The year was 2002, the site was Akron, Ohio, and the talk was about one high school athlete in particular: LeBron James.
James’ high school rise to super-stardom was well documented, even a long thirteen years ago before the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Rivals completely covering recruits to the brim. That said, ESPN was alive as ever, broadcasting his games for the whole country to see. It was madness, and every college coach would have taken James with open arms.
Now it’s his son’s turn. He’s TEN.
Yes, yes, yes, in today’s world of way-too-early AAU tournaments, mix-tapes of elementary players, and the urge to talk about “the next big thing” when that big thing has barely hit puberty, LeBron James’ son has begun to receive media, and college, attention at the ripe age of ten. Of course, it is ridiculous in every way, but this is how society acts today. It’s almost like we’re resorting back to the old Spartan Empire that began training their warriors at age seven. That was in (approximately) 480 B.C.
To say the least, LeBron James Jr.’s father is not happy with college coaches recruiting his son so young.
James told CBS Detroit, “Yeah, he’s already got some offers from colleges. It’s pretty crazy. It should be a violation. You shouldn’t be recruiting 10-year-old kids.”
He’s absolutely correct.
With recruiting getting more and more competitive, coaches have looked for any way possible to gain an edge. If they have to begin to make a connection with a kid and their family in middle school, then so be it. The use of social media has made it a lot easier for college coaches to pick out the top talents in class that is five or more years away. Even Rivals.com is keeping track of sixth grade football prospects. Sixth graders.
In 2012, we learned about Julian Newman. Newman was a 4’5” FIFTH grader, and starting point guard for a Florida high school team. He is the only player listed in the 2020 class on 247sports.com. Three years earlier, a prodigy video of Jaylin Fleming came on YouTube. Fleming was nine-years-old at the time, and has since made appearances on The George Lopez Show and a McDonald’s commercial. Jordan McCabe was another prodigy that was introduced to us through the world of YouTube. He went on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year.
Now, this is not an article to knock these young players. Hell, they’re doing what they love to the best of their abilities. How could one knock them?
Obviously, this isn’t your normal “internet prodigy” situation. I mean, the kid’s father is LEBRON JAMES. That fact alone will bring unprecedented attention to LeBron James Jr. So, take a Julian Newman, Jaylin Fleming, or Jordan McCabe, and quadruple their amount of hype. Then, consider how much social media could take off in about five years, around the time James Junior will enter high school. Consider again that this is LeBron James son.
This will be a media circus at it’s finest. Just imagine the amount of scouts, haters, and curious fans that will be at every high school game that James Junior competes in. The amount of pressure and coverage will be at an all-time high, and it is going to be mind-boggling. College coaches will be watching every game, every single moment of this kid’s career. High school gymnasiums will be sold out every game, and packed past their max capacity.
The recruitment of LeBron James Junior will be the most heated in years. It’s easy to make that assumption because he already has offers at age ten. Coaches already attend his AAU games, and Ohio State’s Thad Matta said that James Junior is “on their radar.” The national powers — Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, etc. — will throw everything they have at him, and I am sure we will see local schools — Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Indiana, ect. — try to make a move as well. Either way, it’s going to be a mess.
The good news for James Junior is that he will have a strong support system. LeBron James (Senior, I guess) has had a fair share of big decisions, and he undoubtedly learned from both. After a disastrous mishandling of “The Decision”, James did things the right way on his next go-around when he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That experience should definitely help James help his son when he has to make a college choice.
Even better news for LeBron James Junior? All of this doesn’t have to start for another five or so years. No worrying, no pressure, just go out and play some ball. That is, if all the coaches, analysts, and fans will let the kid have a childhood. He only gets one, just like the rest of us.
Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter – @LWOSVanHouten. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter –@LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
