Stanford Final Four guard, pro vet, and USA Basketball 3x3 U23 coach Christina Batastini joins Cory to deliver clear, no-nonsense guidance for families navigating prep school basketball. Now the head coach at St. Andrew’s School (NEPSAC AAA), Christina breaks down what truly translates to college—defending your position, decision-making, and making teammates better—and why the Ivy League is real Division I basketball. She explains the prep vs AAU recruiting dynamic, the difference between offers and interest, and how the transfer portal has shifted commitment timelines (and why late spring/summer decisions are increasingly normal). You’ll also hear how reclassing or a post-grad year can be used strategically—without forcing a path that doesn’t fit the student-athlete. If you want practical answers on exposure, academic fit, and the right level (AAA/AA vs A), this conversation keeps the hype out and the player development in.

💡 Key Topics

📌 Ivy League basketball level & academic balance (Ivy League recruiting, high-academic D1)
📌 Reclass vs Post-Grad strategy (reclassing timing, post-grad year structure)
📌 Offers vs Interest & portal era timing (scholarship strategy, commitment windows)
📌 NEPSAC AAA exposure and scheduling (college visibility, national showcases)
📌 D1 guard essentials (defense, decision-making, basketball IQ, shooting)
📌 Prep vs AAU roles in recruiting (placement strategy, coach communication)

🏀 About Christina Batastini:

A Parade/Nike All-American and Stanford guard who reached the Final Four, Christina played professionally across Europe before coaching at Brown and leading USA Basketball 3x3 U23 Women. She is the Head Girls’ Coach at St. Andrew’s School (NEPSAC AAA), where her teams compete nationally and place student-athletes at collegiate programs.

🔗 Connect with Christina Batastini:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sasrigirlsprephoops/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sasriathletics
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/christinabatastini
Twitter | https://x.com/SASRIAthletics
Twitter | https://x.com/SASRIGirlsHoops
Email | CBatastini@standrews-ri.org
Website | https://www.standrews-ri.org/

🔗 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

Steve Turner—now Head of Basketball Operations and National Team Head Coach at Montverde Academy—breaks down the modern prep-to-college pathway with zero fluff. After 26 years at Gonzaga College High School, Turner explains why he chose Montverde, how he builds a “we over me” roster for EYBL Scholastic, and why academics still matter for top-50 talents. He gives families straight talk on NIL (what to learn before signing anything), whether high school stars really need agents, and how the transfer portal reshaped recruiting. Turner also shares his parent perspective from his son’s transfer (Northeastern → Old Dominion) and the mindset/mental health guardrails families should prioritize. Plus, a blueprint case study: Blake Harper’s rise from Gonzaga to Howard to Creighton. If you want practical, current guidance on prep school selection, player development, and realistic college placement in 2025–26, this one’s for you. Ready to find the right fit—not the loudest offer? Let’s dig in.

💡Key Topics:

📌 EYBL Scholastic & Montverde’s development pathway (prep school basketball, player development)
📌 NIL, agents, and family education (NIL rules, state differences, risk management)
📌 Transfer portal realities and protecting the college degree (college placement, recruiting strategy)
📌 Mental health as a decision driver (parent perspective, athlete well-being)
📌 Building a “we over me” roster for elite competition (team culture, coachability)

🏀 About Steve Turner:

Steve Turner is Head of Basketball Operations and Head Coach of the National Team at Montverde Academy. A former National Coach of the Year, he spent 26 years at Gonzaga College High School (DC), sending dozens of players to all levels of Division I and professional basketball. At Montverde, Turner leads in EYBL Scholastic while emphasizing academics, culture, and long-term development.

🔗 Connect with Steve Turner:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mvabasketball/
Website | https://www.coachsteveturner.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/coachsteveturner
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-turner-86629748/
Twitter | https://x.com/MVABasketball
Email | steve.turner@montverde.org

🔗 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 episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, Cory Heitz sits down with George White, former Division I player at Harvard, longtime college coach across D3, D2, D1, and the NBA/G-League, and founder of RecruitU. George brings unmatched perspective from both coaching and recruiting sides of the game, helping families cut through the noise and focus on finding the right fit for their student-athletes.

He shares why hope is not a strategy in recruiting, how families should approach early commitments in today’s transfer portal era, and what really separates G-League players from NBA players. George also breaks down the House lawsuit, NIL, and revenue sharing, and explains how these changes affect today’s recruits. Families will especially value his advice on crafting emails to coaches, using social media effectively, and even evaluating the financial stability of colleges — an overlooked but crucial factor.

If you’re a parent or player trying to navigate the recruiting maze, this conversation offers honest, practical guidance from someone who has seen it all at every level of basketball.

💡 Key Topics

📌 College recruiting truths: why “hope is not a strategy”
📌 Early commitments vs. waiting: navigating the new recruiting landscape
📌 NIL, revenue sharing, and their real impact on basketball recruits
📌 How to email college coaches effectively + social media strategies
📌 The importance of evaluating financial stability of schools
📌 The “parallel path” approach for academics and athletics

🏀 About George White

George White is a former Harvard basketball player and longtime coach at the D3, D2, D1, and NBA/G-League levels. He is the founder of RecruitU, a service that helps families navigate the recruiting process by matching athletes with schools that fit their athletic, academic, and personal goals. George brings decades of experience and a holistic, realistic approach to college recruiting.

🔗 Connect with George White

Website | www.recruituapp.com
Email | marketing@recruituapp.com
Twitter | x.com/RecruitUapp1
Instagram | www.instagram.com/ugetrecruited/
LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/recruiting-sports-network/

🔗 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