The Prep Connection

Over the coming weeks and months, we will begin to highlight coaches from around New England as we spotlight not only their coaching acumen but also a little bit about their schools. First up is Joe Busacca, the Head Coach of Boy’s Basketball and Associate Director of Athletics at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. Founded in 1891, the School provides an education of academic distinction to roughly 600 students in grades 9 through 12, and to a small number of postgraduates. Students at Hotchkiss come from across the United States and around the world. Graduates attend many of the most selective universities and colleges. Joe has been a Head Coach an Assistant Coach at the High Academic Division III level before joining The Hotchkiss campus in the Fall of 2022. Hotchkiss competes in the Founders League, the Tri-State League, as well as the Class A Level of NEPSAC. In recent history the team has captured the Tri-State league title 7 times in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019 and 2022, as well as the Founders League title in 2008, 2009, 2019 and 2022. Last winter, the team captured the program's second-ever Class A NEPSAC Championship, en route to an overall 23-4 record. Joe takes pride in developing his players every single day, both on and off the court. He uses the phrase "BBTY" with his program, which is an acronym for  "Be Better Than Yesterday." Coach Busacca wants his athletes to have a forward way of thinking, to let go of yesterday and champion the moments they have in front of them ➡️ Swipe through and follow Coach Busacca to learn more about one of the amazing coaches we're proud to know and work with! 👉 Follow us for weekly insider access to top prep programs, or DM us today to discuss your athlete’s goals. #ThePrepConnection #NEPSACChampionship #NEPSAC #HeadCoach #StudentAthleteSuccess

People ask me why I do this work. The honest answer is that I know what it feels like to be on the other side of it. I was a student-athlete navigating the prep school world without a roadmap. I figured it out, but I also watched talented kids around me not figure it out. Not because they weren't good enough. Because nobody in their corner knew how the process worked. After nearly a decade long coaching career and almost twenty years later from my prep school graduation, I've built the network, the relationships, and the system that those kids needed and didn't have. And every family I work with, whether their athlete is a freshman just starting to think about this or a senior trying to make something happen in the next thirty days, they all get the same thing: Access to the rooms that used to be closed to them. That's the whole job. And I love every part of it. #ThePrepConnection #FounderStory #PrepSchoolBasketball #BasketballParents #NEPSAC #StudentAthlete #PrepSchoolPlacement #WhyIDoThis

A nice write up on ‘27 G, Marchello Rubino of @WMA_Basketball from the @NERRHoops New England Open Gym this past weekend. Best of luck to Marchello and WMA this season! #ThePrepConnection

I've worked with athletes who came to me as raw, underexposed freshmen and left for college four years later with a D1 scholarship and a prep school diploma. I've also worked with seniors who came to me with two weeks before the deadline and we found a way to make something happen. Every situation is different. Every timeline is different. What doesn't change is this: when a family has access to the right network, the right information, and an honest guide through the process , the outcomes are different. That's what The Prep Connection is built to provide. Not miracles. Not guarantees. Real access, real conversations, and a straight picture of what's possible for your athlete specifically. 📲 Whatever stage you're at. Let's talk. #ThePrepConnection #PrepSchoolBasketball #StudentAthlete #BasketballParents #NEPSAC #PrepSchoolPlacement #LongGame #HighSchoolBasketball

Here's what October actually looks like inside The Prep Connection. 📞 Calls with a handful of NEPSAC programs to chat through their roster needs for the 2027-2028 school year. 📋 Two new families who reached out this week. One is a senior who wants to explore the postgraduate route and enroll in the 27/28 academic year and one sophomore whose parents want to understand the process before the pressure hits. 🎥 Film review and athletic/academic matching for a junior who we are working with. Strong player, strong grades, zero visibility. The right program changes that picture completely. 📅 Early conversations with families planning for the 2027–2028 cycle. Yes, already. Because the families who plan early are the ones who get options. Two very different timelines. Same level of attention. That's how The Prep Connection works. Whatever stage your family is at, our link is in bio to start the conversation. #ThePrepConnection #BehindTheScenes #PrepSchoolBasketball #NEPSAC #BasketballParents #StudentAthlete #PrepSchoolPlacement #BasketballRecruiting

What grade is your student-athlete in right now? No two families navigate the prep school path the same way, and what works for a student in the middle of high school looks completely different from an athlete heading into their prep program or college. We want to tailor our insights so you get the exact clarity you need for where your family is today. No matter the grade or where your student athlete is in their path, we can find you the right fit both academically and athletically. 👇 Drop your athlete's grade below or in a DM. And if you have a question about what the next step looks like for your specific situation, please ask. #ThePrepConnection #PrepSchoolBasketball #BasketballParents #StudentAthlete #PrepSchoolPlacement #HighSchoolAthletics #PrepSchoolFAQ

🎓 Athlete: Ryder English (’27) 📍 Hometown: St. John's, NL, CAN 🏫 Destination: The Academy of Central Florida “Selecting a prep school for your child can be extremely stressful, Steve and The Prep Connection were there every step of the way, cross-referencing coaches, and schools, looking at the pros and cons, and presenting us with a legitimate path for his future.” Supporting Ryder and his family through this process and watching them land on a clear, legitimate path for his future is what this work is all about. Finding the right fit for your student athlete doesn't have to be a guessing game. Ready to expand your athlete’s opportunities and remove the guesswork? Let's team up: prep-connection.com/contact #ThePrepConnection #TheAcademyofCentralFlorida #PrepSchoolRecruiting #PostGradYear #StudentAthlete

Every athlete’s recruitment path runs on its own timeline but the key to unlocking options is always the same: getting ahead of the process before the gym fills up. A couple weeks/months/years sound like a long time, but in high-level athletic placement, it moves fast. No matter where your athlete is on their journey, starting the strategy early is what creates the smoothest experience and the most potential placement options. Don’t wait until the gym fills up to figure out your athlete’s path. Let’s map out what your student-athletes personal timeline looks like together. We are here to help. #ThePrepConnection #PrepSchool #StudentAthlete #EarlyPlanning #PrepSchoolPlacement

🎓 Athlete: Gavin Marsh (’28) 📍 Hometown: Narragansett, RI 🏫 Destination: Asheville School (NC) “Working with The Prep Connection has been such a positive experience for both my son and I. Steven has worked extremely hard over the past few years, helping us navigate our decision, providing us options and being available anytime for questions or concerns. The care and communication we received was top notch and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. I would highly recommend this service to anyone trying to navigate the difficult landscape of prep school and recruiting. We will forever be grateful!” Supporting Gavin and his family throughout the past few years has been an incredible ride! Asheville is off to a 4-2 start to the season! If you are looking for more options for your student athlete than what you are finding in your own process, connect with us at the link in our bio / prep-connection.com/contact #ThePrepConnection #AshevilleSchool #PrepSchoolRecruiting #PostGradYear #StudentAthlete #NEPSAC

Here is what I know, we’re always working. We’re always making calls. Sometimes that path is a straight line and often times, that path takes different turns. We will help you throughout that entire path to help your student-athlete find the program and school that fits best for them. Either way, you deserve a straight answer. Not a sales pitch. Reach out to me to begin that conversation. Any sport. Any position. We are here to help guide. #ThePrepConnection #PrepSchool #AthleteParents #NEPSAC #StudentAthlete #PrepSchoolPlacement #SportsRecruiting