In this episode of the PREP Athletics Podcast, we sit down with Coach Harry Morra of Perkiomen School. Coach Morra shares his journey from playing and coaching basketball at various levels, including his extensive experience as an Associate Head Coach at Lehigh University, where he played a key role in recruiting and developing high-level players. We discuss his unique coaching philosophy, his first season at Perkiomen, and what it takes to build a competitive basketball program at the prep school level.
Coach Morra also reflects on his playing days at DeSales University and his experience playing overseas, including a stint with the Belfast Star of the Sea in the Irish Superleague. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth and development both on and off the court, particularly for student-athletes seeking to succeed at the next level.
0:00 Introduction and Background of Coach Harry Morra
2:16 Lehigh University Experience
4:36 Playing and Coaching Overseas
7:01 The Historic 2011-12 Lehigh Season
9:26 Transition to Perkiomen School
12:51 Growth Mindset and Player Development
15:36
Building the Perkiomen Basketball Program
18:11 Recruiting Strategy and Challenges
21:31 What Makes a D1 Player?
23:46 Placement of Players and College Preparation
26:16 Lessons from Coaching All-American Players
29:06 Balancing Academics and Athletics at Prep School
32:51 The Future of Prep School Basketball
35:46 Final Reflections and Advice
📌Key Topics:
✅Coach Morra’s Move to Perkiomen: Transitioning from Lehigh University to lead Perkiomen’s basketball program.
✅Coaching Philosophy: How personal growth and a growth mindset are core to player development.
✅Recruiting Strategy: Coach Morra’s approach to recruiting and building a competitive team.
✅D1 Basketball Insights: What it takes for players, particularly guards, to compete at the Division I level.
✅Balancing Academics and Athletics: How Perkiomen emphasizes both to prepare student-athletes for college.
✅Future of Prep School Basketball: Trends in prep basketball, including reclassing and post-grad opportunities.
🗒️About Coach Morra:
Coach Morra comes to Perkiomen School after serving as the Associate Head Coach at Lehigh University for eight years, during which time the team played in three Patriot League Championship games. He’s worked with players who went on to play professionally, including NBA star CJ McCollum. Coach Morra has extensive experience as both a player and coach, having also played overseas in the Irish Superleague and coached with PeacePlayers International. His dedication to student-athlete development and fostering a strong academic and athletic balance makes him a respected leader in the prep school basketball community.
🔗Connect with Harry:
Email | HMorra@perkiomen.org
Twitter | harrymorra
Facebook | harrymorra/
Instagram | coachmorra
🔗 Connect with Cory:
Website | www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | PREP_Athletics
Instagram | prep.athletics
Facebook | PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166
🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
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Image Attributions:
docs.google.com/document/d/1JEXN8CxPCjC2b6GYeJrQl6pEW8CLCNjJt1A48U2XAKY/edit?usp=sharing