PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast
PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast
Competition vs. Hard Work in Player Development ft. Coach Brian Fruscio of Canterbury
In this episode of the Prep Athletics Podcast, we dive deep into the world of prep school basketball with Coach Brian Fruscio of Canterbury School. From his early days growing up in a blue-collar town in upstate New York to building Albany Academy into a powerhouse program and his current role at Canterbury, Coach Fruscio shares invaluable insights on player development, college recruitment, and the evolving landscape of prep school basketball. He discusses the importance of competing versus merely playing hard, the role of multiple sports in athlete development, and how to navigate the challenging journey from high school to college basketball.
đź“Ś Key Topics
âś… The transition from college to prep school coaching
✅ Canterbury School’s unique approach to student-athlete development
âś… Building a successful basketball program
âś… The importance of multiple sport participation
âś… College recruitment strategies and player placement
âś… The value of competing versus just playing hard
âś… Access to training facilities and development opportunities
âś… The future of prep school basketball
🗒️ About Coach Brian Fruscio:
A first-generation college graduate who played at Ithaca College, Brian Fruscio has established himself as a respected figure in prep school basketball. Before joining Canterbury School three years ago, he built Albany Academy into a powerhouse program where he developed numerous Division I players, including NBA player Andre Jackson, who won a national championship with UConn before joining the Milwaukee Bucks.
đź”— Connect with Coach Brian Fruscio:
Email | bfruscio@cbury.org
LinkedIn | https://www.instagram.com/coachfrusc/
Instagram https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-fruscio-57729214/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/brian.fruscio/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/cburyboysbball/
X | https://x.com/cburyboysbball
đź”— 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
đź”– 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
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Cory Heitz (00:01)
Welcome to this episode of the Prep Athletics Podcast. I'm proud to have joining us coach Brian Fuscio from Canterbury School. Now Brian played at Ithaca with Blair coach Joe Mantegna and then coached in the college ranks before going to Albany Academy and building a powerhouse there where he had a lot of D1 players to include Andre Jackson who won a title with UConn and who's now starting for the Milwaukee Bucks. Three years ago he went to Canterbury.
and dad's doing a great job there. So we hear about his background, we hear about Canterbury, his opinions on reclassing, what other activities kids have to do there. He has one team there, not multiple. He's in class B and he talks about that. And we hear his philosophy on recruiting and placing kids too. So in this conversation, the audio is a little bit off, so it's not as crisp and clear as normal. And then near the end of the conversation, a friendly woodpecker. Actually, he's not friendly because he's destroying my house.
popped up and started hammering his head away. So if you hear that in the background, is courtesy of the mountains of Colorado here. So enjoy the podcast and thanks for tuning in.
Cory Heitz (01:27)
Brian, welcome to the podcast.
Brian Fruscio (01:29)
This is great. Thanks for having me.
Cory Heitz (01:31)
Yeah, I love your background for those not watching right now on YouTube. There's a giant palm tree, sand, and waves at a beach. So that is very unlike Connecticut.
Brian Fruscio (01:40)
Yeah, I'm like Connecticut. It's a I'm in an office where redoing our college counseling offices and so I'm in a I'm in a temporary office and that this is here and I wasn't taking it down so.
Cory Heitz (01:53)
Yes, good for you. Now, Brian, where'd you grow up and what got you into basketball?
Brian Fruscio (01:58)
I grew up in upstate New York, Albany area, a little town, Water Valley. It was really known for its arsenal and making the most cannons for World War II. And so it was two steel mills, a Ford plant in the next town. You know, our coaches grew up, we grew up to coaches with goggle dust and machinists and missing fingers and just tough, tough.
World War Two guys coaching our little league and our pop Warner and our CYO basketball. We were known as a town that per capita had the most churches and bars per capita. you know those three shifts in the steel mill kept all the businesses busy.
Cory Heitz (02:42)
I bet, and I'm assuming now, that town's probably not doing great with the steel mill shutting down or they stay open.
Brian Fruscio (02:46)
Yeah, everything
shut down. Ford moved to Detroit. We still do have some abrasives. It was Norton. Then we do have a couple still because of the railroad being so prominent in Watervilleet. So the Stamford's were building railroads and he was from Albany. So he built one of the railroads from Watervilleet all the way to Northern California. And then when their son died.
They named Leland Stanford University.
Cory Heitz (03:15)
Gotcha. OK. And then you got into basketball and then ended up choosing to play at Ithaca with friend of the program, Joe Mantegna. How did you end up at Ithaca? What was the thought process to end up there?
Brian Fruscio (03:25)
Well, was, Utica was only really the division one that, know, outside of Syracuse and St. John's at that, at that time, Sienna, of course. so, division three became an option. St. Rose wasn't quite St. Rose then they were still NAIA. so it really came down to St. Rose and Eckerd. And I was, I was a small town kid. So all of a sudden, Ithaca who won every year,
And winning was important. So Ithaca made sense. Union was a chance. North out of state with Coach Q was great, but Ithaca just had that draw of college campus, college town with Cornell on the other hill, Syracuse close, Elmira close, Binghamton close. So it just had a great feel. we went to postseason four times, had other college teammates like John Dunn, the head coach at Marist.
So, you know, we were basketball guys, which was great for those four years.
Cory Heitz (04:26)
Absolutely. And then what did you do after graduation?
