EYBL’s Corey Frazier – Part One – Talking Hoops

From Charleston to SLU to National Team

(St. Louis, MO) – Corey Frazier is something of a renaissance man. The former Saint Louis University Billiken is coaching players at every possible level. He is the head coach at John Burroughs School and for Bradley Beal Elite, St. Louis’ entry in the Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League). Frazier has been part of the USA Basketball coaching staff and started out at his local Catholic church.

Through his work with Pure Sweat, he helps train NBA players and he’s raising a family in Webster Groves, Missouri. During his time as a player at Saint Louis University, he helped the Billikens return to the NCAA Tournament.

While that is an impressive resume, Frazier’s driving force, vision and calling is to help shape men for the journey of life. He’s something of a renaissance man.

During Part One of ‘getting to know Corey Frazier’ we’ll focus on his basketball experiences. From playing in Charleston, Missouri, at SLU and coaching young men. Part Two will be focused on our continuing fight for social justice. We will unpack some of what is ailing our country and discuss positive changes and some of Corey’s experiences of personally facing discrimination.

From Charleston to SLU

Frazier was a two-time all state performer for the Charleston High School. The Bluejays won a state title during Corey’s sophomore year. His uncle, Ricky Frazier and cousin Lamont were Charleston standouts and proceeded him to Division 1 college basketball careers. Ricky went on to be the twenty-sixth pick of the 1982 NBA draft.

Ricky played and SLU and transferred to Missouri. Lamont was playing at Mizzou when Corey made his decision to play for Charlie Spoonhour. It was a decision that would shape his future in more ways than one.

 

 

Choosing SLU over Missouri or other programs led to his connection with what would become Bradley Beal Elite and carving his own path shows how he is an renaissance man.

During Frazier’s senior year the Billikens returned to the NCAA Tournament. They won an opening round game before losing to Kentucky during the second round. Frazier says learning they had qualified for the Big Dance was an amazing thrill.

 

 

Renaissance Man Running With EYBL

Frazier played for the legendary St. Louis Eagles’ AAU team. The Eagles were the forerunners to today’s Bradley Beal Elite EYBL team and has a long history of producing elite players and coaches. Frazier coaches elite level players during the summer, won state championships at Maplewood and now leads the team at John Burroughs School.

He says EYBL basketball requires a high level of coaching preparation. Scouting, game-planning and chemistry building is a must for EYBL success.

 

 

The Bradley Beal Elite program bears the name of NBA star and St. Louis native Bradley Beal. Frazier says Beal is a ‘hands-on’ name sake and financier. Former Eagle Jayson Tatum was just named to the third team All-NBA team. Eight former members of the program have been McDonald’s All-Americans. Frazier has great respect for Bradley Beal.

 

 

What’s Ahead for Frazier?

While Frazier is still challenged and comfortable in his current roles, the coronavirus changes have caused him to become philosophical. He is a high level prep coach, mentors some of the best prep players in America and fine tunes professional players.

I asked him about the possibility of coaching in college or beyond.

 

 

The first half of our two part interview can be heard at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. In Part Two of our story on this site, we will discuss racial and social issues. Frazier and I discuss #BlackLivesMatter, out of control protests, and training young men about how to respond to police officers.

We discuss ‘listening ~ learning ~ lamenting’ as an important part of the healing process. Frazier believes programs like the Missouri Valley Conference’s #OneValley can be helpful.

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