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As the attention turned toward basketball academies, institutions like Finley Prep in Henderson, Nevada, emerged as a focal point of this new era. Founded by automotive millionaire Cliff Finley, the academy made no secret of its singular mission: developing elite basketball talent. The education aspect soon became secondary, outsourced entirely to a local private institution. The model proved successful; Finley Prep claimed multiple national championships and produced prominent NBA players.
However, skepticism loomed over this success. Critics pointed out that it functioned more as a training ground than an actual school, with reports of lax supervision regarding the students' educational commitments.