[NMH basketball court. Photo credit to Jaden Lee]

Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH), a private boarding school located in Gill, Massachusetts, has built a reputation for its outstanding sports program.

The program features around 67 teams and 19 varsity sports. 

Among these sports teams, the NMH basketball team is one of the most successful and competitive programs in the school. 

But the question is, what is so special about the NMH basketball program? 

The Northfield Mount Hermon basketball team is renowned not only for their athletic success, but also for their academic excellence.

To understand their athletic success, the NMH basketball team currently competes in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) AA, and has sent numerous players to top Division I colleges, which are the best college basketball programs in the country.

Moreover, the NMH basketball team has won a lot of championships.

They won the New England Championships four times (2012,2016,2018,2019) and won the National Championship in 2013.

Apart from all this athletic success, the Northfield Mount Hermon basketball program has been successful in academics as well. 

Over the past 15 years, NMH has sent more than 45 players to the Ivy League, a group of eight elite colleges in the United States.

 This record is three times higher than any other high school basketball program in the entire world.

So, what are the special things that Northfield Mount Hermon School does to ensure both athletic and academic success from its basketball team?

As a student and athlete at NMH, I noticed something really special about this school. 

First, NMH faculty members take care of every student and athlete at NMH and make sure they are doing well on the court and in the classroom. 

If students have any trouble with anything, they give careful attention and support them.

Furthermore, coaches at NMH make sure their athletes have time to study as well. 

Unlike other schools, the NMH basketball team practices around two hours a day, and they have morning workouts two to three times a week. 

They don't interfere with any class times or study hall, which is dedicated time for students to work on their homework or study for their exams.

Moreover, coaches make sure their games do not interfere with players' academics, so they schedule games on weekends or half day (Wednesday) most of the time. 

Last but not least, the Northfield Mount Hermon basketball team's success also comes from the players' mentality.

Coaches and faculty members do their best to teach players and students at NMH to become  good people and leaders. 

They also ensure each sports team has good chemistry.

For the basketball team, players and coaches often have dinner together to build good relationships and team morale.

Additionally, before the basketball season starts, players and coaches meet daily to become closer together and discuss plans for the season.

The Northfield Mount Hermon basketball team's continuous success in both academics and athletics is not only coming from players, but from the endless efforts from the school and coaches. 

The NMH basketball program will not only stay successful, but continue improving through the dedication of many people.