IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elite New Jersey Academy Relaunches Under Founder Ian Turnbull to Address “Confusing” NCAA Landscape and Transfer Portal Disruption

BELMAR, NJ – April 27, 2026 – Covenant College Prep, one of the nation’s most proven pipelines for collegiate basketball talent, today announced the official return of its basketball program following a one-year hiatus. The program, founded and led by Executive Director Ian Turnbull, will resume operations immediately, offering high school and postgraduate student-athletes a structured, high-performance pathway to NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, and JUCO competition.

Since its inception, Covenant has produced scores of players who have gone on to play at high major and mid-major Division I programs, in addition to over 100 scholarship athletes at the Division II, NAIA, and JUCO levels. Notable alumni include Nick Jourdain (Memphis University), Shavar Reynolds (Seton Hall University), and A.J. West (University of Nevada).

Turnbull cited the rapidly shifting NCAA regulatory environment as a primary catalyst for the program’s revival.

“The rapidly changing NCAA regulatory environment is confusing and frequently overwhelming for many talented players and their families,” said Turnbull. “With college coaches like Rick Pitino explicitly declaring that they are not recruiting high school players, and thousands of experienced athletes available in the transfer portal, the recruitment process has been transformed. We take a lot of pride in offering counsel and guidance to our players, as well as an opportunity to improve and compete against top-level competition.”

Covenant College Prep is modeled after the prestigious New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) and operates on five core principles: Appropriate Behavior, Fair Play, Good Sportsmanship, Excellence, and Competition. The program’s “Commitment to Excellence” philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement and innovation, propelling athletes toward high performance in academics, social development, and athletics.

On-Court Identity & Development

Defense-First System: Stifling team defense built on individual accountability, designed to generate offense from defensive pressure.

Attack-Mode Offense: Fast-paced, matchup-exploiting schemes with innovative sets to outwit opponents.

College-Level Training: Daily team practices, “Skills Only” workouts, and position-specific instruction.

Strength & Conditioning: Measurable on-court performance improvements through elite S&C programming.

Program Advantages for Student-Athletes

NCAA-approved classes (Full 48H credit structure)

Opportunity to earn college credits

National schedule with significant exposure opportunities


Housing & Meals

Student-athletes will reside in two dedicated team houses located two blocks from the ocean in scenic Belmar, New Jersey:

House 1: 8 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3,500 sq. ft.
House 2: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3,000 sq. ft.
The two houses are situated two blocks apart.


Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided daily at the team house by Covenant College Prep.

Enrollment & Contact

Interested players and parents are invited to contact Ian Turnbull directly for tryout and enrollment information.

Ian Turnbull, Executive Director


Phone: 732-642-3269

Covenant College Prep is a premier basketball academy committed to preparing young men for the challenges of collegiate athletics through superior instruction, competition, and character development.