looking for a diamond in the rough. The majority already know who they're watching & are showing them love. Way more effective to stay in region for almost every kid.
Parents July is here and AAU travel starts. Please if ur kid is on a local team not leaving the state for AAU 🏀games please remove him from the team. Save ur 💰2 many local jokers out there stealing from parents. Put the kid on a team who travels. Don’t wait till it’s 2 late🛫🏀
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12 years in the blink of an eye.
To the boy who taught me how to be a man - Happy Birthday, Griffin Nicholas.
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Started @PrepHoops in March of 2012. The 2020 class will be our 8th graduating class.
Upside
Production
Length
Athleticism
...All certainly play a part in recruitment
...BUT every year each state has a hand full of kids who defy the system, outwork everyone, and earn their 💰
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Surreal watching the erratic 14 year old I met 7 years ago become an idol to my oldest son. I'm so proud to call this kid family.
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ATTENTION PARENTS: The best thing you can give your student-athlete is the gift of enthusiasm for life. I consistently see players recognized/recruited a level or more above their talent simply based on their ability to convey an appreciation for their surroundings at all times.
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AAU PROGRAMS: Build schedules that fit the prospects on your rosters. Painful seeing D2/D3 kids exclusively flying around to get "exposure".
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A piece of advice for young entrepreneurs and/or professionals: Don’t make early decisions based on money. Determine the things you can’t live a full life without and unapologetically pursue paths that include them.
If a path doesn’t exist, pave one.
minnesota.cbslocal.com/video…
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ESPN
A few of the most underrated skills in basketball:
🏀Knowledge of who you are...& who you’re not
🏀Finishing at full speed
🏀Fatigued shot making
🏀Resilience after bad stretches
🏀Ability to play through ailments
🏀Comprehension of scouting & film
🏀Awareness of time & score
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This dude worked out w/ our varsity guys @ 8AM, came back @ 4PM on the @drdishbball w/ 2 HS guys, then got another 300 up on his own. Still has AAU tonight.
Could care less what his future in 🏀 holds. He’s learning that passions don’t come with business hours. That’s priceless.
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Since Co-Founding @PrepHoops in 2014 I've used Twitter to highlight our growth, insight on the 🏀 community, & sporadic personal posts.
This week I started an Instagram
Emphasis:
✅Our Business
📬Recruiting Guidance
🗣Leadership
💪Health
🎧Podcasts
♥️Family
📸prephoops_nick
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The best advice I can give young 🏀 prospects:
Patiently build as broad a skill base as humanly possible. I see so many dominant middle schoolers who aren't equipped to thrive in HS & college due to holes in skill.
Obsess over skills & don't be fooled by short term success.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
You don’t have to make it big time to get a lifetime of value from the game…
Tryouts = interviews
Coaches = bosses
Fans = customers
Teammates = co-workers
Records = quotas
Plays = processes
Stats = metrics
🗣…you’re just practicing for the real world.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Whether it’s D1, D2, D3, JUCO, NAIA…
Whether you have 1 school recruiting you or 10…
Whether you earn a scholarship or not…
You’re going to pick 1️⃣ school.
🗣Don’t get caught up in the popularity contest. You only need 1️⃣ school.
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Spend less ⏰ trying to convince kids that they need to show more passion for their sport & more ⏰ teaching the impact of having passion for LIFE.
Be the best:
👉son/daughter
👉friend
👉sibling
👉student
👉athlete
👉HUMAN
...that you can be. The rest always works itself out.
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“…most people do it for the applause.”
🗣If it’s not in your heart, don’t do it. Walking a path that isn’t your own, regardless of your natural ability or external success, will inevitably leave you unfulfilled.
h/t @inkyjohnson
Inky Johnson
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Two things that would help college recruiting:
1️⃣No scholarship offers prior to Jan 1 of junior year.
👉 Less pressure to offer immediately
2️⃣Require schools to publish offers to a public database. Must officially remove offer if it no longer stands.
👉 Increased transparency
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🗣High School Athletes:
Without GRATITUDE, you will never reach your full potential.
❤️Family
🏀Coaches
📝Teachers/Tutors
🙌Mentors
🥇Teammates
👊Friends
Your goals are unattainable without these people. Immerse yourself in gratitude & your potential will become limitless.
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It’s not close. @PrepHoops has over 10,000 players ranked and produces close to 30,000 articles on well over 150,000 players nationally.
I’m definitely analytical, so here we go....If most media outlets are covering the top/elite kids - which we can all name off top....who covers the other kids who need exposure too?
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We need to do a better job teaching prospects how to build an impactful brand.
The way you carry yourself in public, at school, on social media, it all matters.
Scouts aren’t just buying a box score. Your character, your conviction, your narrative, that’s what they’re buying.
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🗣 PROSPECTS: College 🏀 is HARD. If you have a choice, go somewhere that you see a path to play by your sophomore year.
❓to ask:
1️⃣ How many guys are returning on the roster at my position(s)?
2️⃣ Who else is coming in my class?
3️⃣ What do I need to do to crack the rotation?
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
If you want to play in college…
…you can be ranked, play on a top AAU team, with unlimited potential…
…but if you’re not spending a couple hours a day on your skills, body, & mind, you’re fooling yourself.
🗣The work is the work. That ain’t changing.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Average college tuitions👇
• Public in-state: $9,580
• Public out-of-state: $27,437
• Private: $37,200
Full athletic scholarships are amazing, but not the only path to free college.
Most schools subsidize athletic 💰 w/ academic💰
🗣Hit the books 📚
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🗣ATTENTION PROSPECTS: If you want to achieve at a high level, you have to get comfortable w/ the fact that there will always be people who do not want to see you succeed.
It has nothing to do with you, it’s just insecurities with their own mediocrity being projected onto you.
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
Dimes are cool…but ball security pays the bills.
Dunks are cool…but FG% pays the bills.
Box scores are cool…but winning pays the bills.
🗣Decide whether you want to be cool or pay the bills.
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For all the critics saying that college coaches “aren’t watching” right now, help me out with this one.
This kid flew to Minneapolis and absolutely shredded elite competition at the @PHCircuit on @BallerTV.
Today he got his first Division 1 scholarship.
They ARE watching.
2021 6’4 (@Deangabrelcik) has earned an offer from Stetson University! #TMS @ELHS_Basketball @BAHElite
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ATTENTION PROSPECTS:
I don’t have all the answers on how to get recruited, but a few things I do know:
Playing relentlessly hard is viewed as a skill.
Schools love confident kids.
Stats don’t = offers. All production is not viewed equally.
Genetics play a huge role in level.
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🗣ATTENTION PROSPECTS: Don’t confuse the variety of trainers, aau teams, and camps as a variety in paths to success.
The path to greatness is narrow. There aren’t options.
It relies 100% on YOUR work, YOUR openness to new information, and YOUR willingness to be uncomfortable.
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What a ride #statechamps 🦅🏀❤️
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51 hours & 745 Games later, @PrepHoopsBatL is in the books.
I was reminded this weekend that the commitment the @PrepHoops team has to its mission of comprehensive coverage & visibility for prospects & programs at ALL levels is unparalleled.
We will only get better from here.
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