Your Post-Graduate Year Starts Here.
Florida Coastal Prep is a post graduate basketball program based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida that exists for one purpose: to place student-athletes at the college level. Since our founding in 2019, FCP has produced 59+ college commitments since 2024 alone, sending players to D1, D2, NAIA, and JUCO programs across 43 states and internationally. Our post grad basketball program combines elite skill development, strength and conditioning, national competition, academic preparation, and a full-service recruiting operation under one roof. If you are a high school graduate looking for one more year to develop, gain exposure, and earn a college roster spot, this page covers everything you need to know about how FCP works.
What Is a Post Grad Basketball Program?
A post graduate basketball program gives high school graduates an additional year of development before committing to a college program. Unlike a gap year or simply training on your own, a structured post grad basketball program provides organized team competition, daily coaching, academic coursework, and active college recruiting support. The post-graduate model has become one of the most proven pathways in basketball for athletes who need more time to mature physically, improve their skill set, build a stronger academic profile, or increase their visibility with college coaches.
At Florida Coastal Prep, our post grad basketball program is built around a simple philosophy: every athlete who commits to the process deserves a legitimate opportunity to play at the next level. That means we do not warehouse players. Every roster spot comes with an individual recruiting plan, professional game film, and direct access to our coaching staff's network of college contacts. The result is a placement rate that speaks for itself: 59+ college commitments since 2024 across every level of college basketball.
Post-graduate basketball programs are especially valuable in today's recruiting landscape. The NCAA transfer portal has created constant roster turnover at every division level, which means college coaches are always looking for experienced, mature players who can contribute immediately. A post grad year at FCP gives athletes the game film, physical development, and recruiting relationships that make them attractive to those programs. Whether you are targeting D1, D2, NAIA, or JUCO, the post-graduate year is a competitive advantage that more and more families are choosing.
Is a Post Grad Basketball Program Right for You?
Our post graduate basketball program serves a wide range of athletes, but most fall into a few common categories. Understanding where you fit helps us build the right development and recruiting plan for your situation.
The Under-Recruited Senior
You had a strong high school career but did not receive the college offers you deserved. Maybe your team did not get enough exposure, or your season was cut short. A post grad year gives you a full season of national competition and professional film to put in front of college coaches.
The Late Bloomer
You grew physically or developed your game significantly in your junior and senior years. College coaches have not seen the best version of you yet. A post graduate year lets you play at your current level against top competition while recruiters evaluate you fresh.
The Academic Qualifier
Your game is college-ready but your grades or test scores need work. FCP's post grad basketball program includes accredited academic coursework through Colorado Christian University, giving you time to raise your GPA and meet NCAA, NAIA, or JUCO eligibility requirements.
The International Prospect
You are coming from outside the United States and need a pathway into the American college basketball system. FCP has enrolled athletes from 22 countries and understands the visa, transcript evaluation, and recruiting process for international student-athletes.
A Typical Day in the Post Grad Basketball Program
Every day at FCP is structured around development. There is no wasted time. Athletes follow a consistent daily schedule designed to maximize their growth on the court, in the weight room, in the classroom, and in the recruiting process.
This schedule runs five to six days per week during the season. On game days, the morning sessions shift to pre-game preparation, scouting reports, and travel. During the competitive season (September through March), post grad athletes play a full schedule in the SEHAL and PHSBA leagues, two of the top prep basketball circuits in the Southeast and nationally. These are not scrimmages against local teams. Every opponent is a legitimate post-graduate or prep program, and every game is an opportunity to produce college-quality film.
Post Grad Basketball Coaching Staff
The quality of a post grad basketball program is ultimately determined by the people running it. At Florida Coastal Prep, our coaching staff includes former NBA players, Division I coaches, and professional-level skill development trainers. Every coach on staff has direct recruiting relationships with college programs, which means your development and your exposure happen simultaneously.
