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PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast
PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast
College Exposure and Holistic Player Development feat. Coach Cade Lemcke of Blue Ridge School
In this episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, we sit down with Coach Cade Lemcke from Blue Ridge School. Cade dives into his journey from Rochester, New York, to Hargrave Military Academy, where he played alongside future NBA stars, and then on to the University of Virginia. With over a decade at Blue Ridge, Coach Lemcke shares his insights into developing high-level basketball talent within a rigorous academic setting. We explore the advantages of a post-grad year, the competitive dynamics of prep school basketball, and the unique aspects of a boarding school environment that goes beyond just athletics. Cade's passion for molding players’ skills, character, and work ethic shines through in this conversation, making it a valuable listen for players, families, and coaches alike.
📌Key Topics:
- Advantages of prep school for basketball exposure
- Importance of competition in player development
- Navigating decisions between various school options
- Emphasis on holistic development at Blue Ridge
- Impact of NIL and transfer trends on prep schools
🗒️About Cade:
Coach Cade Lemcke has led Blue Ridge School's basketball program since 2014, creating a culture of high performance and holistic student development. After a standout post-grad year at Hargrave Military Academy, Cade played Division I basketball in the ACC with the University of Virginia. With coaching experience at both the high school and D1 levels, Cade brings an extensive background in player development, having coached numerous players who went on to excel in college and professional basketball. His dedication to fostering a competitive yet balanced environment at Blue Ridge has helped establish the school as a leading prep program in the country.
🔗Connect with Cade:
Email | clemcke@blueridgeschool.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/coachcade
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lemckec/
🔗 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
Cory Heitz (00:00)
Welcome to this week's episode of the Prep Athletics Podcast. I'm proud to have joining me coach Cade Lemcke from the Blue Ridge School in, outside Charlottesville, Virginia. And he talks about leaving Rochester, New York to go do a post-grad year at Hargrave Military. And his team had three NBA players on it. He talks about practices, talks about playing in Madison Square Garden, and then ultimately his choice to play at Virginia in the ACC.
He ran some AU programs, he coached a year D1 at Longwood, and now he's been at Blue Ridge School for 10 years. And I'm happy to have him on because Blue Ridge School is unique to where it's all boys, which explains the benefits of that. And they also have to do other afternoon activities on top of basketball, which he explains the benefits of that. And they had a player there named Mamadi Dyatky, who won a state title at Blue Ridge, he won a national title with the Virginia Cavaliers, and won an NBA title.
with the Milwaukee Bucks. So doing out their activities did not impede or impede his progress on getting to the highest level. A little bit of recording difficulties at the end. So we end kind of abruptly, but enjoy this podcast with my friend, Coach Cade Lemcke.
Cory Heitz (01:35)
Cade, welcome to the podcast.
Coach Cade (01:37)
Thank you for inviting me, Cory. I'm excited to be here.
Cory Heitz (01:39)
Yeah, excited to have you and you grew up in Rochester, New York and you decided after graduation to do a post -grad year at Hargrave Military Academy. One, where'd you learn about a post -grad year and two, why'd you pick Hargrave?
Coach Cade (01:54)
Sure, I didn't know much about the post -grad opportunities. I think in Western New York, when I grew up, they didn't talk about that much. There were some hockey players that left my private school in Rochester to go to a prep school. But outside of that, did not hear much about it as I got into the spring of my senior year and wasn't really being recruited in the level I was excited about, but not the part of the country.
where I wanted to go, we looked at some different options. I really wanted to go to school down south. And so as we looked at this whole idea of post -grad opportunities, at the time there were really only military schools as the options down south of the Mason -Dixon line. so think we looked at Fork Union and I went and
traveled down there, visited the campus, worked out for the late Coach Fletcher Arrett. it was late in the game. By the time we got down there, I think it was the end of June, beginning of July. And he was already kind of down the road and only had one spot left on his roster. kept me warm, but wasn't told me to not wait on them if another opportunity presented itself.
at the same time, Hardrave had reached out to me. They had heard that I was looking for a post -grad spot and the coach, Scott Shepard, he connected with me and he actually had played for coach Arrett at Fork Union. And when I told him that I really enjoyed my visit there and I was waiting to hopefully get on there with coach Arrett, he said, you know, that makes a ton of sense. You know, maybe we'll reconnect, you know, down the road if something, you know, if something doesn't work out, you know, it doesn't work out there.
Cory Heitz (03:34)
Excuse me.
