[Bette]

If college basketball coaches have their way, Michael Avery would be the last eighth grader making a college commitment. The National Association of Basketball Coaches said Thursday it strongly opposes accepting commitments from students who have not yet completed their sophomore season in high school. The decision comes a little more than a month after the 15-year-old Avery said he would attend Kentucky, and cites NCAA rules that prohibit coaches from contacting athletes before mid-June following their sophomore season.
"If the current rules state coaches cannot offer scholarships or accept commitments from students earlier than June 15 following the conclusion of the sophomore year, it certainly makes sense that this should apply to anyone in lower grades," said NABC president Tubby Smith in a written statement released by the association.
The board of directors said the decision was made, in part, because younger athletes had not yet demonstrated either "sufficient academic credentials" to be admitted to school. The board also acknowledged it was too difficult to project how refined their basketball skills would be by graduation.


http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10871357/rss


What do you think? Is 8th grade too young?

College basketball has seen an increase in the number of youngsters making a commitment.

[Quality88]

8th grade is to young.... Good idea... of course I question why Tubby Smith is involved in this, because lord knows he can't recruit worth a sh!t. Nor coach for that matter.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bette

What do you think? Is 8th grade too young?

Yes .. way to young. Let them be kids. It only happens once.

[Lefty Noob]

Way, way too young. Good grief, that's my nephew's age. I can't imagine a kid that age dealing with the pressures of college recruiting!!

[Quack Attack]

I know a lot of college recruiters watch 7th and 8th grade basketball now, nothing wrong with this, but yes...let the kids enjoy being kids. I don't even like the fact they are recruiting kids in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades. I am happy to see that college coaches oppose this idea. Great topic!