Ethan and Steve provide a comprehensive preview of the upcoming 2023-2024 high school basketball season in New England. The episode covers top teams, including Central Catholic, Beverly, and Bridgewater-Raynham, as well as sleeper teams and standout players to watch. The hosts discuss changes within key programs, potential breakout stars, and significant matchups, such as the Commonwealth Motors Classic. Additionally, they touch on statewide coverage expansions and provide updates on new contributors covering various states. The episode concludes with a trivia showdown featuring NCAA tournament schools and their nicknames.

Topics

00:47 Recap of Last Season and Excitement for the New Season

01:44 Changes and New Faces in MIAA Boys Basketball

03:12 Expanding Coverage Across New England

03:51 Introducing New Writers and Coverage Plans

08:46 MIAA Season Preview: Top Teams and Players to Watch

28:34 Lowell's Reloading Strategy

28:58 Top 10 Teams Breakdown

29:16 Burlington's Rising Stars

31:03 Springfield Central's Talent Pool

33:27 Newton North's New Era

34:18 Winchester's Key Players

35:23 Conference Highlights

36:25 Sleeper Teams to Watch

41:08 Promising Players to Follow

45:49 NCAA Tournament Trivia

50:23 Final Thoughts and Season Excitement

Ethan Fuller and guest host Trevor Hass provide an in-depth preview of the upcoming basketball season in New England. They discuss top teams and players to watch in the MIAA across all divisions, share their all-time favorite players that they've covered, and reflect on memorable state championship games. The episode also includes fun trivia about basketball in movies and TV. Tune in for a comprehensive look at the basketball scene in New England, complete with rankings and expert analysis.

Topics 01:04 Viral Moment Recap: What's Up, Trevor? 03:06 MIAA Girls Basketball Season Preview 05:04 Top Teams and Players to Watch 10:35 Division 1 Contenders 17:29 Division 2 Powerhouses 23:06 Division 3 Breakdown 27:14 Division 4 and 5 Highlights 28:27 Spotlight on Top Players 29:25 Patriot League Excitement 30:02 Shoutouts to Standout Players 31:36 Team Rankings Breakdown 33:39 Reflecting on All-Time Greats 43:16 Full-Court Press Trivia 48:13 Season Preview and Wrap-Up

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller preview the upcoming girls New England prep school basketball season. They reflect on their first year covering the sport and discuss the refined strategies they're bringing into year two. The episode covers in-depth analysis and championship predictions for the NEPSAC girls' teams across different classes (AAA, AA, A, B Large, B Small, and C). Additionally, the episode features a trivia showdown between the hosts to wrap things up.

Topics

00:26 Reflecting on the Past Year

00:55 Previewing the Girls' Basketball Season

01:33 Insights on Team and Player Development

08:31 Class AAA Teams to Watch

09:42 Tilton: The Defending Champions

15:58 New Hampton: A Strong Contender

19:30 Other Notable AAA Teams

24:13 Class AA Overview

26:53 The Overachievers

29:33 Worcester Academy's Underrated Potential

30:17 Austin Prep: Rising Contender

32:40 Class A Championship Predictions

36:54 Class B Large and Small Breakdown

42:00 Class C Championship Pick

46:18 Full Court Press Trivia Showdown

53:47 Closing Remarks and Season Excitement

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller are joined by Brad Feldman to delve into a comprehensive preview of NEPSAC basketball. The conversation covers key prospects, teams and potential champions across various divisions, including AAA, AA, A, B Large, B Small and C. Highlighting standout schools like Newman, St. Thomas More, Cushing and Milton Academy, the hosts and guest provide insights on players to watch, sleeper picks and breakout stars for the upcoming season. The episode is packed with detailed analysis, predictions and stories from the basketball landscape in New England.

Topics

00:27 Special Guest: Brad Felman

00:39 Prep Boys Preview Show

00:54 Brad's Busy Fall and Open Gyms

02:08 Local Food Recommendations

03:37 Class AAA Basketball Preview

04:17 Newman School's Dominance

07:34 St. Thomas More and Other Contenders

08:48 Darrow School's Rising Talent

09:28 Vermont Academy and Other Teams to Watch

17:01 Putnam Science Academy's Strong Start

20:17 Class AA Basketball Preview

29:58 Electric Performance and Potential

30:16 St. George's and ISL Champs Discussion

31:46 Cushing Academy's Depth and Potential

33:08 Class A Championship Contenders

44:05 Class B Large and Small Teams

51:25 Sleepers and Breakout Players

55:52 Excitement for the Upcoming Season

Steve and Ethan welcome Lindsay Miller, newly appointed head coach at Needham High School. Lindsay discusses her background as a player from Westwood High School with multiple records, her playing days at Harvard, and her coaching experiences at Harvard and Rivers. She delves into her work as a certified mental performance consultant, focusing on how she helps athletes, coaches, and teams maximize performance and manage anxiety. Lindsay shares insights on the importance of positive self-talk, mindfulness practices, and the impact of community in sports. The conversation also covers her thoughts on intentional fouling and flopping in basketball. The episode concludes with a fun segment discussing rules with producer David Yas.

