The University of Miami Hurricanes are already recruiting a 9-year-old girls basketball player, Jaden Newman, to play for their women’s program. Jaden may be in 4th grade but she plays on the High School Varsity team and reportedly averages 14 points a game. Listen, that’s impressive and all, but a lot can happen over the next 9 years before she gets to college. At the rate she’s probably playing and training she could burn out, or other kids will start to catch up to her skills-wise. Early age specialization is highly detrimental to an athletes development.
[USA Today]