One-of-One
Sunrise Christian Academy and the SCA High School Elite Basketball Team are truly a one-of-a-kind option for someone to experience and grow inside of.
This allows us a freedom to be transparent in who we are (our people) and how we do what we do (our process) - because we trust that by presenting exactly who we are and what that has led to (our track record / legacy of success), we will have the right people eagerly wanting to join us, and those who would develop better in other situations for them tend to quickly seek them elsewhere.
With our goal being to help the growth of people and families "for time and eternity", this is the best possiblility because it allows us to cheer on decisions that are made by every recruit and those in their support system.
Here is the unique combination of what Sunrise offers that makes us a one-of-one situation:
Christ-centered: Our program has a mission well outside of the years that most recruits will spend walking through our halls. We believe that God placed each and every person on this Earth for a lifetime, but that souls are eternal. We believe there is one way to heaven and that comes through a saving faith in Jesus Christ. There are many recruits who join our program with all different faith backgrounds, but the common thread is that they are in a setting that promotes the love and truth of Jesus. Because of the faith-based nature of SCA, there is a weekly Bible study on Wednesday evenings (where homework is held back by staff/teachers so that students can attend without conflict), daily Bible class on school days that is held in a SCA Elite team-context, and the team attends a Sunday morning chapel when not traveling.
Development Emphasis: Our program has and always will compete for championships, but that is not where we place our emphasis. We believe that as we focus on the process of development, the scoreboard will take care of itself. "Just get better" brings a no-nonsense attitude to not being distracted by the things that won't actually get people where they want to be. Just get better applies to the hardwood, the weight room, the classroom, and the non-basketball related areas of life. A focus on becoming the best version of ourselves as players and coaches is what will bring the rewards & recognitions that people rightfully desire.
High-major / Professional Staff: There is not a staff in the country composed of individuals with the highest levels of experience like the one at Sunrise Christian Academy. From our head coach, to the assistants, to strength & conditioning and support - every member on our staff knows what it takes as coaches to achieve at the very highest levels of basketball.
Holistic Growth: Every member of the SCA team is challenged to grow in all areas of their life. We believe that the way you do anything is the way you'll do everything - so we don't just place an emphasis on the game of basketball, but pursuing excellence academically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
Longevity: Our head coach, Kyle Lindsted, has over 20 years of experience. Our strength coach, Kerry Rosenboom, has over 30 years of experience and our assistants have coached in this league since it was founded. Our trainer, Rich Bomgardner, has over 30 years of experience and is in the Kansas Hall of Fame. By far the most experienced staff in the country that any recruit can find at the high school / preparatory level. Sunrise Christian Academy recently celebrated 40 years as a brick and mortar school and has experienced teachers, faculty, staff, and administration who know what it takes to see students in our program succeed at the next level.
Mission-Driven: There's nobody here for the check at the end of the month. Our program is built on the shoulders of people who have sacrificed because they believe in a greater calling to pour in to the long-term growth of the students that enter the halls of Sunrise Christian Academy.
No Frills: We can guarantee that Sunrise will not be the most glamorous option for any recruit. It has been built on the foundations of love, hard work, grit and sweat. With focus on people and process, while we look to increase resources in other areas over time - we also make sure to never take our sights off keeping the "main thing" the "main thing" because of the track record that focus has produced within our program.
No Side-Deals: Players aren't brought in with trainers attached and don't have to worry about coaches leveraging them for what they have to offer either. Our bench will never contain people there as "______'s guy" - this will help each member of the team to know that the staff is able to view their development impartially based on knowledge and experience rather than rose-colored glasses, impaired by a known or even unknown bias towards a given player.
Proven Process: 140+ Division I signees over the past 17 years. 7 NBA Draft Picks. Five straight appearances at GEICO Nationals between 2019-2023. Consistent appearances for national recognition. The process works. Sometimes the road less traveled isn't the better option. Place your investment where there's a proven track record of success.
Real Academics: Over 40 years as a private high-school with now over 600 students in our classrooms. A waiting list because of our academic reputation in the Wichita, Kansas area. Whether students are looking to prepare for a high-academic college future, or simply understanding that there will always be obligations outside of basketball that they need to be able to work through - the real academic setting around Sunrise promotes a growth in our players that a pop-up basketball shop will never be able to provide.
Video Growth: Because of our experience at the highest levels of basketball, we understand the value of the flim room and the tools available to promote growth off of the basketball court. We invest in programs like Synergy (complete video database of every high school, college, and NBA game that takes place), SportsCode (a video editing tool used by all 30 NBA teams & most college programs), and commit significant time every day to growth in the game through both individual and team film study. We don't believe the old saying "stats never lie" - we believe stats may lie, but the film always shows the truth.
Wichita, Kansas: Being located right in the middle of the country, Bel Aire, KS offers an incredible combination of being a pleasant sub-urb that is just outside of the growing city of Wichita. Travel in and out of the area is incredibly easy with Kansas' largest airport (ICT) only 15 minutes away from our campus. Travel to/from any part of the country is never too long which leads to a comfort for players, families, college coaches, AAU programs (as players travel in the spring) desiring to get to/from campus.
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