My kid is 16, a Junior in HS and has been playing varsity for 2 years. He would be D1 monster with 14 year olds. LOL It does even out. The hold back kids burn out, get injured or are not the stars anymore and can not handle it. What comes around goes around. Good luck.
Once that holdback hits HS there is no advantage. Unless he is a real standout he will play against much better players at the same graduation year. The "king of the hill" holdbacks we play against some continue to do well but most fall off the radar as their younger counterparts practice harder and longer. The problem in youth sports are the parents thinking their kid is THE kid.
The advantage is much less as HS and college are concerned. With many players no advantage at all in HS. But being older does help many. There is a reason why many teams redshirt freshman in college. And if you can have a younger or older player of equal ability, most would take the older.