Coach Cade (03:35)
Bless you. And so we kind of waited on Fork Union and then Coach Garrett called and told me that he had gotten a commitment from a kid from Louisiana, like a 6 '10, 6 '11 kid who UCLA was recruiting and trying to find a place for. And so he told me that they were going to go with him and that left us kind of hanging, you know, for a little bit. But as God's plan would have it about a week later, Coach Shepherd
reconnected with me and just wanted to check to see if anything had changed on my end. And I told him, well, actually, Fork Union didn't work out. And I was interested in Hargrave. And he said, if you've looked at Fork Union and you think that that's doable, then Hargrave will be a breeze because we're not as strict or as regimented as Fork Union. So I remember he sent me a VHS tape, a little of the campus.
You know, we were kind of getting down to the end and we said, let's do it. So I never visited Hargrave before I, before I got there. But a week after that, Coach Eric had called me back and said that another spot had opened up at Fork Union, but I had already committed to go into Hargrave. And so that's what, that's what got me, you know, got me down there, you know, nine hours, 10 hours from home, long drive, you know, through, not only New York and PA, but then into Virginia and Virginia kept going further and further and.
I arrived at Heartgrave, that was a great experience for me back in the fall of 97 when I arrived there.
Cory Heitz (05:06)
Yeah. And you get there and you end up playing with three future NBA players to include Corleone Young, who got drafted straight to the NBA from Hargraves. So you also had other big time players in that team as well. So talk to me what it was like going from, you know, your high school in Rochester to these kinds of practices. Like what were practices in games like, and how long did it take you to like catch up to speed or did you hit the ground running when you got there?
Coach Cade (05:30)
Yeah, I think, you know, my work ethic was never, you know, an issue for me growing up. I think I worked as hard or harder than, you know, any of my peers and basketball peers, so to speak. When I got to Hargrave, what I realized was now, instead of only being able to work, you know, in the gym by myself or with another
You know, another kid who maybe was the same grade as me, but then had the same aspirations that I had, or maybe a former teammate when he was home from college. And so you'd only get a chance to work out every once in a while. Now I'm surrounded by, you know, 10 or 11 other like -minded individuals, right? Some of them had great work ethic. Some of them, you know, left something to be desired, but everyone was super talented. Everyone was competitive. And so now these workouts, it was another level.
right, where you had to bring it, you know, had to bring it every day. You had to start figuring out how can I add value in more ways than just, right, scoring the ball or blocking that shot or, right, getting that done, whatever you might've been able to do at the high school level. It was, I mean, this was, this was right, a post -grad opportunity, a college prep opportunity, right, where it was giving me a taste of what it was going be like at the next level. And so we had basketball class during the,
during the day, right? So as post -grads, had, you know, an hour and half or two hours during the day before we've had practice in the afternoon and then any other free time getting back on the court at night. But it was uber competitive where you were just battling all the time, right? And so what I always tell people is you don't know how much better you're getting because you're in the thick of it, right? You're in the trenches and you might go, right, a day and not even get an open look.
Or you might be scored on four or five times in a row, which you're not used to. And you might think, I'm not getting better. This is too tough. But what you don't know is why I try to impart on others that are going through a process like this, whether it's a post -grad program or a high level prep school.
You know, because everyone is working hard, everyone has the same, the same goals. You don't understand that, right? Iron sharpens iron. Everyone is getting better. So you might not think you're getting better. And it wasn't until I got home, played in a men's league, I think it was that next spring back in Rochester, playing with guys who I played with right the year before. And my game was completely different.
Cory Heitz (07:49)
Mm -hmm.
Coach Cade (08:05)
Right. And so I there realized how much better I had gotten. So even though when I was going through it, I didn't think I was getting, getting better because everybody was right. was getting better. All of a sudden I put myself against other people who were not with me, who didn't have the last 12 months that I had. And I saw right. The leaps that were made in my game, which I think I was then done at Hargrave, but
You know, if you were, if you were going to a prep school and you experienced that, you still had another year or two after that experience. Now you attack that next season, that next right fall with a whole different level of confidence and optimism because you know now that you were getting better, right? Cause that's when you're going through it, you were like, shoot, this is before cell phones, right? This is barely, there was barely internet. And so, you know, you, you were away from your family, you know, away from your girlfriend, all these things. And like, is it really, you know, is it really worth it? But.
I mean, the level of competition and just the opportunity just to compete daily in whatever drills or whatever was going on was a super, a super high level for me and something that, you know, I think helped me take my game, you know, to the next level for sure.
Cory Heitz (09:13)
Absolutely. And during that year, you guys actually played at Madison Square Garden. Walk me through that. Like what, what was the matchup that everyone was looking for?
Coach Cade (09:21)
Yeah, so because Corleone Young was on our team, he was the number one rated high school player in the country that year. So where a bunch of us were post grads that year, he was a high school senior playing. And so because of him, we had the opportunity to play in some really neat events around the country. And so we played against St. Patrick's, which they had the number...
two or number three player in the country, Al Harrington, was a senior at St. Pat's. Kevin Boyle was the coach there. And so the game was at Madison Square Garden. And so here we are, we stayed at the Downtown Athletic Club, was our hotel. We had a private practice at some gym just down the road from the hotel, which was super high level. And then here we are playing at the garden against St. Pat's.