Brian Fruscio (04:29)
Right away, I shook Coach Bure, Coach Brian Bure's hand through a fence in a men's league and told him I think I was going to St. Rose grad school. And he told me he had a better idea for me. Come see him Monday. And he had recruited me as the assistant coach at that time, you four years earlier. And then I got a gift to be an assistant for a Hall of Fame coach and Coach Bure. And he was just amazing. He's helping GMAC now at Siena.
and it just, you know, we recruited one, you know, really two guys in two years. So he allowed me to really learn the business and get to New York city and spend time with coach current and spend time with Bobby Leckie and spend time with Tom Murray and all the legends of New York city basketball in the early nineties. And, you he let me get down and just recruit guys, even though we only needed one and.
just forged those relationships with Christ the King and Bishop Loughlin and Malloy. And he was a great coach and he was a great person. So I was very, very fortunate to spend those two years with him.
Cory Heitz (05:41)
Alright, you spent all that time in New York City. What makes New York City High School basketball special?
Brian Fruscio (05:46)
Well, at that time it was those coaches, right? was it was, you know, thousand wins. Coach Curran, was Archbishop Malloy, was Kenny Anderson. You could go to, you know, I remember my first game I went down to Cardinal Hayes. And I want to say it was Cardinal Hayes, Christ the King. And I'm, you know, I sit down, I'm green as ever. I sit down and there's some guy next to me, you know, named Rick Patino, right? Like he's there for Mashburn, right? So like.
I'm shaking hands with Rick Patino. And so I think that sort of, you know, is what made New York City basketball so special is the coaches and then of course the players and then the Al McGuyers of the world always talking about coming in in the seventies and just getting those players. And it sort of became that hotbed. But I always also say, as we played New York City teams when I was at other schools, I just said, New York City has a different speed, right?
There's a New York City fast. And so maybe it's just because you're running to catch a subway or whatever it is, but it's definitely faster. I can promise you that.
Cory Heitz (06:44)
you
Alright, you went from the college ranks to Albany Academy. You were there for a long time, did great work there. What did you take from the college game to coaching in high school?
Brian Fruscio (07:04)
Well, I got that opportunity at 23 right after. two years at St. Rose, and then I became a college head coach, right? At Southern Vermont College. And my goodness, talk about not knowing what you're doing. Think you know what you're doing, but not knowing what you're doing. And I just took Brian Bury and brought it to Bennington, Vermont for five years. And then the high school ranks after that. And I just feel like, you know, getting caught in...
Cory Heitz (07:13)
Right?
Thanks
Brian Fruscio (07:30)
being at college and then going to high school and then truly understanding what those first practices are in college and getting guys college ready. Whether it be new terminology, what's their learning curve, how much can you teach them that they can retain and they can bring into that first practice? Have they been coached hard? Have they had someone raise their voice at them? Have they had a sit because of lack of execution?
Cory Heitz (07:40)
Thread.
Brian Fruscio (07:58)
just all these different things that so many guys struggle with during that freshman year. And I don't know the analytics, but I feel the Porto would support me on this, is that they just don't realize what is in store for them. So truly having your number one goal is to make sure guys are college ready. And you can receive that text or that call, that first week of practice.
that just has gratitude. Thank you so much. You know, new terminology coach, but you know, we're three weeks in and I haven't learned anything new other than terminology, right? So that's, that's the ultimate compliment as a, as a high school prep school coach to, get that text, to get that call from the kids, knowing that you did a good job with them, whether it was four years, whether it was one year and, and help them in that transition to their lifelong goal.
to be a college basketball player.
Cory Heitz (08:55)
Love it. then, so you get to Albany Academy, they've learned this, you know, new terminology, you're instilling things you learned from your college time, but you guys turn into a powerhouse during your time there. And for people that want to turn their programs into a powerhouse, do you have the recipe for that?
Brian Fruscio (09:07)
Did.
Well, I think you have to get good people and you have to get good players. And so we were very fortunate. got some, I always give Jimmy Hart the business. Jimmy Hart was from the Albany City Rocks, was our assistant for the first eight years of the 15 there. So that helps. But again, I always give Jimmy the business. During that time we had Jamel Field, had Chris Pelcher. Chris played at...
Iona and then New Hampshire, Jamel played at Fairfield and St. Peter's. You know, we had division one players, but Jim Erfredette was in the area. Taylor Battle was in the area. So there was other guys in the area that we did not have at Albany Academy. And then I think over the course of time, know, then we, Hamir Wright came aboard. He became a power five recruit. You know, then you have Jay Wright, you have Tom Izzo, you have coach Beheim, you have people in the gym.
And now all of a sudden that gets out there. then the, whoever the eighth grader is, which happened to be probably at that point, Andre Jackson, August Mahoney, Marcus Fillion, Riley Movi at Iowa, Marcus Jackson, Albany and Sienna. So, you know, I think then it became, wow, these coaches are in this gym. And that's sort of how it played out because when they were there for Hamir, they would say,
we love Hamir, but who's that kid? that's August Mahoney. Who's that kid? that's Andre Jackson. Who's that kid? that's Riley Mulvey. So, you know, I think that sort of catapulted Albany Academy into that next stratosphere because now you have players that can go play Gonzaga. We can go play Bishop O'Connell. We can go play Pinnacle. You know, we can get out there and compete. Now, of course, was
more difficult. would have five or six guys, I would say. And so we would usually get beat by those teams by like eight points because, you know, our seventh man was a division one shortstop or division one pitcher, right? So we just weren't as deep. Albany couldn't support that from a day school model. So I was very proud of what we did and we won a lot in state and we got a lot of exposure for guys out of state.
