Ryan Boatright, a 138-pound potential basketball star at the University of Southern California, is currently undersized to play point guard for a major college. But give the kid a break: He’s just 14.
Boatright was offered a scholarship from USC when he was in eighth grade–before he had even selected a high school yet. He’s just one of scores of talented kids that colleges hope to woo to their programs, well before the young athletes are due to sign their official letters of intent in their senior years. Matt Carlino was offered full-ride scholarships from both USC and the University of Arizona when he was just in seventh grade.
Part of this youth rush can be traced to talent-scouting services available online. Organizations like HoopScoop Online start tracking talent when it’s still in sixth grade. More crucial, perhaps, is the ever-growing pressure on college programs to win, win, win. “Look at the rising salaries, the firings, the arms race for facilities development,” says Rick Boyages, a former college coach. “The competition and marketplace for kids is really no different from the stock market.” (Time)
