Wait until at least 7th grade before joining a serious travel program. None of them will make your son demonstrably better. Better off with private/group training.
Honestly, it's extremely difficult to break onto a quality team in 6th grade or above. Almost impossible. I don't care how good he is, there will most likely be someone just as good, or at least close enough, that it's not worth replacing a kid who the coaches know, and who knows the offense/defense with a relative unknown. That's the reality.
If you want to get onto one of the top 5 teams, you need to do it ASAP or it's just not going to happen.
Completely false. If your son is that good, the top teams will ALL be after him. They're always looking for the next best kid. Ask the trail of kids jettisoned from the Turtles, Extreme, Terps, Crush, etc... Always opportunity for a spot.
Most importantly, you don't need to be on TOP team to get recruited down the line. If kid is superstar, HOP and UNC will find him. Being on ABC lax team means zero. For the rest of the kids, play hard, develop, and your time will come. Standouts will always standout, regardless of team. My son was on a decent travel team, made all-star at Philly Showcase and Showtime, many schools were interested! Played on decent AA team, not top by any stretch, over 10+ kids now D1 commits.
