<p>@ Starsky…the very early LAX (and ice hockey) commits to D1 programs happen here, too… including to Ivy schools. I referenced the recent NESCAC LAX commits, in particular, because many folks here vow that it can’t happen this early. I wanted to illustrate how a respected school/program/coach can and does work effectively with a college coach to pre-screen recruits for eventual admission. I have also never seen an academic recruit’s intentions expressed that way…cautiously optimistic… as committing to the admissions process.</p>
<p>kwalker - congrats on the offers. That is very exciting.</p>
<p>MaryOC, - Very interesting situation. So, it looks like the high school initiated these “stories” through a Blog or local media outlet (ESPN Boston in this case). The students must have agreed to the story as well as the colleges. I’m trying to think why the high school would be motivated to do such a thing besides honor their students and program. Do you think they are trying to draw more top lax players to move to their area to attend public school there? I know this is done at my son’s high school in football. The football team has won the district 14 times in a row and won states last year. They are a 4A school and beat a few 5A schools. on the way to winning the state title. They get some of the best kids in the area to move to their school district because of the coach and program. My two oldest son’s attended school their for (public) magnet school but not football. What do you think? Am I being too cynical and realistic? ;-)</p>
<p>starsky - I’m also familiar with a situation where a rising soph was offered a D1 baseball scholarship. It is a very flattering offer. However, it takes an equally mature, and intelligent young person to say “no thank you at this time in my life” or “can we talk in 6 months or 12 months?” (after I get my drivers license ;-)). The risk is all on the recruit, and I often wonder if the word “no” has left the English vocabulary.</p>
<p>Fenway…I do not believe they are trying to recruit LAX players to the area. Posting updates to the team’s blog or Twitter feed is likely a way to support and celebrate the accomplishments of the players. But the savvy coach there clearly orchestrated the announcements to show some caution and respect to the academic schools involved. </p>
<p>My son has a HS friend who received numerous offers to pitch for major D1 programs by the end of his sophomore year, when he was clocked by scouts hurling at 93 mph. This kid was also drafted by the Padres…but chose to attend college, instead…where he plays both hoops and baseball. This young man is on track to graduate in 3 years…and will likely go pro. Crazy skill & work ethic…and great guidance from both his parents and the school.</p>
<p>Just adding to Fenway’s post … We know of a perennially top rated HS football program in our area that everyone knows quietly recruits. It is in a blue collar area where it is pretty easy to acquire an address within district limits. They are one of the few programs in our area that send some kids D1 every year. I have also heard they are known to routinely exceed permitted practice times, which would not surprise me.</p>
<p>We also know a couple of lax kids who committed sophomore year. In at least one class, my son told me a teacher told one of those kids that he “rued the day the kid put that school in his back pocket” because that was supposedly the moment he started taking some kind of attitude towards teachers in a lot of his classes. Two years later He is apparently still a “go” at the very prestigious college, however.</p>
<p>There is a blue collar town just outside of Boston that has a similar reputation for recruiting, GP…and they have been a football dynasty forever. Lots of kids come to live with ‘aunts & uncles’ …and haters from opposing teams like to joke that the coaches keep apartments vacant for such prospects. Goofy.</p>
<p>Based on both our posts in the past, I am pretty sure we are both thinking of the same place!</p>
<p>There’s certainly some recruiting for families to move to town for certain sports – but there is also recruiting that happens at the youth level as kids are introduced and coached in specific sports. Publicizing the high school teams’ accomplishments would benefit both types of recruiting. </p>
<p>My husband is a lax junkie – he wants those elementary and middle schoolers thinking they should try lacrosse!</p>