Of course commits need to worry about their grades and SATs or else their path into a good school will be severed. I concur that it is an unhealthy thing for a 7th grader to be swimming in stress over being recruited by or choosing a college before getting to high school. The sport has become a mental health crisis for the kids, and it is 100% the fault of the parents and the club / prep school guys who build their program credentials by commit counts. When was the last time you heard of a 9th grade club team listing tournament wins more prominently than commit lists? Seems like the competitive spirit of these kids is getting deadened out by the "headhunting" executive search mentality of all these club and prep school guys. As someone who was a D1 student athlete and had a great experience as a kid and high school athlete without this circus act, I feel bad for these kids having their experience so battered down. It is so sad.