And it was a great game. We won in the closing seconds. think Corleone had like 22 points, 20 rebounds. And then Al had like 27 points, 10 rebounding. The two just, I mean, they battled. And I think we had more talent from number one to number 10 than they had. And I think that's allowed us to squeak out the win at the end. But being on that stage and playing in the garden was...
was a neat experience that even playing there a couple years later in college, it wasn't the same as when you were just at a prep school environment, getting to play at the Guard, it was pretty special.
Cory Heitz (10:49)
That's awesome. That's an awesome experience to have and just, just being able to play and watch that game must've been cool. So that's, that's pretty neat. After post -grad year at Hargrave, you chose to play at the University of Virginia. Walk me through your decision -making to choose that program.
Coach Cade (11:04)
Sure. So my whole goal was to be recruited to play at the same, same level, low, low division one, mid division one, but I wanted to play in the South. And so my time at Hargrave was just trying to find that opportunity to play, you know, at that same level down, down here. And so I visited a bunch of, a bunch of schools, Furman, Coastal Carolina, Richmond, JMU, and they all had
You know, really good coaches and it was a neat, neat opportunity. Well, right then at that same, that same time, February, March, the university of Virginia had their head of coaching change. And so Jeff Jones was, was let go and they hired Pete Gillen who had just had a great run at Providence and they made it to the elite eight. And so when coach Gillen got the job, he needed to fill a few more roster spots.
And he came down to, you know, to watch, to watch us at Hargrave and then brought me up to, to Virginia and told me that, you know, he didn't have a scholarship for me right now. But if I, if I came and, you know, earned my way and, and proved my value on the court that I could earn a scholarship, but that he needed a player, you know, needed a player like me as he was taking over this, you know, this program. And I knew of, you know, I grew up.
in Rochester, I mean, you're a Syracuse fan, you know, first, but I was a big, you know, ACC fan. This is obviously before Syracuse was in the ACC. And so I knew of Virginia, but didn't necessarily know just how highly thought of UVA was. And so I remember coming back from my visit and talking to the professors and some of the administration at Hargrave. And once I told them there's an opportunity to go to Virginia.
they all told me right away, this is life changing. The education that you would get, the networks that you would make during your time there, it's a no -brainer. So obviously people in state, especially, they love UVA. And so I took that. And I think I was still confident in my ability and thought I could play at that level, even though I wasn't being recruited at that level during the year. And so I ended up jumping at it. And I took that.
took it and made my way to Charlottesville from Chatham where Hargrave is and found myself playing in the ACC and right there in the middle of it all. And it was a neat experience for me and just the players that I played with, the coaches that I played for, the opportunities that I had, I definitely would not have gotten one of the other options that I had.
Yeah, I look back on it as, you know, it was, it was a neat experience and you know, with anything, you know, there's pros and cons and you, by making that decision, you probably turned down other things that you could have gone somewhere else. But, but it's allowed me to kind of get to where I am now. And so I can't be, I can't be upset about that. It's been, it's been great, a great run.
Cory Heitz (13:57)
Yeah, that's life. mean, different phone call. could have been a fork union too. So you start thinking like that. can drive you crazy. So, all right. So between, you know, your time at Virginia and getting the Blue Ridge, one of those years you spent as an assistant at a D one program called Longwood. What did you learn being a D one assistant? know, now that you're at a prep school, you know, most of the people you talk to, and I talked to have the goal of playing D one, but you were there for that year. What did you really learn from that on the coaching side that you now?
Coach Cade (14:01)
That's right.
Mm
Cory Heitz (14:26)
use both in coaching and helping players get recruited.
Coach Cade (14:29)
Yeah, you know, I think there was, as I was done playing and wanting to get into coaching and I had a, an AAU program that I ran for 12 years and, that probably the, the last four years of that, I was running it really with the idea and the goal to get into college coaching. And I wanted to get to the division one, division one level. And you kind of have this, this, this dream and this outlook that you've in this perspective that you think, I'm going to get to.
you know, get paid to coach, to coach hoops all day. I get to work with all these types of players. I get to work with the rest of a staff of guys that all want to win and we're going to, you know, we're going to make it to March and we're going to go dancing and you all, you know, and so you have this, this vision. And even as I talk to peers of mine who are coaching at that level, they would be quick to tell you, you know, it's a grind. You don't want to do it. Like you're going have to, you have a family, you have
you know, kids, not gonna see them. And it's super, you know, super intense. I mean, it's cutthroat, like, you know, they say all these things. And as a naive, you know, guy who's reaching and trying to get there, you know, I think, it can't be that bad. You know, they're just, they just don't want another person in the, you know, in the business. You know, they want to be able to, you know, keep their, you know, keep their, the relationships intact and know that they have.
you know, me on the AAU or the prep side and not, you know, as another college coach. So the opportunity presented itself for me to go to Longwood and play in the big South for Coach Jason G. And my family was very, very supportive, you know, of that we moved, we moved to Farmville and it was a first year for Coach G.
