Former Flyers unite to build a new prep team in Dayton

“I don’t know how or why Chris thought of me,” said Gruden, a 2018 Dayton graduate. “I know he wanted his old high school coach because he was really close with him, but he lived in Texas and it just wasn’t going to be able to work out with him. He said I was his second choice or next option because of the fact I do coach the Red Scare and I’m a Dayton guy. He thought the community and the fan base might get around us. I think those are the main reasons why he reached out to me.”

Through Nov. 19, the team had played 12 games, Gruden said, including exhibition games against two of the top prep schools in the country: Huntington Prep (W.Va.) and La Lumiere (Ind.). It won eight of the 10 games that counted on its record.

“Everything’s been smooth,” Gruden said. “All the players are getting better. Coaches have started reaching out, which is our main goal.”

One of the players is Tallice Landers, a Wayne High School graduate who’s the younger brother of Gruden’s former teammate, Trey Landers.

There are a number of other local graduates on the roster: Allen Lattimore (Stivers/West Carrollton); Tyler Montague (Vandalia Butler); AJ Eller and Matthew Beverley (Brookville); Patrick Ivory (Northmont); Will Hill (Meadowdale); Anthony McComb (Trotwood-Madison); Chanze Amerson (Dunbar); and Aigbokhai Kadiri (West Carrollton). Two players are from Florida: Camden Easley (Orlando Christian Prep); and Mouhamed Sidibe (Central Florida Christian Prep).

Gruden’s assistant coaches are Lionel Garrett and Bob Crawford.

Most of the players are 2021 graduates who will start college a year later than their classmates. That’s not uncommon. Obi Toppin, the national player of the year in 2020, is a good example of a player who benefitted from going to a prep school for a year before going to Dayton. One of the current Flyers, Lynn Greer III, did the same.

“Especially this year more than ever, obviously with COVID, I think it’s huge for these guys,” Gruden said. “A couple of guys got shortened seasons or didn’t get to play last season, which would have given them huge exposure. So essentially it’s just another opportunity to play high school but also be prepared for college because we’re going to treat them like college athletes with the nice facilities and the team doctors we’ve got and the coaching staff. It is a year to prep them for college, hence the name prep school. I think it’s a great for them. They can focus a ton more on basketball than in high school. We don’t have any other distractions.”

The team played its first home game at Trotwood-Madison High School. Most of its home games will take place at Sinclair Community College. It practices at Bales Arena in Beavercreek.

Wright, who scored 1,601 points in his Dayton career (2007-11), keeps close tabs on the team, Gruden said.

“He’s been at most of our games,” Gruden said. “He stops by the practice a lot of the time to see how we’re doing and drop his knowledge, which is awesome. So he’s pretty involved.”

Gruden said Flyght Academy will play a college-like schedule with 30-40 games. It will travel to Florida and Virginia for events and will host a Holiday Classic at Trotwood-Madison on Dec. 12. The schedule also consists of games against NCAA Division II and III junior varsity teams.

For Gruden, this was the perfect opportunity to continue his coaching career in the area.

“I get head coaching experience, which is huge,” he said. “I get the recruiting experience. I get to lead a team. I can’t trade it for the world. I’m super excited to coach these guys and get more experience.”