A PG year can be beneficial in many ways, but should not be used as a way to hope for better looks from college coaches. If your son has been injured during the sophomore/junior school season or summer tournament games, the PG year can provide the extra time for being seen. From personal experience, the top boarding schools compete for PG student athletes much like college. They know who is being looked at by what colleges and the circumstances surrounding the PG option. It can be because of academics, injury, the position needed for a college team but not in that graduation year, etc...but it is naive to believe you will opt for a PG year and create a higher level of interest that was not there before. It is best to have secured some type of commitment /plan from college coaches you are in contact with as the PG year is not the time to be seen by college coaches. The lax season is far too late in the game for that option in a PG year. ( aside from academic DIII's that many boarding schools feed into) Boarding School lacrosse teams get the benefit of having the stud PG come from their school, but are not in the business of promoting said player for recruitment. If your options are better taking a PG year, then there is no downside. Older, ( not always, often gives some boys the chance to catch up to those held back and all), physically stronger, injury free and all is great, but the benefit of knowing how to manage your time better in a more independent atmosphere, live away from home but still be in a somewhat managed environment and the chance to meet students from all over the world is also a plus for any young man or woman.
Pannell took a PG year to get out of his of his original commitment. Look how that played out for him!