Right, so as your first year as the head coach at a school, you're really trying to build that culture and it was a grind, right? I mean, just the amount of time that you spend away from your family, just all these different moments that you miss. And then on the recruiting side, you're really betting everything on your ability to convince a 17, 18,
Cory Heitz (16:22)
Yeah.
Coach Cade (16:40)
year old, you know, teenager to come to your right to come to your school. And, know, in the world where, you know, on the recruiting side, coaches will tell you anything. They might not be quite as truthful, right. About certain things and what's going on. It was a, it was really trying because as we're recruiting kids and trying to recruit against other coaches and other schools. And you know, the pitches that are being made and you know,
that you might have the best interest of the kid, maybe more so than somebody else. But if somebody else is selling a bigger dream, you could lose them. And then if you don't get that kid and you end up with a lesser kid or a lesser kid, that could be the difference between winning and losing. And then that comes back on the head of the assistant coaches who are out there supposedly recruiting and bringing in the talent.
That was a, that was big, you know, for me because I've, in my, on my AAU side and then here at Blue Ridge, I I, I make a living on being fully transparent and authentic and genuine with my relationships with, with not only the players, but the players' families. And it was a lot harder in that situation to, you know, to do that there at Longwood. And so getting through that year, I realized.
I'm not going say that all D1 situations are the same, right? Because every coaching staff, every program is different.
You know, there's, it's, you know, if, I really want to be able to run a program the way that I want to run it and I want to be able to impact lives the way that I want to impact lives, I need to be a head coach and I need to be in a situation where
there's not the same crazy pressure to win or lose your job or recruit this high level kid or lose your job.
And then that's kind of when, the opportunity presented itself to come to right, to come to Blue Ridge, which was right. whole different, a whole different thing for me.
Cory Heitz (18:44)
Yeah. And tell us about that. Now that you've gotten the Blue Ridge, tell us about the school. Tell us about your program. What's your pitch to families?
Coach Cade (18:51)
Sure, so we're tucked away. So I've been at Blue Ridge, I just finished my 10th year. And we're right at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, central Virginia. We're about 30 minutes outside of Charlottesville, where the University of Virginia is. We're about an hour from Harrisonburg, where JMU is, about two hours from DC. All boys, college prep school, right? 180 kids, about 30 % are international.
80 % of us as faculty live on the campus. so we are, you we're here. You know, and so I was, I was familiar with Blue Ridge and some of the other schools in the Virginia area from when I was on the AU side and when I was at Longwood. So I was always intrigued by Blue Ridge. went to McQuade Jesuit High School in Rochester, which was an all boys, all boys school. And so I knew the value of, of being in a single sex education.
where you could really focus limited distractions around you and you could really work on your craft, whatever that was. And so I was excited about that, but I was really excited about a boarding environment where you have kids 24 seven. So your players are, if they're here, they're not going home each night and going into a different environment. They're not.
going home on the weekend into a different environment, you've got a collection of 10, 12, 13 young men who all are hungry about the game. They have sacrificed to be there and they are ready to be molded 24, 24, 7. And so what I tell families all the time is this isn't for everyone, but if you're a young player, you're the parent of a young player who wants to be good.
and isn't nervous about being a smaller fish in a big pond, then there's no better place to be. I've got three assistant coaches, all four of us live on campus. The varsity gym is right down the walking path. The field house with three more courts is right down the walking path. The high level weight room, the track, everything is right there.
there's no excuse possible that would prevent you from just improving your game. Yes, we play at super high level in terms of competition. The players are high level. So similar to my experience at Hargrave, you're getting pushed every day and you have to really bring it and figure out how you can add value even if you're not making your shot or you're not able to lock up that guy on defense.
you've got to figure out how to still create value. And I think our guys, as they go through their time here, A, they improve by leaps and bounds, right? Physically, mentally, emotionally, but they are so much better prepared when they get to the next level to now as freshmen at D1, D2, D3, whatever it is, they can now attack it and carve out a role and create value so much sooner.
than their peers that aren't in the environment that they're in. And I hear that all the time from college coaches who recruit our guys when they have them and they're just shocked at how fast they move up the learning curve. Because our guys have already had a roommate. Our guys have already been eating in a dining hall. Our guys have already been away from home. Our guys have already dealt with having multiple workouts a day and playing against
Right? Great competition or being just a one piece, a role player or having a role and not being the, being the guy that could have six turnovers and your coach never yells at you or take 25 shots. And you know, whether you make them or you miss them, you're still going to play the entire game. Right? Our guys have been through all of this and it allows them to be, you know, just more valuable sooner, right. At the next level. And so when, families hear that.
and they genuinely feel and see how their son or how them as a player could be a part of what we're building, I think it's an easy decision. If everything else works out, that they could be here. And we've been blessed to have some really great players with great families and been able to put some things together here during my time.
