A Dangerous Precedent

A 15 year old, eighthgrader from Thousand Oaks, CA named Michael Avery committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky in 2012.

Let me repeat myself: an eighthgrader committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky.

Is it just me or is there a HUGE problem with this picture. I am a big supporter of making athletes play at least 2 years of college ball before entering the Association because I have a problem with the lack of maturity in some of the under 20 year olds in the NBA. With that said, I have an even bigger problem with a 15 year old committing to play college ball at a University before even deciding where he will play high school ball. What were Michael's parents thinking allowing their son to make this sort of statement? And on the flip side, what was Billy Gillispie thinking pursuing a child who is still four years away from entering college. I mean seriously, there is a good chance Gillispie wont even be at UK when Michael enrolls.

Michael's dad, Howard, made this bold statement when attempting to justify allowing his 15 year old to make this commitment.

I would think a kid in his senior year that doesn't have to worry about his performance on the basketball court, SAT scores and AP scores would have less pressure.

Your right, it is nice to be a senior and have already decided where to attend college. But that is three years away, so slow down Michael, slow down! and Howard, your kid wont have much to worry about for the next four years, therefore, he will have no academic work ethic and he will probably be extremely conceded since everything will be sitting beneath his feet and he won't have to work for it. I know you are trying to turn this into how Michael's life will be easier, but it simply isn't the case. There are limits on how 'easy' your life should be and committing to play college ball somewhere while still carrying a lunch box to school is an example of life being too easy for your own good.

I hope this is an isolated incident of two parents who have driven their kid so hard that all they see in the future is an NBA career with many dollar signs behind it. Because if this ever becomes a trend, it means our society has perverted the idea of childhood and bought into the "American dream" at far to early of an age.