Topics

00:27 Introducing Lindsay Miller: New Head Coach at Needham

01:38 Mental Performance Consulting Explained

04:16 Common Stressors Among Young Athletes

05:41 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes

08:19 Differences in Mental Health Between Male and Female Athletes

13:11 Mindfulness and Mental Exercises for Athletes

20:24 Lindsay Miller's Return to Coaching at Needham

24:56 Lindsay Miller's Unique Career Path

26:22 Lessons from Harvard Coach Kathy Delaney Smith

27:54 The Legacy of Kathy Delaney-Smith

30:43 Harvard's Tournament Run and Coaching Rivalries

32:11 Memorable Players and Toughest Matchups

34:12 Full Court Press: Basketball Rules and Strategies

46:36 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Ethan Fuller and Steve Hewitt sit down with John Carroll, the sporting director for basketball at Masters Academy International (MAI). The conversation delves into Carroll's role in creating a top-tier sports academy poised to be the 'IMG Academy of the North,' which is set to launch in fall 2026. They explore the vision for MAI, discuss its potential impact on the New England basketball landscape, and compare it with existing academies like IMG. Carroll shares insights into his dual roles at Newman School and MAI, and the challenges and opportunities they present. The episode also touches on Carroll's scouting experience with the WNBA's LA Sparks and his thoughts on fostering athletic excellence.

Topics

00:29 Introducing John Carroll and Masters Academy International

01:31 The Vision and Development of Masters Academy

02:32 Challenges and Opportunities in New England Basketball

04:59 The Impact of Masters Academy on Local Talent

15:28 Current Progress and Future Plans for MAI

17:41 Basketball Program Structure and Recruitment

29:33 Balancing Roles at Newman and Masters Academy

32:48 Reflecting on Career Transitions

33:12 Embracing New Opportunities

33:44 Exciting Roles and Experiences

34:54 Newman Basketball Team Insights

35:25 Building a Winning Culture

39:27 Challenges and Changes in Prep School Sports

41:30 Future of Prep School Athletics

45:48 Full Court Press: Basketball Icons and Moments

57:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

Ethan sits down with Clinton Lassiter, the all-time winningest coach in Massachusetts high school basketball history. With co-host Steve Hewitt absent, Fuller explores Lassiter's unique approach to coaching, balancing competitive excellence with genuine care for his players, many of whom face significant personal challenges. Lassiter, who serves as the vice principal and head coach at Cathedral High School, shares his commitment to maintaining a winning culture, navigating obstacles, and providing low-cost opportunities for inner-city youth through his AAU program, the Boston Showstoppers. The discussion also touches on the growth of women's basketball, the importance of role models, and the intrinsic relationship between sports and life skills.

Topics

00:29 Meet Clinton Lassiter

00:51 Coach Lassiter's Fashion and Coaching Philosophy

02:40 Balancing Coaching and Personal Life

03:39 Building a Winning Culture

09:35 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching Inner City Girls

22:32 Overcoming Stereotypes and Representing Boston

30:56 The Importance of Low-Cost Opportunities in Basketball

33:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Steve Hewitt and Ethan Fuller provide an in-depth look at the latest trends and updates in New England basketball recruiting. They discuss recent player commitments, notable prospects in the 2026 class, and the increasing impact of revenue sharing on mid-major schools' recruiting capabilities. Both Steve and Ethan share insights from recent visits to open gyms and the New England Recruiting Report showcases. Additionally, they play an NBA trivia game, highlighting the lighter side of their basketball discussions.

Topics

00:20 Hosts Catch Up and Episode Overview

00:44 Recruiting and Commitment Updates

01:40 Fantasy Football Banter

02:14 Boys' Basketball Commitments

05:03 Girls' Basketball Commitments

14:08 Impact of NIL and Revenue Sharing

29:59 Upcoming Prospects to Watch

33:51 Top High School Basketball Prospects

35:21 Rising Stars in Girls' Basketball

38:34 Upcoming Talent to Watch

39:51 Exciting Open Gym Visits

42:51 Spotlight on Chance Finlayson

50:18 NBA Trivia Challenge

56:42 Wrapping Up and Future Plans