Meet Tyree Minor of Raleigh, Wake county

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyree Minor.

Hi Tyree, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Lake Raleigh Prep Academy was founded in 2019 with a clear mission: to create opportunities for overlooked student-athletes — including homeschooled players and athletes who had been cut from traditional teams — to pursue their dreams of playing high-level basketball. We built our program to compete nationally while offering families a more affordable path — delivering the same quality and exposure as other top-tier private programs at just a third of the cost.

Since then, we’ve grown into one of the most respected and affordable programs in North Carolina. In the 2022-23 season, our post-grad team won the Big Shots Post-Grad Nationals, and to date, we’ve helped over 40 players move on to play college basketball. We take pride in providing a professional, competitive environment without the overwhelming financial burden that often comes with elite prep athletics.

My journey plays a big part in the heart of Lake Raleigh Prep. I graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School in 2016, where I competed in football, track, and tennis, but faced setbacks in basketball, getting cut multiple times. Though I dreamed of playing college basketball, it wasn’t immediately possible, so I joined the U.S. Navy in 2016. There, I met Alton Cassidy, who trained me and helped me develop as a player. After my service, I went on to play basketball and cross country at Central Carolina Community College just before COVID, then continued my career at Louisburg College in both track and basketball, eventually earning my first NCAA Division II basketball opportunity at Salem University.

Today, Lake Raleigh Prep is thriving. We proudly offer both a Gap Year Post-Graduate program and a High School National Team. With revamped rosters, new facility partnerships, and a growing reputation, we are excited for what the future holds. Our commitment remains the same: to provide elite basketball opportunities for student-athletes who simply need a chance.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our journey hasn’t been easy. In an industry where 95% of programs like ours fold within two years without major financial backing, we fought through early struggles with funding, finding facilities, and gaining support. For the first two years, I personally funded Lake Raleigh Prep to keep the dream alive. That commitment laid the foundation for everything we’ve built today.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What truly sets Lake Raleigh Prep apart is the range of experiences that shaped me: being a college athlete at multiple schools, building connections with talented athletes and coaches who are now Division I players and professionals, and my military background. The discipline, attention to detail, and high standards I developed through these experiences are the driving forces behind the program’s culture today. We hope to add more sports teams soon!

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
A lot of people don’t know but I’m back in school getting my MBA at Southern New Hampshire University to strengthen my knowledge on this business

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lakeraleighprep.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeraleighprep?igsh=MXB4Ymk3dzg4cDFocg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/lakeraleighprep?s=21
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/hasaan.minor?igsh=a2dtNnJndTNtejU2&utm_source=qr