Coach Whit Lesure was the very first guest Cory ever welcomed to the PREP Athletics Podcast — and long before that, he was one of the most influential voices in the prep school basketball world. This re-release is not about trends or tactics. It’s about remembering the coach, mentor, and standard-setter that Whit was.

Whit spent decades shaping young men at places like Bridgton Academy and New Hampton, not by selling dreams, but by demanding accountability, toughness, and honesty. He believed the post-graduate year was not a shortcut, but a proving ground — a place where maturity, discipline, and love for the game mattered more than hype or rankings. In this conversation, Whit speaks openly about recruiting families, recognizing red flags, teaching resilience, and why “fit” always beats flash.

For parents, players, and coaches navigating the prep-to-college pathway, this episode captures the values that still matter — even as the game changes. Whit Lesure’s impact lives on in the players he shaped, the coaches he influenced, and the standard he set for what prep school basketball should be.

💡 Key Topics

📌 Post-graduate year philosophy and long-term development
📌 Recruiting the family, not just the player
📌 Toughness, accountability, and love for the game
📌 Prep school basketball before rankings and hype
📌 College placement reality across all levels
📌 Coaching standards that transcend eras

🏀 About Whit Lesure

Whit Lesure was a respected prep school basketball coach whose influence extended far beyond wins and losses. Known for his honesty, discipline, and commitment to player development, Whit helped generations of young men grow through the post-graduate year and into college basketball and life beyond the game.

🔗 Connect with Bridgton Academy:

Instagram | www.instagram.com/bridgtonacademybasketball/

🔗 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

🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:

iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

When: April 4th, 9AM-12PM
Where: UNRNKD Hoops (6331 Crawfordsville Road Indianapolis, IN 46224)
Who: HS athletes from 9-12 grade, INCLUDING unsigned Seniors
What: D1 College Workout HOSTED BY D1 Coaches D2/D3 Coaches in Attendance

Dan McHale is back for a short, straight-to-the-point bonus episode, and we’re talking about what families actually care about right now: exposure, timing, and how recruiting really works in 2026. Dan is a former Division I head coach and longtime D1 assistant, and he breaks down why the old “just wait, it’ll come” advice is getting kids left behind. We also get into the CRC Final Four Showcase in Indianapolis, built to put players directly in front of college coaches during Final Four weekend, plus give parents a real education on what rosters look like in the transfer portal era. Dan explains draft boards, why coaches share information, and why being proactive matters more than ever for 2026, 2027, and 2028 prospects. If you’re a parent hoping a state title run will magically create offers, or a player trying to figure out the right next step, this is your reset. No hype, just the current market and what to do about it.

💡Key Topics:
📌 Final Four basketball exposure event for recruiting and college placement
📌 Transfer portal era recruiting: why offers are slower for high school players
📌 Draft boards, roster fluidity, and how coaches evaluate prospects
📌 Parent education: realistic pathways D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and development steps
📌 Proactive outreach: email, social media, advocates, and credibility signals
📌 Coach-to-coach networks and why relationships drive opportunities

🏀 About Dan McHale:
Dan McHale is a former Division I head coach and longtime D1 assistant coach who now helps families navigate college basketball placement and the modern recruiting landscape. He brings a coach’s view of roster needs, evaluation, and how offers actually happen in today’s transfer portal environment.

🔗 Connect with Dan McHale:

Twitter | https://x.com/CoachMcHale
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dmchale01/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mchale_basketball_academy
Website | https://www.crcathlete.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/collegiate_recruiting/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/prof

🔗 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

🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:

iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

Coach Kurt Steiner is the head coach at The MacDuffie School, where he is building a legitimate NEPSAC AA program the right way. In this episode, Kurt breaks down how The MacDuffie School develops players day to day, why the 5:30 AM gym slot reveals everything about work habits, and how measurable testing drives accountability. He explains how The MacDuffie School’s open gyms, structure, and culture help college coaches evaluate players honestly, and why placement today is about fit, timing, and trust rather than labels.

💡Key Topics:
📌 NEPSAC AA basketball development model and daily gym culture
📌 5:30 AM skill work, strength training, and measurable progress testing
📌 Open gyms for college coach evaluation plus film that carries weight
📌 College placement strategy in the transfer portal era and spring recruiting
📌 D1 vs D2 vs D3 fit, where you are wanted, and long term outcomes
📌 What coaches look for: work habits, defense communication, academics, character

🏀 About Coach Kurt Steiner

Coach Kurt Steiner is the head basketball coach at The MacDuffie School, where he has built a NEPSAC AA program centered on daily habits, measurable development, and honest college placement. His background in grassroots and AAU basketball shapes The MacDuffie School’s player-first approach.

🔗 Connect with Coach Kurt Steiner

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_coachkurt_/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/macduffiehoops/
Twitter | https://x.com/MacduffieHoops
Website | https://macduffie.org/
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-steiner-a777b1b2/

🔗 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

🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:

iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic