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Basketball's next big thing is 11-years old?

Thursday, April 28, 2005

It's Saturday morning, a little before 9 o'clock. The No. 1-ranked basketball player in the nation in his class is lacing up his orange game shoes, among the many accessories his summer team receives free from its sponsor, Adidas. He pulls on his warm-up top and heads to one of six courts at The Fieldhouse in Fishers for a spring-league tournament game.

His name is Kevin Ferrell. He's in the fifth grade, according to the INDIANAPOLIS STAR.

Think a lot of attention has been showered on high school phenoms like Lawrence North's Greg Oden? That's the tip of the iceberg. Today's search for moneymaking basketball talent isn't for the next LeBron James. It's for the next preteen star who could become the next Greg Oden who could become the next LeBron James.

Not only are grade-school children being ranked by nationally known scouting services, by the time they're in fifth grade, they've become full-fledged cogs in the basketball machine, complete with national travel and, increasingly, shoe company sponsorship.

Last year, Adidas started a national, invitation-only camp in San Diego for fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders. One of the reasons to attend, its Web site says: "Top college coaches in attendance." Other shoe companies are also targeting younger children.

Big-time college coaches are showing interest in kids before they enter high school. Demetrius Walker, of Fontana, Calif., an eighth-grader recently profiled in Sports Illustrated, received his first recruiting letter in sixth grade and one from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in seventh. It's not uncommon.

Clark Francis, publisher of The Hoop Scoop, a Louisville, Ky.-based scouting service that has pushed the envelope on ranking young players, last spring pushed it to its lowest point yet: fourth-graders.

Kevin Ferrell, then a 10-year-old, 4-foot-10-inch point guard from Lakeside Elementary in Warren Township, has a crossover dribble, can hit a running jumper in the lane and snaps off one-handed bounce passes that hit teammates in stride. He topped Francis' national list. And soon the pressure began.

Kevin's father, Kevin Sr., received a call from the Adidas camp. "They said they wanted him to come to the camp, but what they wanted me to do was send $575," Ferrell said. "I said, 'I'm going to have to pass.'

"What they're saying now is that if he doesn't go to the Adidas camp, he won't be on the rankings page."

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