Cory Heitz (11:14)
Right.
Love it. All right, you had your long career there at Albany and then you made the move three years ago to Canterbury, right? What led you to this decision?
Brian Fruscio (11:38)
Yes.
Well, I think first I have twin sons and they graduated from Albany Academy that June and a lot happened that June, right? So they graduate, they were lifers pre-K through 12. We weren't going to disrupt them at any point during that. And then my daughter, who's a junior here now, we went to the June high school exposure, NCAA.
time at Blair. And so, you know, we're with Uncle Joe, Antagna, and, and, you know, she starts, my daughter starts whispering in my, my wife's ear, like, when can we go to a school like this? And so then of course my wife picks up full speed. you know, and she's having a blast at my expense with saying, Hey Joe, can, you know, can, can Brian come here and be the JV coach and the, you know, just in a
assistant maintenance guy and she they're having a blast, you know, for 48 hours at my expense. And then all of a sudden, you know, July, coach Bodhane is leaving here to replace a past player mind, Josh Pelletier at UMBC. And now, even though Joe was in, I think Rwanda at the time with South Sudan, you know, the, head of school and the athletic director here, husband, wife, the stones were
layer people so you all of a sudden it became a viable option and the family you know I moved them in two weeks from their lifelong houses so it was an adjustment.
Cory Heitz (13:16)
Wow.
All right. Now you finally got to Canterbury. Now you've been there for, you know, this is your third year. Give us your pitch and tell us about the school. Tell us about your program.
Brian Fruscio (13:26)
Well, I love our program. I love the school. We got here and we felt like, my goodness, know, like these people are so nice. And the joke in our house became, all right, when's that end, right? Honeymoon for you. Like, when's that end? Like, come on. It's the same. Like, there's just such kind people at Canterbury and they take their position as dorm parents.
and as faculty members and as community members, really serious. And the kindness, if you're going to send your child to Canterbury, whether they're basketball or whatever, they are going to be looked after and they are going to be cared for and their advisors are going to be involved. And we go to the hospitals with the kids who need x-rays for sprained ankles. And not that everyone doesn't, I'm not saying people don't, but it might not just be the nurse, right? It might be your dorm parent or it might be all those people.
that are part of your life here that truly care about you. that's, I have found all the schools in New England are great, like they're great. And they got great buildings, they're beautiful, great people, dedicated educators, it's a vocation. But I just find our kindness is special here at Canterbury. Like we really truly care about the whole person. And then that goes into our basketball program.
and our pillars and gratitude and joyfulness and grit and selflessness. then we try to bring that out on campus so when they're talking to a dining hall staff, they're saying thank you and they're doing all the things and they're not walking past a piece of paper without picking it up. They're just sort of being somebody significant on our campus.
Cory Heitz (15:13)
Yeah, love it. Love it. Now, let me give me a scenario here. Let's say a parent of a 10th grader reaches out to you, right? And they want to come to your school and they don't know whether they want to reclass or not because to a lot of kids that, you know, and parents that don't know how the prep school world works and transferring, they see reclass as like a step back and having to repeat classes and whatnot. So what is your take? Like, do you suggest kids reclass or do they have the option at Canterbury to do 11th and 12th and then post-grad?
And do you care which one they do? Like, what's your explanation on that to families?
Brian Fruscio (15:46)
Well, they can't graduate from here and then post-grad, so that's not an option. So what I would say if they're in limbo, I would say come in as a 10th grader, or 11th grader, say, in that case. And then in the first couple months, they've got to sort of make a decision. Now, they could decide to reclass before graduation. So they could do...
Cory Heitz (15:50)
Okay.
Brian Fruscio (16:08)
to 11th grades, we have enough electives and everything. My son did that actually. My son came here as an 11th grader, he separated his shoulder, torn labrum. And so he did two junior years and a senior year here because he wanted those two years of football. So it can happen that way. So if they're dipping their toe, which I'm not thrilled with, but like I like people who go to the end of the pool and jump in.
But if they're dipping their toe, there are options here. And of course, as you well know, and everybody listening knows, the level of talent creates the level of opportunities in different scenarios. So if we have a real, real good one and a real, real tall one, we always say higher education. The higher they are, the more we want to educate them. if he's a big, soft...
And he's talented academically and we feel he can really add to our community because we do listen. We want to coach good kids. want. We want low maintenance at its height. We want no maintenance if possible and the better the player, the more it gets to low maintenance than no maintenance. So you know, and that's what college coaches want. So it's not like we're following a formula. We're saying something to somebody.
that isn't going to translate. Well, of course we understand maturity, but you know, we definitely want young guys. I love the young also. have guys, Jerry Strand is going to play for us for three years now and David Dix for two or three and Andre Oash for two. And the difference of them in practice right now in comparison to, you know, a PG or a repeat junior is entirely different. So that's a
Cory Heitz (17:53)
Well.
Brian Fruscio (17:54)
That's not
my model, that's a Blair model. Joe always said, fill in with some PGs, really those reclass softs and reclass juniors are the key to your success as a school and as a team.
Cory Heitz (18:09)
Yeah, and then do you guys have one team or multiple teams?
