Prep Boys Basketball: Granite Hills' Tory Dudgeon leaving to coach in China

In some ways, the job Tory Dudgeon is taking on with USA Basketball will have some similarities with the work he’s done the last three years as the Granite Hills boys basketball head coach.

But the differences will be very big differences.

Dudgeon is headed to Shenzhen, China, to coach at a new basketball academy.

The new gig is a major change for someone who’s only experience traveling outside of the United States is going to Mexico.

He’s started to learn some Chinese phrases and has slowly begun altering his sleep schedule, but for the most part he’ll get thrown into a totally foreign situation come Monday when he starts his new job.

But it’s a challenge Dudgeon is excited to take on.

“It’s basketball. It’s something I love to do and something I love being a part of,” Dudgeon said. “I’m excited for it and grateful for the opportunity.”

He’ll fly into Beijing on Sunday before traveling to Shenzhen to start his new job Monday. USA Basketball has been opening several academies in China in efforts to expand the game.

At its core, the position will involve teaching fundamental skills to young players new to the game.

“It’s a lot like what I had to start with at Granite Hills,” Dudgeon said.

Dudgeon’s Cougars went 11-60 the last three seasons, including a 6-18 record in 2017-18. While still well below .500 and a ways away from a Desert Sky League title, the Cougars record under Dudgeon was a step up from the program’s recent history before he took over. Granite Hills hasn’t won double digit games in a season since the 2009-2010.

Dudgeon found the job at USA Basketball online and sent off an application, not thinking he’d actually get the position. The process moved quickly and in a matter of weeks he was hired and had to let his Granite Hills players know as the team headed toward the end of the season.

“Yeah, it was (tough),” Dudgeon said. “I grew close with a lot of the players. Working with (athletic director) Daniel Rincon was just amazing. It was really tough to leave the players. We were just starting to turn a corner there in terms of being able to compete in the Desert Sky League.”

Anyone interested in filling Granite Hill’s head coaching vacancy can apply at edjoin.org. Applications will be accepted until March 23.

Dudgeon graduated from Granite Hills in 2007 and became an assistant coach with the program in 2014 before taking the head coaching spot the following season.

Dudgeon said he’s cross paths with Serrano grad and Chinese Basketball Association star Jamaal Franklin a few times, noting that he thinks they played during a summer game one time. But he plans to reach out with Franklin when his Sichuan Blue Whales play a game in Shenzhen.

Matthew Peters can be reached at 760-955-5365 or mpeters@vvdailypress.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @DP_MattPeters.