Lee DeForest
Founder and Director. Coach DeForest founded Florida Coastal Prep in 2019 and has built it into one of the top post grad basketball programs in the Southeast. His coaching network spans every level of college basketball, and he personally oversees the recruiting process for every athlete on the roster. ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi visited FCP and called it "first class treatment of players."
Kenny Anderson
Former NBA All-Star and Head Coach. Kenny Anderson played 14 seasons in the NBA and was the second overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. As a coach at FCP, he brings a level of basketball knowledge and professional experience that few post graduate programs in the country can match. His presence alone opens doors with college coaching staffs.
Vando Becheli
National Post Grad Director. Vando manages FCP's national recruiting pipeline and coordinates the post-graduate program's competitive schedule. His relationships with prep circuits and college programs across the country ensure that FCP athletes get maximum exposure throughout the season.
Tyler Martin
Head Skill Development Coach. Tyler runs the individual workout program that is the backbone of daily player development at FCP. Every athlete receives position-specific training focused on handles, footwork, shooting mechanics, finishing, and decision-making. Tyler's sessions are filmed and reviewed so players can track measurable progress throughout the year.
Rico Overall
Director of Recruiting. Rico manages the recruiting process for every player on the post-grad roster. That means individual recruiting plans, professional highlight film production, outreach to college coaching staffs, and coordination with exposure events. He ensures no athlete falls through the cracks.
Full Staff
Our coaching staff also includes assistant coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, and academic advisors who work together to support every aspect of a student-athlete's development. View the complete coaching staff directory.
The Spartan Training Center
Florida Coastal Prep athletes train daily in our 14,000 square foot Spartan Training Center, a purpose-built basketball development facility located in Fort Walton Beach. The facility features a professional-grade hardwood basketball court, an indoor turf performance zone for speed and agility work, a fully equipped weight room, and a dedicated film room for video analysis sessions.
Athletes have 24/7 access to the facility, which means extra shooting sessions, individual work, and open gym time are available every day. The training center is where the daily development happens, from morning strength sessions to evening shooting workouts. It is the competitive advantage that separates a structured post grad basketball program from simply playing pickup games for a year.
Tour the Spartan Training CenterFacility Features
Professional Hardwood Court
Full-size regulation court with professional-grade hardwood flooring, breakaway rims, and glass backboards. This is where daily practice, skill development, and team competition take place.
Weight Room
Fully equipped strength training facility with squat racks, platforms, dumbbells, and sport-specific equipment. Athletes follow Westside Barbell conjugate programming designed to build explosive power for basketball.
Film Room
Dedicated video analysis room where athletes break down game film with coaches. Every practice and game is recorded, and film sessions are a daily part of the development process.
Indoor Turf Zone
Indoor turf performance area for speed, agility, and conditioning work. Athletes train explosion, lateral quickness, and basketball-specific movement patterns in a controlled environment year-round.
College Placement Track Record
The ultimate measure of any post grad basketball program is whether it actually places athletes in college. At Florida Coastal Prep, we have produced 59+ college commitments since 2024, with placements at every level of college basketball: NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, and JUCO programs. Our alumni have gone on to play across the country and internationally, including players who have reached the NBA and NBA G-League.
This is not an accident. FCP's placement rate is the direct result of a system that combines daily development with active, individualized recruiting. Every athlete on the roster has a recruiting plan. Every game is filmed and distributed. Our coaching staff has relationships with college programs at every level, and those relationships produce results season after season.
Sean East II
Nathan Mariano
Ring Malith
Our alumni have committed to programs across D1, D2, NAIA, and JUCO levels nationwide.
View All Spartan Alumni →Academic Program for Post Grad Basketball Athletes
Basketball development without academic preparation is incomplete. Florida Coastal Prep's post grad basketball program includes a full academic component designed to ensure athletes meet eligibility requirements and are prepared for college coursework when they arrive on campus.