Brian Fruscio (18:13)
We have one team on the varsity level, which is we have 15 guys. would say we have 10 basketball first guys, and then we have five basketball second or third guys. You know, we have a golf first, we have a football first, we have a lacrosse first. You know, so those are sort of our, you know, fill in our roster, help us get better. Talented athletes, committed. So.
really helps us, but yeah, one team. Then we do have a JV, which is now becoming a little bit more for the freshmen and softs as a, know, we have three guys right now that were on the JV that are on the varsity roster. So, you know, we, it can be a way for, for a young guy to, to come in. They can practice with us a little bit too, and then go down and play JV games. think it's real important that freshmen and softs.
get on the court and when you're talking to 19, 20 year olds, it's really hard for a 14, 15 year old to compete. It's just one of those things. So not to say we can't, a young guy couldn't. Donovan Mitchell did when he was here for the first two years of his prep school experience. But again, we're talking about one guy and I wasn't even here then. So it doesn't normally happen.
Cory Heitz (19:38)
Gotcha. And then what's your strategy, Brian, with placing kids in college? Like, let's say a kid commits to you in March. When do you start talking to the family about what the goals are? When do you start reaching out to coaches? Walk me through your process.
Brian Fruscio (19:52)
So right away, think that's why they're making the decision. And then June is the first big opportunity. We're gonna play eight games in that June live period. And I think that's where we need to let everyone know where we're gonna be and where that young guy is and get eyeballs on them. And at that point, and we talk about all the time, there is some pressure, right? Because if you play-
Awful then you're exposed and if you play great then you get exposure So it's a it's a it's one of those things where we have those conversations with the guys that they have to you know Not only it's great that we're contacting all these teams But now you have to go out and produce like you have to you have to have a high motor you have to rebound the basketball You have to keep someone in front of you, you know You know, and I'll always kid around that you notice I haven't talked about scoring yet. Like you have to like compete
Right? So I think this generation in general thinks that playing hard equals competing and it doesn't. It's just that's the playing hard. It's a price of admission. Like competing is the separator. Right? If you, you know, knock that guy back when you before you go and rebound it and you're, you know, it's a Tom is a rebound. Like, well, that might catch someone's attention. Like if you're, you know, diving on a loose ball or
Cory Heitz (20:55)
Right.
Brian Fruscio (21:15)
sacrificing your chest and taking a charge. Like, you know, people think, I hit five threes in a row. That catches someone's eye. Yes, it might. But I tell you what, that taking that sacrifice of your body in a June showcase and taking a charge in the chest is that might that that also might get someone's attention or that loose ball that, you know, it's a might not even be a 50-50 ball. Might be an 80-20 against and you lay out and you get it like
Now all of a sudden they're looking for your number and your name because you know how hard you're competing, not just playing.
Cory Heitz (21:51)
I love that you say that Brian, because most kids in this generation are always worried about the points, like you just mentioned, but there's what nine, 10 other things you can do on the court to affect the game and help your team that college coaches are looking at. And I actually went to an event with a, you know, set with a former D one head coach and he was watching very intently with the warmup lines at an AU event. And I said, what, why aren't, what are you doing? He goes, well, some, sometimes these kids don't get a good open shot during a game. So I want to see their form.
And I want to see their athleticism. I want to see if they can slam it. I'm to see how they take off their footwork. So you're always being watched. And I tell kids like, just be paranoid. Like just pretend every time you're playing, there's a little closed caption camera in the corner of the gym and that camera. Yeah. It's a tremendous job at going to your dream schools, coach's desk where he can always tune in to see what you're doing, how hard you're going, what kind of character you've got. So I love that you, you emphasize that with your team because more people need to say it, that it's more than just scoring.
Brian Fruscio (22:33)
It's the tumor cell.
Cory Heitz (22:49)
Thank you for doing.
Brian Fruscio (22:50)
no, no, it's because again, you can't you can't win yet. And again, God, you're going to go as a freshman and then you're going, you know, every day is game day except game day, right? You're not going to play a bunch. So like, you know, you better be ready every day for practice, trying to take somebody's minutes and then grow your role. Like, so like no one talks to kids about how to grow your role. Like you're not playing any minutes. How are you going to get two minutes? Then how are you going to grow your role to five minutes?
Cory Heitz (22:52)
It's the truth!
Yeah.
Brian Fruscio (23:17)
And you know what? It comes down to garden somebody. comes down to, you know, diving on a loose ball. It comes down to, you know, executing what the coach just said when you're standing at the end of the line. Like, you know, listen, coaches will say stuff and they like guys who execute what they say. So listen, right? So you need to be a listener, you know, as you go into college and you want to build trust with that coach, then execute what he says. And then all of a sudden.
Cory Heitz (23:34)
Yeah.
Brian Fruscio (23:45)
you know, he's going to like you. Like he's going to say, wow, I like that kid. Every time I tell him that, you know, we, tell the group, need to make sure they get a backside rebound. He never misses. And every time I tell them to, you know, our, our team to be in help, we got starters who don't get in help, but that kid's always in help. Right? So how do you grow your role? How do you get your name into the meetings? Like a lot of kids don't know that college coaches meet, you know, the staffs meet once a day or twice a day.
Cory Heitz (24:13)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Brian Fruscio (24:14)
How do you
get your name in a meeting? How do you do it at such a high level that GA or that last assistant brings your name up? How about the GA that says, do you know that Joey took 1,000 shots yesterday? How are you getting your name in that?