Cory Heitz (23:09)
All right. One clarification. You guys don't offer post -grad years. So for those of you all listening, you got to go in before you graduate high school to Blue Ridge and you guys don't take one year seniors except in very rare situations. Now.
Coach Cade (23:21)
Correct, but guys can reclassify. So if they're trying to get that additional year in high school and reclass as a ninth or 10th or an 11th grader, they could do that. But yes, there is no post -grad program or no ability to reclass as a senior.
Cory Heitz (23:24)
to it.
Okay, now here's one challenge that I get when I talk about all boys schools is kids will balk at that. Parents will balk at that. And after coaching two years at Gonzaga in DC, which is an all boys school, my attitudes completely changed on it. And I think it's an excellent option. And I'm just curious, what do you say when families balk about just being a single -sex school?
Coach Cade (23:54)
Sure. Well, so the right, the positives, right, is that you can you can focus, you don't have to worry about, you know, what's this girl, you know, thinking when I answer this question in class today, what's this girl thinking when I'm, you know, at practice and I miss I miss a shot in front of other people. I can just write, I can focus, I can focus on my right on my craft and what I'm doing. Then the downside is you don't have females at school. Well, I think Blue Ridge and other
Right? Single sex schools do, I don't want to speak for all of them, but we do a really good job of, organizing weekend activities with other schools every weekend. So I think there are four all girls schools in Virginia and every weekend there's a, either a mixer or different, going to a, a college football game or these different events where you get to mingle with girls from one of these other schools.
So you still have your opportunity to meet people and to have fun, but that's just, then on the weekend, then you get to be right back at business, so to speak, working at accomplishing and achieving all your goals. And so you're still around and I think Blue Ridge does a great job at that, but you now get to focus and grow in a way that you can't at a co -ed school.
Cory Heitz (25:12)
Yeah, I agree with that a hundred percent, a hundred percent. and a lot of my families, they're, they're moving kids from sometimes another country to America to play in prep school ball. You're not going there for a girlfriend. You calling me up, you're hiring me to play basketball yet your whole life for girls. So I think it's a great idea. Now, you know, when you and I have connected on players, they'll talk to you and they'll also might be talking to a new England prep school. And with new England prep schools, they got the concentration up there, right? So it's a lot easier for college coaches to hit a bunch of them.
during multiple days. How do you answer that when families ask like, shouldn't I go to New England versus Virginia to get more exposure to college coaches? What's your comeback?
Coach Cade (25:51)
Yeah, I think the, we're in a unique situation where we are in Virginia, because you have, you have three of the most storied post -grad programs all within, you know, two hours of us. So Fork Union, who we've talked about in Hargrave and Massinuttin, we're kind of like right in between. If you draw a triangle between those three, we're right there. And so our pitch to college coaches, and I think we've been able to, not only,
get coaches to come and watch us play. I would say the biggest group is always in the fall, but even during the season, not only because we have good players, but because it's an easy trip for them. And now as a college coach, I remember being there. You need to make the most of your time. If you're gonna be away from your family, if you're gonna be away from your team and not at practice today, it better not be just to go watch one kid.
Cory Heitz (26:35)
Yeah.
Coach Cade (26:41)
and drive six hours or take two flights just to watch one kid. If you can all of a sudden watch three different schools or four different schools in one time, that's when it makes sense for you. And so where we're located, it allows us to do that. Probably in a very similar way to New England, but New England might have 10 or 12 schools within a four hour radius. We have
right, four schools here, not to mention some of other day schools that tend to have some really good players in Richmond or Charlottesville or up towards DC. So yes, so right, so we have that same consortium, so to speak, of schools and of basketball talent that New England has, but just not, you know, not up there freezing your, freezing your butt off half the year.
Cory Heitz (27:30)
That's right. And just full disclosure, when I met you for the first time, you know, I had visited Fork Union Hargrave and then came to see you because it was all right there. So yeah, absolutely makes sense. All right. Here's something, a challenge you guys have as well. A lot of my basketball families reach out. They want to go someplace and play basketball every day of the year to prep school. But your school, like some other prep schools require students to do other activities on top of that. What do you say to families that just want to focus on basketball?
when you present to them that they do have to try something different, athletically.
