Many in the basketball community say that reclassifying can help a player's college scholarship chances, but some educators express concern.
Gonzaga's Terrance Williams shoots a free throw during a WCAC game against DeMatha in January. Coaches estimate that between 25 and 50 percent of the conference's varsity basketball players have reclassified before high school.
“We’re just in an odd place right now,” said Jay Bilas, a college basketball commentator for ESPN. “Just let each kid, each parent do what you want to do, that’s fine, do what is best for your kid. But man, there is no way that parents are spending as much time sort of facilitating their kids’ academic success as their athletic success.”
‘A pathway to college’ When parents make the decision to reclass their child, it isn’t as simple as having him retake the same grade at the same elementary or middle school. Instead, parents often transfer their children to a private school, which can be costly, or home-school them for a year. However, some see it as a pivotal step in a player’s preparation for private high school basketball and, eventually, college. For Stefan Marcelle, a ninth grader at Georgetown Prep, reclassing in eighth grade from James Madison Middle School in Prince George’s County to Woods Academy in Bethesda gave him a chance to adjust to a private school academic curriculum before entering high school.
“It’s almost like a badge of honor now,” said James Parker Jr., president of the Premier Youth Basketball League. “Like, ‘I’m good at basketball and I’m focused on the game, so I’m going to reclass.’”
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