Cory Heitz (24:32)
Love it. Now, the kids get to campus, they do open gyms in the fall, but at Canterbury are kids required to play other sports or do other events besides basketball?
Brian Fruscio (24:42)
Yes, but most of our guys, the full sport is strength training conditioning, right? So our guys get bigger physically. They get in shape. I'm thrilled. I just sent a big email to our strength conditioning coaches, thanking them. well again, gratitude's our North star. So thanking them for, having our guys in shape and just doing all that they could do. Guys look better, bigger.
You know, they talk nutrition, they talk hydration, they talk all the things they're going to hear when they get to the next levels. So, you know, that's, we're very fortunate. Yes, you have to play multiple sports. So a lot of our guys will, that's the fall sport or it's considered an activity actually. And then they'll do basketball. And then the spring seniors usually do track, you know, because they're done with their careers and they don't have AAU.
And I find that our, our juniors that are traveling, they will be managers for maybe a JV team that doesn't play a bunch on the weekends, or they will, do the track and have a open and honest and transparent conversation with the track coach that here's where I can be with us, you with you and here's where I can't be. And so that's where, you know, I find.
we are able to navigate and our school is able to navigate because we are only 350 students. you know, multiple sport athletes are important as they are in our basketball program. Filling in those, you know, if someone, one of our basketball guys tweaks an ankle, we're relying on a lacrosse guy, right? So we're relying on, you know, a football guy. So those multiple sport athletes are important. So that's, that's sort of how it would play out for a basketball player here.
for playing two sports and an activity.
Cory Heitz (26:38)
Gotcha. And a lot of the questions that come up from my clients are, how much time can Billy or Johnny get in the gym? Because a lot of my clients are gym rats. tell me about the access kids can have to your gym. Like, when do they have access to the weight room? Do you have a gun? Walk me through that, because there seems to be an arms race now, Brian, of how many hours kids can get into the gym. And I'm always a quality over quantity guy, but I'd love to hear your take on this.
Brian Fruscio (27:07)
We have a 6 a.m. group that comes in, security lets them in, they have access. Our players' names are with security, so they have access anytime they have free time. If I'm on campus, which I do live on campus, I'll come over, open it. My assistant coach, Justin Feliz, he'll open it so our guys have access early morning and then any break in class if they have a double free.
They can get over and get a couple hundred shots on our gun so they can get here. The weight room is open 6 a.m. till 8 p.m. when study hall starts so they can they can have access all year round to the gym, the weight training facility, and our guns. So they you know they
And a lot of guys also like even in season because I tell them they got, you know, we do just so many free throws, but they got to spend time doing their free throws. They got to spend time, you know, getting their shots. The reason they're so sharp when the season starts is because they are putting that extra time in and they are getting their own shots on their time. So what our guys usually do, we get done with practice about five 45. They get over, they have dinner and you know, six to six 30.
And then they don't have to check in the dorm until 7 45. So a lot of guys use that hour to come back to the gym after practice and get extra shots. And then the seniors free up. have Tuesday nights now and Friday nights where they don't have to check in until 10 o'clock. So the seniors do have senior privileges already just Tuesday, Friday, and that'll open up once we come back.
from Christmas break to probably four nights a week they'll have open access to and they can get in the gym any of those times any of those full access almost The only difference between us and the college is they don't have a key card to get in someone has to let them in so You know and they can find that at all times
Cory Heitz (29:05)
Gotcha.
Alright, you mentioned you have a couple post-grads a year and walk me through what the academic requirements are for a post-grad.
Brian Fruscio (29:16)
Well, it really comes down to their goals too. you know, if it's a, if it's someone that's coming that wants an Ivy or a Patriot or a high academic, you know, they're going to take, you know, still take the supas of Syracuse university project advance, or they're going to take the APs. But yeah, we usually want to see, I mean, yeah, we're, we're in the three O's and the three fives and the, you know, we want to see students. we want
you know, back to no maintenance. You know, do I think we can help a kid that maybe the help them put a little shine on a not so great transcript? Yes. But what's the value added? Like, is he a great kid? Is he going to be in a bunch of clubs? You know, how is he just a star of a person? Like, what's the value added? Right. So we pay attention, not only the academics.
But you know what, how you act in line, how you act when we're all together in school play, like how you behave when you're walking across campus. So it's not just a academic piece, although we, know, Mr. Delorco does a great job. It's great to have an enrollment director that played college football. He does it, he gets it. And he was an assistant basketball coach at that Blair Academy. So that also helps.
So again, it's one of those pieces where yes, we do have a academic requirement. We're looking for a certain student that can handle our work. We don't want to overwhelm somebody, but we also, we do value people.
Cory Heitz (30:50)
Love it. Now, a big thing a lot of my clients are wanting are the opportunity to play in the Ivy Leagues or a high academic D3. And some families are worried about like, we got to go to this school because this school has sent so many kids to that level before. This school has too. This school has got a name brand name. What's your opinion on that? Like, do you need to go to one of these places that have sent a lot more kids to these academic schools?
Do you need to go to one of those to get to one of these college programs or does it matter in your opinion?
Brian Fruscio (31:21)
Yes, I mean, I think it does help. T.I. is the greatest, so Andover helps. I was in Germany as an assistant coach for Joe at the Albert Schweitzer games with T.I. So we go way back. one of the baseball coach in Andover, I was actually his R.A. at St. Rose. So, you know, we go way, way back. So, yes, mean, Andover, Exeter.