Post-graduate athletes at FCP complete accredited coursework through Colorado Christian University, which provides both traditional academic classes and the opportunity to earn college credits before enrolling at their next school. For athletes who need to improve their GPA to meet NCAA, NAIA, or JUCO eligibility thresholds, this academic pathway is often the difference between receiving an offer and missing out.
Beyond coursework, our academic support includes guided college application assistance, SAT/ACT preparation resources, transcript evaluation for international students, and coordination with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The academic staff works directly with the coaching and recruiting teams to ensure that every athlete's academic timeline aligns with their recruiting timeline.
The goal is straightforward: when a college coach offers your athlete a roster spot, there should be zero academic barriers standing in the way.
Supervised Team Housing on the Emerald Coast
Post grad basketball athletes at FCP live in supervised team housing in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Housing includes a live-in house coach who oversees daily routines, meal coordination, curfews, and transportation to and from the training facility. The environment is designed to replicate the structure and accountability of a college athletic program, so athletes arrive on campus already accustomed to the discipline required at the next level.
Fort Walton Beach sits on Florida's Emerald Coast, a safe community known for its beaches, year-round warm weather, and family-friendly atmosphere. Athletes enjoy the benefits of training in a warm climate while living in a structured, team-first environment that keeps them focused on their goals. For families sending their son away from home for the first time, the supervised housing model provides peace of mind.
Explore Housing DetailsNational Competition Schedule
A post grad basketball program is only as good as its competition. Playing against weak opponents produces weak film, and weak film does not get athletes recruited. That is why FCP competes in the SEHAL (Southeast Homeschool Athletic League) and PHSBA (Prep Homeschool Basketball Alliance), two of the top prep basketball circuits in the region and nationally.
These leagues feature the best post-graduate and prep programs in the Southeast and beyond. Every game is a legitimate showcase opportunity. College coaches and scouts follow these circuits because they know the level of competition is real. When an FCP athlete puts up a strong performance against a ranked opponent in the SEHAL or PHSBA, that film carries weight with recruiting coordinators.
In addition to league play, FCP participates in national exposure events and showcases throughout the season. These events bring together top programs from across the country and attract college coaches from every division level. The combination of a full league schedule and showcase appearances gives post grad athletes maximum visibility during their year at FCP.
How the College Recruiting Process Works at FCP
Recruiting is not something we leave to chance. Every athlete in the post grad basketball program receives an individualized recruiting plan that is developed during the first weeks of enrollment and actively managed throughout the season. Here is how the process works at FCP:
1. Evaluation and Goal Setting
When an athlete arrives, coaches evaluate their game film, academic standing, physical measurables, and recruiting history. From there, we identify realistic target schools at the appropriate division level and build a plan to get the athlete in front of those programs.
2. Professional Film Production
Every practice and game at FCP is recorded. Our staff produces professional highlight tapes and full-game film packages that are distributed directly to college coaching staffs. College coaches evaluate players primarily through film, so the quality and availability of that film is critical.
3. Direct Coach-to-Coach Communication
FCP's coaching staff has direct relationships with college coaches at D1, D2, NAIA, and JUCO programs across the country. When we send film or make a call on behalf of an athlete, college coaches pick up the phone. These relationships are built over years and produce real results.
4. Exposure Events and Showcases
Beyond league play, FCP athletes participate in national showcases and exposure events where college coaches are in attendance. These events put athletes directly in front of decision-makers and create opportunities that film alone cannot always provide.
5. Commitment and Placement
Our recruiting staff manages the offer and commitment process, helping athletes and families evaluate offers, understand scholarship packages, and make informed decisions. The process does not end until every athlete on the roster has a college destination.
Post Grad Basketball Program Tuition
Florida Coastal Prep's post graduate basketball program tuition covers coaching, training facility access, national competition, academic coursework, housing, meals, recruiting services, and transportation. We believe elite development should be accessible, and our tuition is structured to provide exceptional value compared to programs that charge significantly more for a similar experience.
