Basketball Frequently Asked Questions

If I make the team, can I play sports other than basketball at La Salle?

How many guys make the freshman team?

When are practices held?

What is your schedule like?

Do you take any trips or go to any special tournaments?

How many of your players go on to play college basketball?

What is so special about the Philadelphia Catholic League?

What kind of exposure does your program receive?

• If I make the team, can I play sports other than basketball at La Salle ?

Absolutely! The coaching staff encourages our players to play other sports if an athlete has the ability and a passion. While we encourage our players to participate in as much off season training as possible, we believe that participation in other athletic programs can also be a valuable experience. Unfortunately, many schools have taken an “all or nothing” approach toward their athletes, essentially asking their athletes to “specialize” in a particular sport. In other words, you have to choose what sport you want to play, unfortunately, very early in your high school years.

• How many guys make the freshman team?

Typically, we keep between 12 and 15 players on the freshman basketball team.

• When are practices held?

Most of the time, our teams practice after school. The Varsity team rotates practice time with the Freshman/Junior Varsity teams. In other words, if the Varsity practices right after school, the Freshman/JV teams will go to study hall first, then practice after the Varsity. This “down time” after school can be fun, productive, and valuable for our student athletes. Many guys like to grab a snack after school, get extra academic help from a teacher, or just relax a little before practice.

• What is your schedule like?

We believe in playing the most competitive schedule available to us. Because we don't compete in the PIAA, we do not have to worry about rankings or seedings in the district tournament. The only thing that ultimately matters is making our league playoffs and competing for our league championship. Consequently, our schedule last year was extremely ambitious and featured many ranked teams from the area – Episcopal Academy, Germantown Academy , Abington Friends, Archbishop Wood, and St. Joseph's Prep.

• Do you take any trips or go to any special tournaments?

In the 2005-06 season, our team will be taking a trip to Memphis , Tennessee to play in the “Wave Classic” at Christian Brothers High School . Generally speaking, we always go to at least one tournament that allows our team to travel out of the area. We have typically gone to places like New Jersey , Virginia , Washington , D.C. , and Connecticut in past years. The guys really like getting away and experiencing other levels of basketball competition.

• How many of your players go on to play college basketball?

La Salle has had many of its alumni go on to play in college. True, most of La Salle 's recent grads have played at the Division III level. Many college coaches tell us that our players are well prepared for college basketball because they have been taught the fundamentals of the game and have a strong understanding of the physical, emotional, and intellectual demands necessary to succeed at the collegiate level. We are continuing to pursue high caliber student athletes, and one of our primary goals is to help our players continue their educational and athletic experiences at excellent schools across the country. Two of our most recent alumns have been named All-Americans. (See Recent Alumni link.) While it is true that many high school basketball players aspire to play at the “D 1” level, the realitiy suggests that many more go on to have highly successful careers at the Division II and III level. The style of basketball that we play along with the importance that we place in our program in developing fundamentals allows our players to go to whatever level of basketball suits them.

• What is so special about the Philadelphia Catholic League?

The Catholic League is perhaps, one of the most tradition-rich high school basketball leagues in the country. The league is consistently one of the toughest, most competitive leagues in the state if not, the East Coast. The league also encompasses some of the most competitive teams, coaches, and fans in the area. There are always a few of the league schools in the local rankings. If you aspire to be a high school basketball player, it is something, quite simply, that you have to experience!

• What kind of exposure does your program receive?

Because of our affiliation with this prestigious league coupled with the added bonus of being located in the suburbs, but playing in a city league, the media coverage our school and program receives is extensive. We are covered by The Philadelphia Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Montgomery Newspapers, The Ambler Gazzette, Bucks County Courier Times, The Springfield Sun, The Norristown Times Herald , and many other local publications. Additionally, the Catholic League is a hot bed for college coaches of all levels. It is not uncommon to go to one of our games and have coaches from all three competitive levels, I, II, and III, present.

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