That's great. But listen, I had two Ivy league captains from Albany Academy too. So, you know, August Mahoney was a captain at Yale on last year's team. And the year before that, Marcus Filling was a captain at Cornell and he's now the director of basketball ops at, at William & Mary for, for coach Earl. So, yes, it does play a role, I guess, as you're putting your, your pros and cons on a piece of paper.
But if you're good enough, James Jones will come knocking. Tommy Amaker will come knocking. So you know what it has? It's almost like that youth basketball. It's politics. No, it's not politics. The best players play and most times it is the coach's son that's pretty decent. And so it's not, it's not politics.
James does not pay attention to that level of basketball politics. If you're good enough to help them beat Auburn, you get an invitation. So again, let's just be good enough and not worry about what school, you know, we go to, where can, where's our fit, right? So I talked to all our families, even my office is on the admissions trail. So I step out with hockey players with.
you know, squash players with field hockey players and talk to their parents. really it's two things I always make sure I say to the kids is this is the time to be really honest with your family. Don't, don't try to read the room. Like you found your fit. You found the place you like. Don't give into your parents pressure on where they want you to go. Cause you have to live it. They don't have to live it. They have to pay for it, but they don't have to live it. And,
You know, so that's a huge, huge part is finding your fit. And then we also, you know, talk about like how many teams there are, you know, are you going to get opportunity? What does opportunity look like? You know, for us, you're a PG Jackson O'Brien, perfect example. He's a PG. He comes out and lays three consecutive eggs in games. Guess what? He's starting game four, right? So he's not being moved. He's like, I, it's his one chance. He's on a one way street.
He's trying to have these colleges look like we gotta get, he's really, really good and he's good enough. He just had some couple of tough games to maybe tough matchups, who knows? But we're going back to him like he's not getting buried and waving a towel the rest of the year. He's someone we're gonna rely on all year. So that's the other piece is where is your fit and what is your opportunity?
Cory Heitz (34:04)
Right.
Brian Fruscio (34:32)
That's the things that I feel that these young guys really need to focus in on.
Cory Heitz (34:37)
Love it. Thanks for sharing that. The NepSec class system, right? You've got all different classes. When families reach out, they don't know how this, the class systems work and I got to educate them. And I know you've got to educate folks a lot, but does it matter what what class a kid plays in when they come in NepSec?
Brian Fruscio (34:54)
I would say for the elite of the elite, yes, you yes. Yeah. You want to be at Brewster, right? You want to be, yeah, yeah, I get that. But after that, no, no, I don't. I mean, we would be, we would be a double A, right? We were class B and I feel like our administration, you know, knows how, you know, good having a good basketball team is. I feel we would be a double A. We can't travel on Wednesday and Saturdays to Northern.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire. there's, we have Cheshire. What are we going to play 15 games against Cheshire? You know, to get back for dinner, to not miss lunch and get back for dinner. Like there's just not enough double A's in this neck of the woods for us to be a double A. So you know what? So then they go by enrollment. So guess what? We're a B. And you know what? We got really good players.
And Rivers is amazing and Millbrook made sure we got, you know, early tee time in the spring. And, you know, there's good teams with Division 1 players on almost every team we play against. There's a Division 1 recruit. There's high level college basketball players. There's really good coaching. Like you are no longer playing checkers. You better show up to play chess.
Because if you don't, you're in trouble, right? So that's the key to this whole experience.
Cory Heitz (36:23)
Interesting, okay. What do you see as the future of prep school basketball? Like five years from now, what do you think's gonna happen?
Brian Fruscio (36:30)
I think we'll start getting a lot of younger guys. I'm getting calls from people all the time, you know, on the prep thing because they're seeing it work for so many kids that now they feel like they can't be a high school player. So why not be a hybrid? I call it a hybrid. Because again, we're getting guys that are 19, so they would have completed their freshman year. So are they a college freshman that is going in the portal and then you get them for four years?
Right? that's the piece where I find it's sort of like, prep school is going to be that hybrid model of high school and freshman in college model that I feel really helps, you know, with the portal. Thank God we don't have the COVID year anymore, but like, that was the bubble whammy. So now all of sudden, you know, I feel it helps. It helps kids and it helps.
Cory Heitz (37:17)
Right.
Brian Fruscio (37:24)
Because you get, listen, kids are in a time during high school where they gotta decide whether they like this or they love it. Because once you're getting barked at and you're getting demanded and someone is supposedly taking the fun out of it, then you're deciding if you love basketball or if you like basketball, right? So.
Our analogy this past week was we have a lot of guys who maybe you know, we're at the algebra or geometry level of basketball IQ and now all of a sudden they're in a calc You know BC class and not only is that but now the teacher is over their shoulder for two hour tests a day Yelling at them demanding them complimenting them and like their heads are spinning
Right? So why not do that now instead of, you know, two or three years from now or next year? You know, so sometimes if you have a demanding high school coach and it can be football, I'm I'm believing, I'm not saying I'm the end all be all. It's, so many great coaches out there. So, you know, it could be baseball, but that's the toughest class at your school. Cause you, you, two hour test every day.