Coach Cade (28:02)
Sure. Yeah. So we have our afternoon activity all year. In the fall, you have an afternoon activity. In the winter, in the spring. In the winter, you can use basketball as your afternoon activity. That's easy. But in the fall and in the spring, you have to choose a different activity. It could be a sport. You might play soccer, play football, run cross country. It might be doing robotics. It might be
being part of the community service program, might be being part of our outdoor program and learning how to canoe or how to rock climb. But you do this in the afternoon for 90 minutes. And at first, right, some people might look at that and say, I could use those 90 minutes to either write, study more math or practice basketball or get in the weight room. The beauty of a, of a
Cory Heitz (28:51)
Thanks.
Coach Cade (28:57)
boarding school like ours is there is still so much time in the day that you can still accomplish all that you want to accomplish in the weight room, on the court, getting extra shots up, watching film. You can do all that and still, right, study and stay on top of your classes and still eat three good meals, right, a day and still have your, right, your full slate of classes and your afternoon activity each day and still get plenty of rest.
at night, you can do that because when you take out the sucks at our time when you're in a day school environment, right, and you're traveling to and from school, or you're sitting on the couch watching TV, you know, at night, or you're on the phone, right, talking to your friends or whatever for 30 minutes, or you're playing your video games for an hour. When you take those things out of your day, you realize just how much time you have.
So now if I have a different afternoon activity, let's say I'm playing a different sport, right? Obviously there's some cross sport, know, positives of, you know, maybe it's conditioning, right? You're able to condition a different way. Maybe you're playing, you're running track in the spring and there's a track coach that is teaching you something about, you know, your confidence level or being mentally tough that maybe...
Right. I didn't, wasn't able to keep teach or coach you the same way during the basketball season. Now you get that right as well. And now one of things that I really like with our guys is when they're doing some of those other activities, let's say they're they're doing robotics and they might be high on the totem pole when they're on the basketball court, but all of a sudden now they're behind, you know, they're in front of a computer and a keyboard and they're at the bottom. Right. So now, now they're being humbled and they're now having to rely on.
a teammate, a robotics teammate, that in the other parts of campus might always be looking up to them. Well, now they're being the one that's in charge. They're being the one that everyone knows, you really know what you're doing. And so I think there's also some positive growth opportunities for our guys when you're doing something that you're not as comfortable with or you're not as good at. And what other opportunity might you have your entire life?
to do some of those things, you might never have learned how to canoe, right? You might never learn how to fly fish or learn how to be in the drama and learn how to act. But now because this afternoon activity is built into our day, you can do that and not sacrifice time on the court, you're getting better. So I think it works out, even though it's hard to understand the beginning, but I think once you really realize and you talk to people who have been through it and you see and you find out.
just how much time they still have and how it didn't take away from their ability to grow as a basketball player either.
Cory Heitz (31:47)
Yeah. A couple of things I want to say on that kid. One, put down your phone, right? You'll be amazed how much time comes from that. another thing is, you know, these basketball academies out there, one of their big pitches is you can have six hours in the gym. Another basketball academy might say, we have eight hours in the gym. Another might say, we've got 23 out of 24 hours. You can be in the gym at our basketball academy, but you've won state titles. You've got Mamadi who won a state title. He won an NCA title with Virginia. He won an NBA title with the Bucks.
You're doing this other stuff. It's only making you a more well -rounded person. It's helping your sport, like you just said. And if you still spend the right quality of time in the gym during that time you've got it, you're going to improve. It's about quality, not quantity. All these hours that some of these coaches spew out there of time you get in the gym. Well, sure. No one is in the gym for 10 hours going full speed. You can't. If you're going full speed in a game speed, 30 minutes, you're gassed, right? If you're even shaped to go that long. So
I like that you shared that because some students do get worried about, you know, the loss of like time on the court or instruction, but your track record with the high major players you've had come through there, the state championships, the placement, it's just, it, it, proves itself. So I think it's a great idea. know, you know, there are people that just want to do basketball, you know, one of my clients worst case scenario played football and got hurt.
so he couldn't play the basketball season. That's life. can get hurt anytime you step out your front door. So you do need to look at that worst case scenario, but don't play football, play a different sport, do community service, do canoeing. And you guys being right there, you know, in the middle of the blue ridge mountains, you know, still 20 minutes from Charlottesville. What a great opportunity you got there. So anyway, I just wanted to piggyback on what you said that I think this is a good thing, right?
Coach Cade (33:34)
Yeah.
Cory Heitz (33:35)
What do you see as the future of prep school basketball? I you've been doing this for a long time now, 10 years, like you said, you've seen it evolve. Now we've got NIL and now I've got transfers. Is prep school basketball got a good future in your eye? Do you see more demand or is the, you know, adding of new academies out there diluting it a little? What are your thoughts on it?
Coach Cade (33:54)
Right. So, so we had a, we had a big influx right after the pandemic, right. Where prep schools were, you know, more people wanted to go there because they wanted to get that year back, reclassify because of limited opportunity during, during the pandemic. Now I think we're back to what we were, you know, before, you know, I, there's just, there's more of an opportunity to really educate those families that are out there. I think there's, there's still the same number, right. Of families that are looking.
to go to somewhere for school. But there are more of these basketball academies out there. And for some kids, some families, that might make sense. Those schools tend to have a much lower price tag, where they know what the cost is and the kid will go there and the kid's gonna stay in a house with some other players and get in a team van and go to the gym every day or whatever.
whatever it is, it's not a school environment. And so if you're a family that's looking for a school experience, the basketball academy is not going to give you that. But for some kids, the basketball academy is exactly what they need. And taking online classes is easy and fine, and they don't have necessarily big aspirations of growing as a student, more so just doing
whatever has to be done so that they can open the door for the next level. You're still gonna find that, think, for us, we're in a fortunate position when you've had some success, not only in terms of winning, but you've had success at players going on and playing at the next level, and your networks continue to grow, you're gonna have opportunity to get in front of families. then I've always felt that
We're going to get the families we're supposed to get, right? We're going get the players that we're supposed to get. And so we're going to, we're going to put our pitch together. We're going to explain everything that we have to offer. And if it's what you, you know, what you, what you need and what you want, let's make it happen. If for some reason you think there's another situation that might be better, you know, good luck, you know, good luck to you. I mean, we've had a couple of players in my 10 years here who made a decision to do something else and.
you know, within a couple of months or within a year, you know, they end up, you know, calling back and saying, Hey, do you, do you have, do you have spot? One of those situations we had room and we were able to work with that family. The other situation we didn't have a spot anymore. but I think, you know, it'll be interesting, you know, with NIL in the future, like what's gonna, what's going to happen. heard, you there was a very talented player in the other, the other side of the state from us who's who I heard his dad was all about.
Cory Heitz (36:12)
I'm
Coach Cade (36:35)
going to OTE because he, you they want an IL deal. And so the dad's, but at end of the day, like that's probably not the family that I want to coach anyway. You know, if the family is that into that now, don't get me wrong. Sometimes there's a difference between the player and the family, right? We've been, we've been in situations where I think we made the situation as
Cory Heitz (36:47)
Right.
Coach Cade (37:00)
the best possible for a player because he got away from his family. And in a boarding environment, now he's with us, he doesn't have to listen to all the noise or the negativity or the discouragement, right? And that's what allowed him to flourish, right? And do well. And sometimes we can be that, right? We can be that spot. There's been other, I still remember a family that we had who they were so close as a family, was definitely a positive.
positive influence, the family was, and they said several times, coach, we cannot see our son leaving us for his last, know, we were already prepared for him to leave when he goes to college. We're not ready for him to leave now. And, you know, we talked about it and they went home and, you know, they prayed about it, talked about it more, thought about it more, and they ended up deciding to give it a try. And,
He spends two years with us, has a great, great, great career, goes on to play college basketball. And I was a college coach. And his family would say that was the best decision they ever made, even though it was the hardest decision they made because they were not prepared for him to leave sooner. And he was definitely getting, I mean, all the positive reinforcement, everything about being at home. wasn't like he was escaping a bad, negative situation at home. But they said as hard as it was, we cannot believe
the young man that he turned into, we cannot believe the basketball experience that he got and the doors that were opened. And now where he is to this day, and even though they say it was hard, but they said it was the best decision. And it's not easy for families, right? Because it's a sacrifice financially, it's a sacrifice, right, time with your child.
But if we can continue just to get in front of the right families, I think we'll have the opportunity to really coach some up and change some lives, which is what we're trying to do, right? Trying to impact these lives. And I look at it as a responsibility. Here I am. I've been married for 21 years. I've got three kids. I live in the same place where all these students live. My 12 players, I'm modeling every day.
Cory Heitz (38:50)
Yeah.
Coach Cade (39:11)
what it means to be a husband, what it means to be a father, what it means, like they see all my interactions with my wife, they see all my interactions with my kids, and that might be the only modeling that they've ever seen, right? Or maybe they already have, right, a positive male role model at home, and now they see another one, which just reinforces, right, the path to go down. And so I don't take that lightly that every day I have
not only my 12 players, but 180 boys that are watching me. And so to have that chance to be able to impact lives, I mean, that's why I'm still here. That's why I love what I do and why my family is also on board with doing this. It's been a great run.
Cory Heitz (40:01)
Kade, what does it take to be a guard at the D1 level?
Coach Cade (40:04)
So.
