Dan McHale—former D1 head coach at Eastern Kentucky and long-time assistant under Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and Kevin Willard—joins Cory Heitz to pull back the curtain on what college coaches actually look for in recruits. From his start as a student manager at Kentucky during their 1998 national title run, to coaching in the Big East, Big Ten, and Mountain West, Dan’s career is packed with insider knowledge.

In this episode, Dan shares what really matters when trying to land a D1 scholarship, why relationships are everything, and how families should think about prep school, JUCO, and international players in today’s landscape. You’ll hear how recruiting boards work behind closed doors, what qualities walk-ons need to succeed, and why some D2 or D3 paths might be better in the long run.

For families navigating the college basketball journey, this episode delivers blunt, practical advice from someone who has lived it at every level.

💡 KEY TOPICS

📌 How college coaches evaluate recruits behind the scenes
📌 Building and leveraging relationships in basketball recruitment
📌 Truth about walk-ons, transfers, and D1 expectations
📌 Starting a placement company to help kids navigate recruiting
📌 Importance of prep school, JUCO, and academic fit
📌 The role of exposure events in 2025 and beyond

🏀 About Dan McHale:

Dan McHale is a former Division I head coach at Eastern Kentucky University and has served as an assistant at Kentucky, Louisville, Seton Hall, Minnesota, and New Mexico. With over two decades of experience at every level of college basketball, Dan now co-runs Collegiate Recruitment Consultants (CRC), helping student-athletes get placed at D1, D2, D3, and JUCO programs.

🔗 Connect with Dan McHale:

X | https://x.com/CoachMcHale
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dmchale01/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mchale_basketball_academy

🔗 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

In this episode, Cory welcomes Alex Gallagher, head girls basketball coach and longtime faculty member at Nobles and Greenough School, a top-tier prep school in Boston. With 25 years of coaching and mentoring under his belt, Coach Gallagher shares real-world insights for parents, players, and coaches navigating the prep school basketball journey.

You’ll hear his direct take on how youth sports culture has shifted, why love and accountability are cornerstones of his program, and what families need to prioritize when selecting a prep school. He also reveals the hard truths about college placement—including the “D1 or bust” mindset—and explains why culture trumps hype in building lasting success.

Plus, you’ll learn about Shooting Touch, an inspiring nonprofit transforming lives through basketball in both Rwanda and Boston.

This is a must-listen for anyone serious about basketball development, education, and making the right long-term choices.

🎧 Subscribe and hear what really matters in the prep-to-college basketball pipeline.

💡 KEY TOPICS

📌 Coaching with purpose and building a culture of love, care, and service
📌 How prep schools like Nobles handle D1-or-bust mentalities
📌 The impact of the transfer portal and NIL on high school recruitment
📌 Why fit and happiness matter more than basketball hype
📌 A closer look at the 5-day boarding model at Nobles
📌 How Shooting Touch transforms lives through global basketball outreach

🏀 ABOUT COACH ALEX GALLAGHER

Alex Gallagher is the head girls basketball coach at Nobles and Greenough School in Boston, where he’s served for over 25 years as a teacher, coach, and mentor. Known for his integrity, culture-driven leadership, and success on and off the court, Gallagher has developed multiple Gatorade Players of the Year and helped countless athletes find the right collegiate fit. He also serves as a board member for Shooting Touch, a global nonprofit using basketball to impact lives in Rwanda and Boston.

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALEX GALLAGHER

X | https://x.com/NoblesVGBball
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/noblesgvb

X | https://x.com/ShootingTouch

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/noblesrwanda_24/

🔗 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

This week, Cory sits down with Hanno Möttölä—Finland’s first NBA player, University of Utah Hall of Famer, and current assistant coach for the Finnish national team. Hanno’s journey spans from dominating youth basketball in Europe to starring for Utah in the NCAA championship game, breaking into the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, and later shaping European and Finnish basketball as a coach. In this episode, Hanno delivers practical, no-nonsense advice for families navigating the prep school and college basketball pipeline. He breaks down what truly separates future pros: the will and skill to practice, finding the right fit (not just the biggest name), and the importance of honest coaching over empty promises. Hanno also tackles the impact of NIL and transfer rules, why immediate playing time matters more than program prestige, and how European development models differ from the U.S. system.

💡Key Topics:

📌 What separates future NBA players: skill, will, and the right environment (basketball development, player mentality)
📌 Honest recruiting and finding the right college fit (prep school basketball, recruitment, player placement)
📌 NIL and transfer portal realities for international and U.S. athletes (college basketball, NIL, transfer rules)
📌 European vs. U.S. player development models (EuroLeague, NCAA, player pathways)
📌 Coaching Lauri Markkanen and the importance of self-driven improvement (NBA development, coaching insights)
📌 Balancing national team commitments with U.S. college basketball (academic-athletic balance, international players)

🏀 About Hanno Möttölä:

Hanno Möttölä is a trailblazer in Finnish basketball, the first player from Finland to reach the NBA, and a University of Utah Hall of Famer. After starring for Utah and playing in the 1998 NCAA championship game, he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, later enjoying a standout career in Europe’s top leagues. As a coach, Hanno has developed elite talent at Helsinki Basketball Academy and serves as assistant coach for the Finnish national team, shaping the next generation of international players.

🔗 Connect with Hanno Möttölä:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hannomottola/?hl=en
Twitter | https://x.com/hannomottola
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanno-m%C3%B6tt%C3%B6l%C3%A4-aa336077/

🔗 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