by Jefferson Mason, on Apr 20, 2020 1:16:06 AM
I was very fortunate to have AZ Compass Prep Athletic Director Pete Kaffey take time out of his day to speak with me about basketball training, managing talent, skill development and some of the differences between regular high schools and prep schools. Check out the full interview in the video below.
High school vs Prep School
One of the topics we covered was the differences between HS basketball and Prep basketball. I can always remember a lot of rules and regulations on when my coaches could communicate or work with me as a player. We had limited time on the court and rarely had the opportunity to work with our coaches during the summer.
Pete and I discussed how rules are enforced and the benefits for players at prep school. Pete also talks about the ability to get on the court much more and also prepare players to make the successful transition to college basketball.
Managing Talent
AZ Compass Prep has multiple players with D1 college offers and multiple players that have already committed to play at the next level. With so much talent I wanted to know how they handled egos, minutes, and expectations.
One thing that Pete mentioned was that the head coach Ed Gipson has done a fantastic job managing expectations and defining roles on the team. Pete mentioned them using a platoon system similar to what the University of Kentucky has done for their basketball program.
Pete also talked about the conversations they have with players on sacrificing for the team and how it will ultimately help them with their own individual goals. All of this was good stuff and I quickly was able to see why they have such a successful program.
Skill Development
At any high school, and especially at prep schools, it's very important to have the tools and knowledge to help players quickly advance their skills. At preps schools the athletes are preparing to play at the next level physically and mentally.
AZ Compass was able to add a Dr. Dish CT to their program a while back and it's paid dividends for the program over and over. Pete talks about the players ability to get into the gym and work on their game without a coach and also the efficiency it provides. Numbers never lie and that's something that will always hold players and coaches accountable.
Again I want to thank Coach Ed Gipson and Pete Kaffey for being a part of the Dr. Dish family and we look forward to their continued success and growth each and every year!
For information of how Dr. Dish shooting machines can enhance your program be sure to check us out on our website. For all information on skills and drills be sure to follow us on social media (links are below).
Most importantly make sure to train hard, train smart, and train with a purpose!
