Although he may have a training regimen that would leave some Olympic athletes in awe, should we really be looking to recruit kids as young as 11 years old? Jashaun Agosto is a prodigy, and with that said, he definitely deserves the attention he's brought to himself.
As I've traveled from one event to the other, I'm continually witnessing how the urge to find the next LeBron James or O.J. Mayo has found its way into junior high schools and middle schools. Agosto can do things with a basketball that most people only dream about.
Nestled away in the Northwest corner of the country (Federal Way, WA), Jashaun has become a household name, appearing on such shows like Jay Leno and Ellen. Seattle's KOMO 4 did a piece on him earlier this year, with
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Now with all that said, he might be more known for his appearances on Youtube!
With all of the accolades that have been thrown at this young man, there must be a sense of him feeling that he has to live up to the hype! Now his father might have him in the right mindset, but with letters of interest & questionnaires from schools like UCLA, could you blame him for having delusions of grandeur?
Maybe we, the media, need to know who the next big thing is to happen on the Prep scene, but in a way we're robbing these children of what I feel is the most important attribute to playing the game of basketball—"Having Fun"!
Along with him being very talented, a test at a Seattle sports clinic revealed he has an astonishing aerobic capacity. Doctors measured his VO2 max, which rates the ability to transport and utilize oxygen during exercise, and Jashaun received a score of 66.
It's a shockingly high number for a child, and by the time Jashaun goes through puberty, his VO2 max is expected to be higher than most world-class athletes. He could jump into the 80s, putting him in the same range as Lance Armstrong and Steve Prefontaine.
In my opinion, if he can keep all the leeches away from him and just enjoy playing the game, continue to grow and increase his basketball IQ, and develop more of an appreciation for what possibly could happen in his life, then and only then will he have the building blocks to become a great basketball player.
This is a article I would like to have a lot of feedback on. Let's debate the issue of what age is too young to recruit, and whether it is right or wrong to do so.
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2 months ago
Nice content in the article. I especially like the part about the VO2 max. It's kind of sad that 8th graders are being tested for things like this as if they were an Olympic level athlete. Kids aren't having enough time to be kids anymore and that's a shame.
A coach has to find "the next big thing" before they become a superstar or their job(s) are on the line if not so you sort of understand where the recruiters and coaches are coming from. I wish the NCAA would do something about this issue but this is just another way to market an athlete no matter what age they may be. Keep up the good work!
2 months ago
The proper age to start recruiting is sophomore year of high school at least! It is ruining these kids ability to have fun and to succeed in school. These kids will only get by with the minimum they need to pass and to play ball because they are only going places in schools to play ball. That's the problem with this age rule for the NBA. It is forcing kids to just go to college when all they want to do is play ball. These kids aren't living up to their potential in class because of this. It is beginning to be the same way in high school. Kids are being scouted in the 8th grade and not caring about their school work and passing their classes. Colleges and the NBA need to stop worrying about 8th graders and let them live their lives. The NCAA & NBA need to establish a rule as to when anyone can look at players. Websites (rivals, maxpreps, etc.) will most likely continue looking but we can't have these "verbal commitments" in the 8th grade!
2 months ago
I agree with your comments whole heartley. Due to laws that protect media outlets and other special interest, it seems as if this is what we're all going to have to get use to. We're going to have to educate our children better.
9 days ago
Ty'mon, this is a lovely article and it is great to know that you cover High School Basketball on Bleacher, wonderful! It truly is great to see children in sport but the media hype that goes with it kills the natural growth of the child.
9 days ago
Thank you for your kind words. As long as we the parents dont get caught in the hype our children should be fine.
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