I find it extremely hard, actually impossible, to believe an 8th grader has committed to Navy. There are little things like GPA and SAT scores to be taken into consideration which they have neither.
It is a commitment, not a guarantee. Obviously there are those things to consider, and the athlete has to hold up their end of the bargain. This includes getting into the academy (grades, letter of rec. from US rep. or senator, and other things). It sets the bar high academically, but maybe it's a good thing and now the kid has academic goals to accomplish and they know what they have to do.
