Agree on that. I am struggling to get some teaching moment thing through to my sons. One is a 2017 commit and one is about to go into the summer after 8th grade summer club season. When I did college sport in another sport a long tim ago my goals in high school were breaking school records, making all state, making all america, being a team captain, being nationally ranked in club version of same sport and making a junior national team. Everyone around me had goals, just not the same ones, like making varsity or starting. Those are all real things. I started thinking about a college when everyone in my high school got a wake up call and college counselor meeting scheduled in spring junior year. This sport robs the kids and the kids are robbing themselves out of doing something that is a real accomplishment. Picking a college before all your friends do is not an accomplishment. I don't even consider getting a partial athletic scholarship in some sport an accomplishment worth trying to live on. Starting in 7th grade all these kids care about is a college verbal and that is all most adults who are supposed to be mentoring this kids care about too. Then after that is done, all the kids care about is trading up or who is changing their commitment and avoiding looking bad at all costs. I wish for something better.
I agree. However, until the NCAA and the D1 coaches put an end to this madness, it will continue to get worse. I suspect we will begin to see rising 8th grade commits in the not too distant future...
Spoke with a big D1 coach the other day. He told me we will see a big rise in schools decommitting kids who have failed to develop after committing early.He says it will happen just before NLI is signed. My son has has never stopped, challenging himself all summer, every summer. Now other coaches are coming around making offers even though they have someone committed in his position. They say it's a business and they want the best kids they can get. Looks like the verbal is not going to mean much if you don't keep playing and challenging yourself. Hiding might just get your offer pulled.
This comment was more about the committed kids who as soon as they get that verbal, disappear and think they shouldn't play anymore because they might get "hurt"(wuss) Not so much about size and development because plenty of small kids Excell at this sport due to their craftiness and commitment. It's about those that don't want to play against the best competition because they are afraid to look bad. Keep hiding and you might not have to worry about that because someone working hard and showing up will take your place!
I agree about the players who stop playing for the fear of getting hurt thing is a bit soft. Not the kid probably the parent making that choice. There is a 2018 commit from LI who is 5'4 to 5'6 at most. He has been very dominant for years and was considered more physically mature than most kids at a young age. His skills are outstanding but as players continue to hone their skills and also pass him in size and strength he isn't as dominant.