You have to, you have to be elite.
at something. think to be, right, to be, now, that could be, you could be an elite shooter, you could be an elite on the ball defender, you could be an elite athlete, you could be an elite connector, right, or high IQ player, but you need to be elite at something, right? And then, you know, the other side is you better, you better be able to,
compensate for any weaknesses you have by being that much better at something else. know, high school guys, and I still remember, I still remember taking a visit to St. Bonaventure when I was in high school and they had offered me and we then were at a team camp that summer at St. Bonaventure and I remember the coach pulled me aside after one of our games at the team camp and he said, and he talked about how there was this loose ball on the floor.
and I didn't dive on the floor for the loose ball. I either bent over to try to pick it up or I let somebody else pick it up and he said, at the next level, can't just bend over to pick up that ball. You're not good enough to be able to do that. And this is me as a, I was going into my junior year.
of high school. And so I kind of went in, went in one ear out the other. wasn't until I got to Virginia when all of a sudden I'm not, I'm probably the least athletic on the floor. I'm, and I don't have the same margin for error and I better do all the little things to make up for not being as fast or as strong as, another, right, as another guard that I was
That's when I started realizing, you better pursue that ball. You better dive on that floor for every loose ball. You better take every charge that you can take. Because I didn't have the other parts of my game, especially on the athleticism side, to do it any other way. Like I had to do those little things. And so now when I'm coaching guys that want to play at that level, or I'm just mentoring or giving advice to others.
Unless you're an uber athlete that can just run and jump and do like, you better be super elite at something. And then you better be willing to do all the things that most people aren't willing to do. Right. When it comes to taking charges, dive for loose balls, setting, setting great screens, right? Those are all like these little things that you better be able to do. I think hopefully I get that point across to, you know, to our guards.
Coach Cade (42:43)
one and division two level. And, you know, we've been able to impart that, you know, that wisdom, they learn, right, how to do it. I think that positions themselves pretty well when they get to the next level to be successful.
Cory Heitz (42:55)
Love it. Thanks for sharing that. We're going to end with some quick hitters here, Who's the best player you ever played against?
Coach Cade (42:58)
We're going to do some cricketers here, What? Who's the best player you ever been in?
Steve Francis at Maryland when I was in Virginia and we played him and I still remember it was a switch and I was switched on to him and I still remember we were in front of our bench playing up at Cole Field House and a couple teammates of mine on the bench started laughing when I got switched on to Steve Francis. Obviously he is a great college player, great NBA player, but he was the toughest player I played against. Best player I've ever coached against at prep school.
Cory Heitz (43:27)
best player you've ever coached against at prep school.
Coach Cade (43:29)
He wasn't, he wasn't great in the game that we played, but he was great that whole year. but Shay Gilchrist Alexander, we played him when he was at Hamilton Heights and, we, won the game and he had already committed to Kentucky and you could tell he was going to be good. And I think we were able to slow him down a little bit, but he was, he was a talent. Favorite movie.
Cory Heitz (43:48)
favorite movie.
or one of them.
Coach Cade (43:49)
Or one of them? Yeah, I'd say I'd say one that you know Hoosiers is a classic. I love just growing up as a as a basketball player and have been just loving loving the game. That was a great one to be to always have in the on the VHS tape or in the DVD player or whatever it might have been. Perfect, and is there anything we didn't touch on yet? You want to mention?
Cory Heitz (44:09)
Perfect. And is there anything we didn't touch on yet you want to mention?
Coach Cade (44:12)
No, think, mean, it's amazing the resources that are out there now for families and for players that are looking for these opportunities, I think, to play at a post -grad or at a prep school when they're in high school. think when I was growing up in this situation, we didn't know, we didn't have anybody to turn to. I think we ended up, there was no Google searching.
prep schools or anything like that. we were blessed to end up with a situation that we had at Hargrave, but it's just so unique now for players, domestic players, international players, to be able to connect with somebody like you and just be able to learn and to be so much better informed, not only. And I always think,
call you a matchmaker because as you know more and more of the programs that are out there and you get to know these players and the families, right, you're able to put these kids in situations where they still have to make the decision at end of the day, but can't imagine the time that they would spend and who some of their quote unquote final schools might be if they were just jumping online, talking to their neighbor.
doing whatever and finding things. So I think, I've always been fortunate to know you and to become close with you and you know me and what I'm trying to do. But it's, I mean, it's just the different guys that I've been able to coach that you've worked with and even some that I wasn't able to coach, but we were able to at least get to know those families and they chose to go other places.
I feel good that they made informed decisions, even if they didn't end up here at Blue Ridge, that I think it's just a unique thing that 10, 20, 30 years ago wasn't the case. I applaud you for everything that you're doing to help these kids and these families because I know there are a bunch of out there that would be making very poor decisions otherwise. So thank you for that.
Cory Heitz (46:13)
Well, I appreciate that. Kade, thanks so much for being on. I will put all your contact information in the show notes and, so people can find you at Blue Ridge School, everything else. Good luck this year and thanks so much for coming on the podcast.
Coach Cade (46:13)
Well, I appreciate that.