How the heck do you do this in NY when we have that stupid modified level in middle school?
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20090116/SPORTS01/901160340/-1/hss

NCAA: 7th-grade boys are now 'prospects'
January 16, 2009

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Buzz up! OXON HILL, Md. - Giving in to the young-and-younger movement in college basketball recruiting, the NCAA has decreed that seventh-graders are now officially classified as prospects.


The organization voted Thursday to change the definition of a prospect from ninth grade to seventh grade - for men's basketball only - to nip a trend in which some college coaches were working at private, elite camps and clinics for seventh- and eighth-graders. The NCAA couldn't regulate those camps because those youngsters fell below the current cutoff.

Rod Chando, coach of the Red Hook High School boys' basketball team for 35 seasons, said he is "totally against" the NCAA's move.

"The college coaches, they're hunting these kids like dogs," said Chando, who's most recent Division I recruit, Greg Nero, plays for Fairfield. "I can understand from the coaching point of view. They're making big bucks, their jobs or livelihood depends on it.

"The kids don't get a chance to grow up. he hasn't even shaved yet, and all of a sudden ..."

Darryl Sullivan, athletic coordinator for John Jay, is likewise concerned about coaches and parents pressuring kids.

"I think it's going to be too much," said Sullivan, noting many athletes may burnout after so many years of scrutiny. "You're going to have some people getting their kids in the first and second grade, getting them personal (coaches) to get them ready."

Only men's ball, for now
While men's basketball is the only sport affected, Joe D'Antonio, chairman of the 31-member Division I Legislative Council, which approved the change during a two-day meeting at the NCAA Convention, said he could envision future discussions on lowering the limit for other sports, notably football.

Beacon's girls' basketball coach, Christina Dahl, is concerned about the impact it could make on academics.

"I see kids every day, they think they're going to be all-stars and then they don't have the focus academically," she said. "You're narrowing the focus down so much, and it's a lot of pressure."

Chando also worries an athlete may lose sight of his areas of improvement with early recruitment.

"I'd be so happy, but would I work?" he said. "Would I really go to the weight room, would I really work myself to the next level?"

Nothing new about this check out when Lebron was first scouted. The Cavs brought him in to practice with the team when he was in the 11th grade.

Bobby Knight recruited this kid out of Indiana in the 8th grade a decade or so ago. Name escapes me, but he turned out to be a monumental failure. I think he coaches now.

My wife start ice-scating training at 3 years and at 9 she skated in junior comptitions and get 1st place in City championsheep for girls 9 to 13.
she was invited to prepare for USSR Olympic team but her parents refused to send her to Moscow away from home.
So what the problems with this kids. Better thay will learn to smoke, do drugs, and bich around?

It's sad, it's pathetic, right down to parents fighting in the crowds of little league games. Yet, you can't stop it. Think we're bad? Look at Russia and China. If a kid has a good arm at age 5 that's it he's owned by the government.

It's all about money and that's sad but it's also reality. I doubt there is any stopping it.

Posted by Cosmic:

It's sad, it's pathetic, right down to parents fighting in the crowds of little league games. Yet, you can't stop it. Think we're bad? Look at Russia and China. If a kid has a good arm at age 5 that's it he's owned by the government.

It's all about money and that's sad but it's also reality. I doubt there is any stopping it.

Sport is good for kids. If somebody has talent why not to use it.
If kid is good in misic, science, or poetry its OK; why pro sport is not good?