Playing at Prep School + For Your Hall of Fame Father, Coach John Calipari at UK feat. Brad Calipari
Channel: PREP Athletics
Date: 2022-09-19

On this episode we welcome Coach Brad Calipari.  I have known Brad since I coached him at the Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington Ky.  He went from there to play at MacDuffie which is a New England prep school.  From here he played for his father, Hall of Fame coach, John Calipari at the University of Kentucky. He then transferred to play at Detroit Mercy.  After graduation he was an assistant coach at UK with his father before taking a job as an assistant under Coach Rod Strickland at LIU Brooklyn.  In this episode we talk about Brad’s decision to transfer to a prep school, playing under his father at UK, guarding eventual NBA pros in practice everyday, coaching, and much more.  It was good to connect with Brad again and hear his unique journey.  

What You Will Learn:
[1:56] Why was prep school right for Brad?
[2:45] Why Brad choose The MacDuffie School?
[3:55] How did MacDuffie prepare Brad for playing at the D1 level?
[4:51] How do you compare the IQ of NEPSAC players to Kentucky high school players?
[5:47] Best part about playing at University of Kentucky?
[7:07] How did your Kentucky teammates get to the high level?  Was it natural talent or did they do it on their own?
[8:16] What NBA advice did your father John Calipari give to players?
[9:49] The most challenging part about playing at University of Kentucky.
[10:55] Best part about playing on your father’s team?
[13:36] Why Brad transferred from University of Kentucky to Detroit Mercy.
[13:40] Biggest difference playing at Detroit Mercy.
[15:28] Career high at University of Kentucky and Detroit Mercy.
[15:51] Life on the court as part of the coaching staff at the University of Kentucky.
[17:05] Transitioning from coaching at the University of Kentucky to LIU Brooklyn
[17:49] Pitch for LIU Brooklyn.
[19:46] How LIU Brooklyn approaches NIL deals for players.
[21:09] Dynamics of NIL deals in the locker room.
[24:25] Picking a player from public school vs prep school.
[25:53] Ultimate goal in coaching.
[27:13] Best win of career as player.
[28:25] Best player played against?
[30:04] Favorite Movie
[30:20] Hobbies

Connect w/ Brad:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/brad.calipari/
Website | https://www.liuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/staff/brad-calipari/65

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

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About Me
Cory Heitz is the Founder and President of PREP Athletics. He has been helping place players into the right fitting prep schools since 2008. Cory completed a post grad year himself before playing in a D1 basketball program, so he knows the pressures that players and families face when trying to get to the collegiate level. That’s why he started this podcast, which is to share his wealth of information to those looking to reach their college basketball goals.