Cory Heitz (38:42)
you
Brian Fruscio (38:49)
with someone over your desk crushing you for the two hours, demanding of you, having standards for you, and you're running and you can't breathe and your legs are shaking and your chest is compressing. Tough class, that's a tough class. So you find out really, really quick if you like it or you love it. And if you want to continue that for four years of college when it amps up.
Cory Heitz (39:16)
Yeah. And you know what? But once a year, I've got a client that goes to prep school for a post-grad year and they decide, you know what? I'm just going to go to a college to be a student because they realize it's about once a year. And I'm happy when that happens, Brian, because they're not going to pick a school based on something they don't love, right? They're actually going to pick a place that they're going to enjoy their experience, play club ball. So to me, that's a good thing when that happens too, because they realize I don't want to take this test every day for four years. Right.
Brian Fruscio (39:23)
I'm sorry.
No, listen,
that's not a good test unless you love it. And then it's just like, because again, even when we say, know, joyfulness as one of our pillars, People hear that, they say, I love joy, right? this is great. No, joyfulness is like the burning in your legs when you're in stance, the compression of your chest and the contact.
and the diving on loose balls and the competing and your teammates picking you up and just loving to compete and that's such brings such joy to you. It's not silly, right? So like people hear joy, they think silly laughter, you know, they think of that as being joy. No, it's like accomplishing a goal and feeling that joy and you know, going through the process of feeling that joy. So.
We have to explain our joyfulness because it can be tricky because kids hear silliness and laughter and then all of sudden they say, what train, the 7 train just ran me over. So we explain the joyfulness piece.
Cory Heitz (40:46)
Brian, what's it take to play at the D1 level of your guard?
Brian Fruscio (40:49)
Your guard, got to be able to, you have to be able to, of course, handle the ball that no one's going to recruit you if you can't get to where you need to get to. You have to make everybody better. You have to be a, think you're a pass first guy, but I think you can't be predictable, right? So you can be a pass first guy and some guys take it to that next level and then they become predictable.
Ray John Rondo comes to mind in that he was so good with his pass fakes that he would get eight points on layups, you know, because he was never predictable, but he was passed first, right? So, and so I think that is so key. Being able to make an open shot is helpful, but I think if you just play so hard and you can handle the basketball and you can make your team better.
And again, you gotta be able to be a backup guard before you're a starting guard and grow your role and know what that takes. And you gotta make shots. Some of these two guards, you gotta be shooting 40%. You have to be a maker, not a taker. You can't be starting the other team's fast break 70 % of the time because then you're not helping. So you really gotta work on your...
what we like to call your game. Your game shot has to be at a speed where you're shooting at the gun. can't be, you can't be hurried up, right? You have to understand what your game speed is in order to make the 70 % of shots you're making on the gun, right? Well, you know, why are you shooting 70 on the gun and 30 in games? Well, because they're speeding you up and
You know, you're not accounting for that. And now you're taking a bad shot because they're speeding you up. So you got to find what shots you can take at your speed that has you making the 70 % on the gun. That's, that's the things we talk about with our guys. So it's the first time, you know, they're hearing, I'll never tell a kid he can't shoot. I'm going to tell him what shots he might like to shoot. but I'm never going to tell him he can't shoot. Of course we want you to shoot open shots.
Just know who you are, know how you add to us. Because if you're taking it for you and not for us, then that usually doesn't sit well with us or with your next team and your college coach.
Cory Heitz (43:14)
Right. Love it. Thanks for sharing that. Last big question here. You coached Andre Jackson at Albany Academy who won a title with the UConn, got drafted in the NBA. What did he possess that got him to the NBA level? Because it is lightning in a bottle. It's very tough to achieve, but you were there with him, saw him in practice, him grow. What did he have that made him special?
Brian Fruscio (43:37)
First of all, this family is absolutely spectacular. The Altieri family is amazing. His dad, Andre Jackson Sr., is a good, good guy. So like when he would go home and probably complain about me, you know, they'd be like, be quiet. Like, you know, we're on this path. And they allowed me to be part of his solutions, which was always great to be part of that.
And so I think that's number one. Number two, he started as a freshman with us. And so Jameer was the power five player. So guess what? Get it off your fingertips. Like, you know what? Turn the ball over. You're coming out. Like, you know what? Give up a backside rebound. You're coming out. Not dive. Don't dive on a loose ball. That's fine. You're coming out. Like, so when he got to Danny, think, you know, and Danny had a, you know, would take him out after a mistake. He, you know,
Okay, that's sort of what happens to you when you're a freshman, right? So like, I think going through that with us was very, very important. And then, you know, playing with August Mahoney and playing with Riley Mulvey, a young big and playing with his brother. You know, just think, and then his senior year, I found he made the really huge, is he stayed at Albany Academy instead of going to like Lalu or going to another, you know, big Nike school. He...
He stayed to play with his brother, so family first, which was great. And then he also, you we talked about like, you got to know how to, you know, be the guy that has to score 26.
and get 14 rebounds like and know that you have to get that every game and the other team trying to stop you. like you have to go through that process. He felt like if you went to one of those other schools, he might've fallen back into a role spot and not being able to take that spotlight. And I think right now in the NBA, now that he's in the starting lineup and now that he's playing more minutes.
being that role player as freshman at Albany Academy really helped him. Like, cause now it's not Hamir Wright, but it's Giannis and Dane, right? So guess what? Don't shoot too much and get the ball off your fingertips and dive on loose balls and rebound and guard the other team's best player and waste your falls on him and not them wasting their falls. And you know, I think his understanding of team and win first was created at Albany Academy. Of course, Danny took it.