Financial assistance and partial scholarship opportunities are available for qualifying families. FCP's goal is to ensure that talent is never limited by finances. We work with families to find a path that makes enrollment possible.
For detailed tuition information, payment plans, and financial assistance options, visit our tuition page or contact our admissions team directly.
Why Choose a Post Grad Basketball Program in Florida?
Florida has become one of the top destinations for post graduate basketball programs, and for good reason. The state offers year-round warm weather that allows outdoor training and conditioning throughout the entire season. There is no winter shutdown. Athletes train in optimal conditions from September through May.
Florida is also home to some of the strongest prep basketball competition in the country. The concentration of post-graduate and prep programs in the state means FCP athletes face high-level opponents in league play without extensive travel. College coaches know that Florida prep basketball is legitimate, and they recruit from these programs aggressively.
Fort Walton Beach specifically offers a unique advantage: a focused training environment without the distractions of a major city. Athletes in FCP's post grad basketball program live, train, and compete in a tight-knit community that keeps them locked in on their development. It is close enough to major airports for travel but far enough from urban distractions to maintain the discipline required to improve every day.
Post Grad Basketball Program — Frequently Asked Questions
A post grad basketball program (also called a post-graduate or PG program) is a structured year of basketball, academics, and recruiting for high school graduates who want additional development before committing to a college program. Athletes compete in organized leagues, receive daily coaching, complete academic coursework, and work with recruiting staff to secure a college roster spot. At Florida Coastal Prep, the post grad year typically runs from August through May.
Florida Coastal Prep has produced 59+ college commitments since 2024, with placements at NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, and JUCO programs across the country. Since the program's founding in 2019, FCP athletes have gone on to play in 43 states and 22 countries, including alumni who have reached the NBA and NBA G-League.
Post grad athletes at FCP follow a structured daily schedule that includes morning strength and conditioning, individual skill development sessions, film study, academic coursework in the afternoon, and full team practice. Athletes also have open gym time in the evening. The schedule runs five to six days per week during the competitive season.
FCP's post-graduate teams compete in the SEHAL (Southeast Homeschool Athletic League) and PHSBA (Prep Homeschool Basketball Alliance), two of the top prep basketball circuits in the Southeast and nationally. These leagues feature the best post-graduate and prep programs in the region, and college coaches and scouts actively follow the competition.
Yes. FCP provides supervised team housing in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, with a live-in house coach who oversees daily routines, meals, curfews, and transportation. The housing environment is structured to replicate the accountability and discipline of a college athletic program. Learn more about housing.
Post-graduate athletes complete accredited coursework through Colorado Christian University, with the option to earn college credits. Academic support includes GPA improvement, SAT/ACT preparation, college application guidance, transcript evaluation for international students, and coordination with the NCAA Eligibility Center. View full academic details.
Tuition covers all coaching, training facility access, national competition, academic coursework, housing, meals, recruiting services, and local transportation. Financial assistance and partial scholarship opportunities are available. For specific pricing and payment options, visit our tuition page or contact admissions directly.
Yes. Florida Coastal Prep has enrolled athletes from 22 countries. Our admissions team assists international student-athletes with the visa process, transcript evaluation, English language requirements, and the unique aspects of recruiting into the American college basketball system. Learn about international enrollment.
FCP's post-graduate program is designed for recent high school graduates, typically ages 18 to 20. Athletes must have completed high school (or the equivalent) before enrolling. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, contact our admissions team to discuss your situation.
Visit our Apply Now page and complete the application form. Our coaching staff will review your application, game film, and academic transcripts, then reach out to discuss your goals and next steps. Roster spots are limited, so we recommend applying early. You can also call us directly at 850-961-2323.
Start Your Post Grad Basketball Year
Roster spots are limited. Take the first step toward your college basketball career at Florida Coastal Prep.