For the elite schools, the sports can be the hook to get you in. But, you need the grades/test scores to show you can excel academically. They are more likely though, to find a reason to take you if they want you.

In my case (and this is older information), I was a baseball player. I was recruited by an Ivy, and several scholarship D1 Schools. My grades were middling, but my SAT's were very good: 1350.

I was assured I would be admitted to the Ivy....I turned it down and went to a different school that offered me a scholarship.

However, I blew out my arm in my freshman year; Tommy John Surgery was relatively new back then.

I overheard a lax mom and her mother (!) discussing these two WAPO articles yesterday at a game. They aren't about Ivy recruiting but it was interesting to read Patrick Ewing's insights and comments from local coaches.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/dc-area-recruits-take-a-wait-and-see-approach-to-patrick-ewing-hire-at-georgetown/2017/04/05/8ccbe9c0-1a13-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html?utm_term=.b4fafb4ce8f1
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/patrick-ewing-takes-over-a-georgetown-with-a-hit-of-nostalgia-and-a-dose-of-reality/2017/04/05/2e38984c-1a34-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html?utm_term=.a4d7282289b6

And just in case the OP or others don't realize it yet: At an Ivy, what you get is an admissions bump, potentially, if your kid needs it to get in the door, but no scholarship money. Ivys don't give athletic scholarships.

It is a long time between ninth and twelfth. I hope this wonderkid stays healthy and interested in this sport.

OP. Don't forget to think more broadly than sports as the ticket.

Kids getting recruited younger & younger (8th grade for hockey @ H).

Bottom line if your kid has stellar grades and very strong athletic ability/proven record throughout high school, they WILL get the attention. EC's have almost no play in this game.

Remember this with any school, a coach can be hot on your kids trail for months/weeks then fall off the radar when a more superior recruit comes along. Its an emotional ride, but in the end can be a fulfilling one. Just be strong and recognize that until your child has a commitment from the school, it can be taken away at the drop of a hat. Best of luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DC needs to have major D1 ability and the right body type to get the likely letter for HPYSM. Assess that honestly because to go blindly down the recruiting path is very high risk. Most athletes that get that far and GET TO PLAY are genetically blessed. Technical skills don't mean as much at the college level because they feel they can teach that. Coaches want natural skills like speed, extreme hand/eye talent, and size. I would make sure there's a back up plan in place.

This post was brought to by the year 1975.

+100 You need it all now. (including grades and top-level training and conditioning and that 'je ne sais quoi' - as one coach put it to us, which is kick-ass genetics, speed, instincts, body type, etc).

Anonymous wrote:Your DC needs to have major D1 ability and the right body type to get the likely letter for HPYSM. Assess that honestly because to go blindly down the recruiting path is very high risk. Most athletes that get that far and GET TO PLAY are genetically blessed. Technical skills don't mean as much at the college level because they feel they can teach that. Coaches want natural skills like speed, extreme hand/eye talent, and size. I would make sure there's a back up plan in place.

This post was brought to by the year 1975.

Your DC needs to have major D1 ability and the right body type to get the likely letter for HPYSM. Assess that honestly because to go blindly down the recruiting path is very high risk. Most athletes that get that far and GET TO PLAY are genetically blessed. Technical skills don't mean as much at the college level because they feel they can teach that. Coaches want natural skills like speed, extreme hand/eye talent, and size. I would make sure there's a back up plan in place.