NCAA classifies 7th graders as prospects

[bigdogrunnin]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

you are absolutely correct...this IS a good thing. previously, kids in 8th grade and younger could be contacted, pursued, and recruited by colleges without any rules governing this process. now, those schools that wish to do this must follow NCAA guidelines that will limit access to these kids.

as we've seen with other areas of life in the U.S., little or no regulation/oversight leads to larger problems which require substantially more difficult solutions to be implemented after the fact.

It IS a good thing with regard to the unscrupulous recruiting that takes place across the country. I mean, c'mon . . . we already have websites that are ranking 5th grade (9-10 yrs old) recruiting classes. Really?!?!? Is the "science" of scouting now SO advanced that we are able to predict, with any level of certainty, just how good a ball player a kid is going to be BEFORE they even hit puberty? I don't think so.

However, though inadvertently, it also DOES promote the often narrow-minded, selfish, and vicarious nature of some (or many) parents/guardians. Sad, but true.