Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWhy wait?
In search of 'can't miss' talent, colleges target commitments from recruits as young as 14 years old
By John Clayton
Posted: 10/28/07, 11:18 PM EST Section: Sports
At the time, Sterns was a 15-year-old freshman just a year removed from a trip to a Baylor camp. Baylor head coach Scott Drew could only call Sterns' father, who then relayed the news to his son.
Drew declined comment on the issue for this story.
Similarly, Syracuse coaches called Abbott upon deciding Waiters was worth the risk of a scholarship.
The recruiting process is already heating up for Sterns, who said his father, James, a former-Baylor basketball player in the '80s, receives at least three phone calls a week from different schools. Even so, the point guard said he is comfortable with his decision.
"It's gonna take a whole lot," Sterns said. "The only reason I'd choose another school is if Coach Drew leaves. That'd probably be the main reason."
Yet Waxahachie head coach Lonnie Gaylor said the 5-foot-11 guard's decision could waver when coaches are allowed to directly contact Sterns.
"I'm sure right now it's pretty strong, but the recruiting process can be pretty intense," Gaylor said. "I'm sure that when he's a junior next year, there will be schools calling, trying to sway his opinion, and kids are easily swayed."
Recruits changing their minds leading up to signing day isn't totally uncommon. Current Duke freshman forward Taylor King originally committed at age 14 to play for UCLA, only to change his mind and choose Duke midway through his junior year at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High School.
Currently, the trend of offering scholarships to players so early exists almost exclusively among the Dukes and UCLAs of the college basketball world. Of the 11 schools who have received commitments from high school sophomores, none come from so-called "mid-major" conferences.
Yet Martelli said as competition continues to intensify, the trend could begin to pervade through all levels of college basketball. With that comes the inherent risk of reaching deeper into the high school talent pool before coaches have had time to properly evaluate.
"My assumption is that all things filter down, so I think you'll certainly see it in the Atlantic 10," Martelli said. "I just think the chances of making a mistake - I think as you go deeper in classes, beyond the top 30 in the (sophomore) class, in high school, I think you have a real chance of making a mistake."
Waiters figures preliminarily to be one of the top 30 players of his class. The guard finally has his high school situation figured out - he recently accepted a scholarship to play at South Kent School (Conn.), which has a lauded prep basketball program.
Only time will tell if both Waiters and Syracuse feel as strongly about each other as they do presently. But at least for now, the 15 year old seems to know what he wants.
"Mentally, he's already there," Abbott said. "If he could go there now, he'd be there, but unfortunately, he's so young."
Drew declined comment on the issue for this story.
Similarly, Syracuse coaches called Abbott upon deciding Waiters was worth the risk of a scholarship.
The recruiting process is already heating up for Sterns, who said his father, James, a former-Baylor basketball player in the '80s, receives at least three phone calls a week from different schools. Even so, the point guard said he is comfortable with his decision.
"It's gonna take a whole lot," Sterns said. "The only reason I'd choose another school is if Coach Drew leaves. That'd probably be the main reason."
Yet Waxahachie head coach Lonnie Gaylor said the 5-foot-11 guard's decision could waver when coaches are allowed to directly contact Sterns.
"I'm sure right now it's pretty strong, but the recruiting process can be pretty intense," Gaylor said. "I'm sure that when he's a junior next year, there will be schools calling, trying to sway his opinion, and kids are easily swayed."
Recruits changing their minds leading up to signing day isn't totally uncommon. Current Duke freshman forward Taylor King originally committed at age 14 to play for UCLA, only to change his mind and choose Duke midway through his junior year at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High School.
Currently, the trend of offering scholarships to players so early exists almost exclusively among the Dukes and UCLAs of the college basketball world. Of the 11 schools who have received commitments from high school sophomores, none come from so-called "mid-major" conferences.
Yet Martelli said as competition continues to intensify, the trend could begin to pervade through all levels of college basketball. With that comes the inherent risk of reaching deeper into the high school talent pool before coaches have had time to properly evaluate.
"My assumption is that all things filter down, so I think you'll certainly see it in the Atlantic 10," Martelli said. "I just think the chances of making a mistake - I think as you go deeper in classes, beyond the top 30 in the (sophomore) class, in high school, I think you have a real chance of making a mistake."
Waiters figures preliminarily to be one of the top 30 players of his class. The guard finally has his high school situation figured out - he recently accepted a scholarship to play at South Kent School (Conn.), which has a lauded prep basketball program.
Only time will tell if both Waiters and Syracuse feel as strongly about each other as they do presently. But at least for now, the 15 year old seems to know what he wants.
"Mentally, he's already there," Abbott said. "If he could go there now, he'd be there, but unfortunately, he's so young."
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