OUR STORY
Past generations Guessed.
The next will be Prepared.
We grew up in the system. There was no playbook.
Now we’re building the one families deserve.
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I grew up in a sports family in Ohio.
Not one athlete — a whole family of them.
My dad played. My brother played. My sister played. My cousins played. My closest friends played.
And we all went through the same thing:
Trying to figure out what actually mattered.
What decisions were important.
What opportunities were real.
What we were supposed to be doing at each stage.
There was no clear playbook — only word-of-mouth, guesswork, and hope.
Some of us navigated it successfully.
Some of us didn't.
The difference was almost never talent.
It was information.
Who your parents knew.
What your family understood about academics.
Whether someone explained GPA requirements early enough.
Whether anyone told you that communication and habits often matter more than highlight reels.
I was fortunate. My family emphasized academics alongside athletics, and I ultimately earned an academic scholarship to Ohio State. Not through exposure platforms, but through preparation and positioning.
But I watched athletes just as talented as me miss opportunities.
Not because they couldn't compete — because nobody helped them prepare.
The System Changed. Guidance Didn't.
Now I'm watching the same experience play out again — with their kids.
My sister's son — about to graduate high school.
Her daughter, who showed real potential in volleyball.
My cousins' kids.
My friends' children.
Except the landscape has become far more complex.
NIL didn't exist when we were coming up.
The transfer portal didn't exist.
Travel specialization didn't start in elementary school.
Families weren't spending thousands before high school.
Youth sports became professionalized.
But decision guidance never caught up.
Families are still relying on social media, rumors, and whatever advice happens to be nearby.
Building the Solution
After college, I moved to Los Angeles and built a career in finance and strategy. I earned my MBA at Pepperdine and later enrolled at USC's Iovine and Young Academy — a program focused on designing innovative products and building meaningful ventures.
That's where Prepd Sports began.
Not as a recruiting service.
Not as another exposure platform.
But as a decision system.
A way for families to understand:
where their athlete actually stands
what decisions matter most
what actions to take next
Before opportunities — or mistakes — compound.
I didn't start by writing code.
I started by listening.
Conversations with families, educators, coaches, and former college athletes revealed the same pattern again and again:
Access to guidance determines outcomes.
A talented athlete loses major offers because of a GPA no one addressed early. A family spends thousands chasing exposure without a plan. A student enters the transfer portal expecting opportunity — and finds silence.
Talent is common.
Clarity is rare.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Preparation creates opportunity.
Clear guidance prevents costly mistakes.
Every athlete deserves a plan — not just exposure.
THE FOUNDING TEAM
ANDRE BILLUPS
Founder & CEO
Former multi-sport athlete
OSU Morrill Excellence Scholar
Finance and strategy background
USC NVSC - Quarterfinalist (w/ Prepd Sports)
EDUCATION
BSBA
Finance
MBA
General Business
MS
Design, Business, & Tech
Advised by Educators, Coaches, Scouts, and Builders
Prepd is guided by experienced leaders across student development, education, and entrepreneurship.
Their perspective helps ensure the platform reflects the real decisions families face — not theoretical ones.
Built With Real Athletes. Not Hypothetical Users.
Former college and professional athletes from 20+ programs are already supporting Prepd Sports families.
This Started as One Family's Story.
It's Becoming Thousands.
If you see your family in this story — or if you wish something like this had existed when you were coming up — we'd love to connect.
Join the Founding Families
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