Cory Heitz (45:40)
Thank you.
Brian Fruscio (46:03)
like he does everything else to another level. And I think that's Andre Jackson in a bottle and why he will be successful is he's an absolutely amazing person. And we're trying to make sure he keeps his confidence up through some of the ups and downs, but he's already been through it twice. He's been through it in high school and in adjusting. He's been through it at Yukon when Book Night and.
Cory Heitz (46:07)
Thank
Yeah.
Brian Fruscio (46:29)
and Cole and those guys were sort of the go-to guys and he waited his time to sort of elevate himself up. So that's been really, really fun to watch and he stays in touch and we send each other. I try to send him some inspirational stuff I might see and he always responds and he's just an amazing kid.
Cory Heitz (46:53)
Thanks for sharing that Brian. We got a woodpecker beating on my house. So if you hear that in the background, I'm gonna be banging on the walls after this. So note that if you're listening and Brian that that's our friendly, friendly mountain woodpecker. So, all right, quick hitters.
Brian Fruscio (47:02)
you
Probably a referee
after me. It's probably, refereeing is their second life or third life after me. So, well, I'll take the full, full brunt of that.
Cory Heitz (47:15)
There you go.
There you go. All right, I just need to let know there's no worms in our house. right. Quick caters here. Best player you've ever coached against at Albany and then at Canterbury.
Brian Fruscio (47:27)
best player ever coached against RJ Barrett is, was an easy one. I could have picked anyone from that team. I'm awful with, names, but I'm just, you know what the rivers, just all the rivers guys were so good. and Keith does such a great job that, know, they were, you know, and they play so well together. So not only are they talented, but then
They just stick to their strengths. I feel that that team and that group is the most formidable that I've seen in prep school.
Cory Heitz (48:02)
your favorite movie.
Brian Fruscio (48:03)
I'm a godfather guy. Rocky 1 is brilliant in so many ways. So I'm just thinking of all the ones that I rewatch, right? So if in order for it to be your favorite, you got to be willing to rewatch it at any point that you run into it, you have to be ready to rewatch it. Those are two that come to mind that would signify a little Italian American.
Cory Heitz (48:04)
Okay.
All right, and then lastly, are your hobbies when you're not coaching?
Brian Fruscio (48:32)
Yeah, I'm one of those obsessed guys. I enjoy my family. Like, I enjoy my family. And now I use my time now. I follow a lot of different Instagrams. And one guy said, you know, he moved, he lived near his parents and he moved away. And so that's what happened to me. And now my dad turns 80 next week. I try to make sure, you know,
Cory Heitz (48:34)
Okay.
Thank you.
Brian Fruscio (48:58)
get back and see mom and dad. was able to see him. I took for granted I could see him every day and I didn't. I would see him three times a week and now being here in Connecticut, you know, if we only get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas and.
you know, maybe another holiday, like how many more times am I going to see my mom and dad? Right. So I think now that that is the case, I try to get home a little bit more for no apparent reason other than to get the mail from the New York house or, you know, just see them because you don't know how many times you have left when they start to get to a certain age. And so, and I owe everything to them.
Cory Heitz (49:19)
Right.
Brian Fruscio (49:41)
I'm a first-generation college student, so I owe everything to them. And so, you know, that's sort of my hobby now is my family and balancing. You know, my oldest son is assistant for Mike McDonald at Damon now. I'm really proud of him. And he just got engaged last week and I was on the call list, which I appreciate, but I'm not always on the call list when it doesn't involve like...
Cory Heitz (50:05)
you
Brian Fruscio (50:08)
know, money or something. So yeah, he just, so he's, you know, he's at the beginning of his career. I'm on year 35 and he's at the beginning and I'm thrilled he's with a really good guy and Mike McDonald too. Mike's one of the class class people in college basketball and that's not always the case.
Cory Heitz (50:26)
Love it. You know, there's a statistic, I think you spend 90 % of the time with your parents between like birth and 18 years old. And then after that, it's like 10 % or less. So, you know, yes.
Brian Fruscio (50:38)
I try to talk
to my mom mostly every day. She's still the greatest. Her genius is her love for her children. you just try to find whatever person is in your life, just try to find their genius, whatever that is, to cherish that genius.
Cory Heitz (50:56)
Absolutely. Is there anything you want to mention that we didn't touch on this conversation, Brian?
Brian Fruscio (51:01)
No, I'm really for me, I'm thrilled to be on the podcast just because you you've really helped us, you know, all three years just, you know, and now all of a sudden with, you know, some, some of your guys, and it's just, it's so great to just be part of this world. It's new to me. So, you know, just sort of breaking in and year three, you know, I just really appreciate the time. because again,
This is, it's really important to a lot of young people that are coming to prep school basketball and in particular, Canterbury. So we try to get them ready. We try to make them college ready.
Cory Heitz (51:40)
Love it. Brian, thanks so much for coming on and good luck this season. Coach Brian Fruscio from Canterbury School joining us today. And if you liked what you heard, please subscribe to us and all the podcasting platforms, YouTube, and go to prepathletics.com. Learn more about the prep school world and to sign up for our monthly newsletter. Brian, thanks so much for joining us today. Thanks guys. We'll see you next time. Take care.
Brian Fruscio (51:59)
This was great. Thanks so much.