Steve Turner: Montverde Coach on Transfer Reality

Steve Turner—now Head of Basketball Operations and National Team Head Coach at Montverde Academy—breaks down the modern prep-to-college pathway with zero fluff. After 26 years at Gonzaga College High School, Turner explains why he chose Montverde, how he builds a “we over me” roster for EYBL Scholastic, and why academics still matter for top-50 talents. He gives families straight talk on NIL (what to learn before signing anything), whether high school stars really need agents, and how the transfer portal reshaped recruiting. Turner also shares his parent perspective from his son’s transfer (Northeastern → Old Dominion) and the mindset/mental health guardrails families should prioritize. Plus, a blueprint case study: Blake Harper’s rise from Gonzaga to Howard to Creighton. If you want practical, current guidance on prep school selection, player development, and realistic college placement in 2025–26, this one’s for you. Ready to find the right fit—not the loudest offer? Let’s dig in.  💡Key Topics:  📌 EYBL Scholastic & Montverde’s development pathway (prep school basketball, player development)  📌 NIL, agents, and family education (NIL rules, state differences, risk management)  📌 Transfer portal realities and protecting the college degree (college placement, recruiting strategy)  📌 Mental health as a decision driver (parent perspective, athlete well-being)  📌 Building a “we over me” roster for elite competition (team culture, coachability) 🏀 About Steve Turner:  Steve Turner is Head of Basketball Operations and Head Coach of the National Team at Montverde Academy. A former National Coach of the Year, he spent 26 years at Gonzaga College High School (DC), sending dozens of players to all levels of Division I and professional basketball. At Montverde, Turner leads in EYBL Scholastic while emphasizing academics, culture, and long-term development.  🔗 Connect with Steve Turner:  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mvabasketball/ Website | https://www.coachsteveturner.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/coachsteveturner LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-turner-86629748/ Twitter | https://x.com/MVABasketball Email | steve.turner@montverde.org 🔗 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 🔖 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 Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic