In this compelling episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, Cory sits down with Shavar Bernier, head basketball coach at the prestigious Taft School. Bernier shares his unique journey from being a first-team all-state player in New Hampshire to taking a gap year, attending Bridgton Academy, and eventually finding his way to Connecticut College before becoming a successful prep school coach. With remarkable candor, Bernier discusses his coaching philosophy centered on hard work, grit, and love for the game, while offering invaluable insights into how Taft prepares student-athletes for college basketball. Parents and players will appreciate his honest perspective on the importance of morning workouts, player development strategies, and how the right prep school environment can transform a young athlete’s future. This episode delivers practical wisdom for families navigating the complex prep-to-college basketball pathway.

💡Key Topics:

📌 Shavar’s personal journey through gap year, prep school, and college basketball
📌 Taft School’s unique community and basketball program philosophy
📌 Morning workouts, player development, and college preparation strategies
📌 Navigating college recruitment and finding the right basketball fit
📌 The importance of genuine love for basketball in player development
📌 College placement strategies for post-graduate students

🏀 About Shavar Bernier:

Shavar Bernier serves as the head basketball coach at Taft School, bringing his experience as a former first-team all-state player in New Hampshire, Bridgton Academy post-graduate, and Connecticut College standout. After coaching at the collegiate level with St. Michael’s in Vermont, Bernier found his calling in prep school basketball, where he’s built a program centered on developing complete student-athletes.

🔗 Connect with Shavar Bernier:

Website | SBernier@taftschool.org
X | https://x.com/shavmoney24
X | https://x.com/TaftBasketball
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/taftbvbasketball/?hl=en

🔗 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

In this week’s episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, I sit down with Craig Carter, the new head coach at South Kent School who took over for Raphael Chalias last August. Coach Carter shares his journey from the playgrounds of Brooklyn to playing at Rutgers and coaching at the D1 level for both men’s and women’s programs. He offers valuable insights on basketball development, the recruiting landscape in today’s environment, and how he’s transforming the South Kent program with his “Trust and Believe” philosophy.

📌 Key Topics:

✅ Coach Carter’s basketball journey from Brooklyn playgrounds to Rutgers University
✅ The importance of playground basketball in player development and basketball IQ
✅ Differences between coaching men’s and women’s basketball at the D1 level
✅ How South Kent prepares student-athletes academically and athletically
✅ The recruiting process in today’s transfer portal and NIL era
✅ Development opportunities at South Kent for both prep and second team players
✅ What it takes to be a D1 guard in modern basketball

🗒️ About Coach Craig Carter:

Craig Carter grew up in Brooklyn where he developed his game on the playgrounds before playing college basketball at Rutgers University in the Atlantic 10 Conference. His coaching career includes D1 experience with both men’s and women’s programs, including stints at Rutgers, University of Wisconsin, and Florida State. Coach Carter brings a wealth of knowledge to South Kent School with his “TAB - Trust and Believe” philosophy, focusing on developing complete student-athletes while helping them reach their collegiate goals. Under his leadership, South Kent continues its tradition of sending players to top programs like Kansas, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Harvard, and many others.
For more information on prep school basketball and recruiting, visit prepathletics.com and subscribe to our newsletter.

🔗 Connect with Coach Craig:

X | https://x.com/coachcrcarter?lang=en
Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/southkenthoops/?hl=en
X | https://x.com/southkenthoops?lang=en

🔗 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

In this insightful episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, we sit down with Jared Grasso, head coach at the Knox School on Long Island. Coach Grasso shares his journey from Division I point guard to becoming one of the youngest head coaches at Bryant University, where he tripled their win total in his first year. Now at Knox School, he’s building what promises to be a national powerhouse program, already boasting a 31-5 record in just his first year.

We dive deep into Jared’s innovative recruiting strategies during his college coaching days, his philosophy on player development, and his vision for Knox School. As someone who coached at the Division I level for 21 years, Jared offers invaluable perspective on what it takes to succeed at higher levels and how prep school can be the perfect bridge for developing players.

📌 Key Points:

✅ Jared’s unconventional recruiting approach at Bryant University, where he offered scholarships to top players to get the program’s name out there and position themselves for potential transfers
✅ The comprehensive development program at Knox School, featuring three training sessions daily plus weightlifting
✅ Insights on the current state of college recruiting, including the impact of NIL, the transfer portal, and how prep schools fit into this evolving landscape
✅ Why the extra year of development at prep school is crucial for most players transitioning to college basketball
✅ What college coaches really look for in recruits, regardless of what level of prep school they attend

🗒️ About Jared Grasso:

Jared Grasso grew up on Long Island as the son of a coach, developing his love for basketball at an early age. He played Division I basketball as a point guard at Quinnipiac before embarking on a coaching career that included stops at Hofstra, Fordham, and Bryant University. At Bryant, he became known for his innovative recruiting strategies and ability to quickly turn programs around. Now at Knox School, New York’s oldest private boarding school, he’s building a basketball program focused on intense player development and college preparation.

🔗 Connect with Jared Grasso:

Email | jgrasso@knoxschool.org
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/coach_grasso_11/#
X | https://x.com/JaredGrass11
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/knox_school_basketball/

🔗 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