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Assigned Reading: The cautionary tale of La Jolla Prep

trousdale

La Jolla Light

Over the years prep schools have become an attractive option for many players who hope to earn a college scholarship. Whether it’s to improve their academic standing or to play with and against some of the most talented prep players in the country, these schools have grown in popularity.

But with this comes the risk of landing at a prep school that won’t prepare the player for the next level. This can lead to academic ineligibility at the college level or even derail a player’s growth to the point where a Division I scholarship isn’t possible. Therefore, athletes and their families need to leave no stone unturned when evaluating the possibility of attending a prep school.

In Sunday’s San Diego Union-Tribune, writers Dennis Lin and Stephanie Loh took an in-depth look at La Jolla Prep, and the findings aren’t pretty. According to the story the school, with Gary Trousdale serving as head coach, owes various parties some $56,000 and the problems left many families in a bind that could have derailed the hopes of their children. In the end, the players learned a life lesson they won’t forget anytime soon.

Fresno native Shaq Moore will play at Moorpark College this fall. For him, the experience proved to be a life lesson.

“Basically, he was selling people dreams of scholarship opportunities,” Moore said. “It didn’t really test me beyond my physical limits and my will and (did not) bring me to another step of competition.

“But it strengthened me mentally now that I know I can’t trust a lot of people. It’s a shady world.”


Are all prep schools dealing with issues like these? Absolutely not, but this is certainly a story that needs to be read and discussed within basketball circles.

The entire story can be read here.

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