u/CharacterOdd8755

Hey Coaches,

I work on the data and tech side, and I got tired of seeing international recruiting clogged with over-edited TikTok highlights and inflated stats.

I wanted to build something clean, data-first, and completely objective for a 14.3 year old international prospect who is currently 6'8" (2.03m) with an 8'9" (2.67m) standing reach.

Everything on this dashboard is 100% real, verified data. That includes medical bone age assessments, exact anthropometrics, and game films (that's not added yet).

I launched a working prototype here: Link:https://prospect-passport.vercel.app/
Passcode: SCOUT2030

I would love your honest feedback from a coaching perspective:

• Does this layout give you immediate answers when evaluating a kid overseas?
• What specific physical metrics or medical data are missing that you would want to see?
• How can we structure the video vault to make film evaluation faster for you?
• What academic or character markers would make this complete for NCAA eligibility?
• What unnecessary elements should we strip away to save a recruiter's time?

Appreciate any thoughts from the sub.

My son just turned 14 (heading into his freshman high school years) and is currently sitting at 6'8". We are based in Europe, so he is coming up through a traditional club system-meaning 4 to 5 days of skill and mobility work, and only 1 game a week, keeping his joints safe while his growth plates are still open. He's a natural lefty playing point-forward, but our absolute main priority right now is maintaining his 3.8 GPA.

For those who understand the high school and college recruiting landscape: if the ultimate goal is a D1 academic/athletic scholarship, does staying in the European club system put a kid off the radar? Do US recruiters appreciate the lower game-mileage and fundamental focus over here, or is there a specific age where making the jump to a US prep school becomes necessary to get noticed?

(Note: I posted in here recently asking about early developmental archetypes and positional reps, and the feedback from the coaches/evaluators was incredibly helpful. My goal with this specific post is strictly to understand the logistical and recruiting pathways between the EU and US high school systems.)

We are currently navigating a long-term development plan with my 14-year-old son, who is 6'8". His growth plates are still wide open, and his trainers and doctors have been very clear about avoiding heavy physical grinding or high game volume right now to protect his joints and knees.

Because we operate in a European structure, his weekly schedule consists of 4 to 5 skill and mobility practice days with only 1 game on the weekend. Compare that to the multi-game tournament setups where kids play several games in forty-eight hours, and it feels like two completely different approaches to athlete preservation.

At the same time, we keep a strict focus on his academics. He maintains a 3.8 GPA because basketball is meant to be a tool for his future and top-tier university opportunities, not a high-stress gamble where sports are his only option.

For youth coaches, athletic directors, and parents here who prioritize long-term development over short-term wins: how do you handle the pressure from teams or peers who push for more game volume at this age, and what mobility or recovery habits have you found most effective for fast-growing kids?

Hey coaches,

Looking to get some perspective from those of you who have handled elite physical prospects at a young age.

My 14-year-old (just turned 14) is officially measured at 6'8" (2.03m) barefoot. We just got his knee/wrist X-rays back, and his bone age matches his real age perfectly—growth plates are completely wide open, meaning he has a long way to go (doctors projecting well over 7'0"). He’s coming off a high-level European invitational camp experience where he held his own, but we are entering a crucial development window.

My biggest fear right now is the traditional trap: local coaches wanting to lock him under the rim as a permanent 5-man just to win youth games today, sacrificing his long-term modern game.

Currently, he has solid perimeter instincts, decent handle for his size, and good shooting mechanics.

If you had a 6'8" 14-year-old in your program with this physical profile:

1. Skill Balance: What percentage of his workout load would you dedicate to perimeter/guard skills vs. interior footwork at this exact age?
2. Physical Load Management: With wide-open growth plates and constant height adjustment, how do you handle his lateral mobility, deceleration, and knee care without overtaxing him?
3. Game Reps: How do you convince team coaches to let a 6'8" kid make mistakes handling/initiating on the perimeter during actual competition?

Would love to hear how you guys approach long-term prospect development over short-term wins.

UPDATE

Quick update on this. A high-level coach actually evaluated George in person through a camp he just attended, and his feedback lined up with the smartest advice on this thread.
He told us to keep him strictly on the wing as a 6'8 point-forward rather than burying him under the rim just because he is currently the tallest kid on the floor. He emphasized letting him initiate offense and make decision-making mistakes on the perimeter now so he actually learns how to process the game.
He also gave a strong warning about protecting his joints while his growth plates are open, saying heavy lifting or burning out on huge game mileage right now is a massive mistake. He really liked our European setup where we do 4 to 5 skill and mobility practice days a week with just 1 game on the weekend, compared to playing 4 games a day in AAU.
Finally, he noted that combining a perimeter skill set at his height with his 3.8 GPA keeps every door open for a free top-tier college degree, which is our primary goal anyway. Really encouraging to have a top coach evaluate him at camp and confirm that long-term movement, IQ, and joint health beat short-term post points every single time.

Hey coaches,

Looking to get some perspective from those of you who have handled elite physical prospects at a young age.

My 14-year-old (turned 14 in April) is officially measured at 6'8" (2.03m) barefoot. We just got his knee/wrist X-rays back, and his bone age matches his real age perfectly—growth plates are completely wide open, meaning he has a long way to go (doctors projecting well over 7'0"). He’s coming off a high-level European invitational camp experience where he held his own, but we are entering a crucial development window.

My biggest fear right now is the traditional trap: local coaches wanting to lock him under the rim as a permanent 5-man just to win youth games today, sacrificing his long-term modern game.

Currently, he has solid perimeter instincts, decent handle for his size, and good shooting mechanics.

If you had a 6'8" 14-year-old in your program with this physical profile:

1. Skill Balance: What percentage of his workout load would you dedicate to perimeter/guard skills vs. interior footwork at this exact age?
2. Physical Load Management: With wide-open growth plates and constant height adjustment, how do you handle his lateral mobility, deceleration, and knee care without overtaxing him?
3. Game Reps: How do you convince team coaches to let a 6'8" kid make mistakes handling/initiating on the perimeter during actual competition?

Would love to hear how you guys approach long-term prospect development over short-term wins.

UPDATE
Quick update on this. A high-level coach actually evaluated George in person through a camp he just attended, and his feedback lined up with the smartest advice on this thread.
He told us to keep him strictly on the wing as a 6'8 point-forward rather than burying him under the rim just because he is currently the tallest kid on the floor. He emphasized letting him initiate offense and make decision-making mistakes on the perimeter now so he actually learns how to process the game.
He also gave a strong warning about protecting his joints while his growth plates are open, saying heavy lifting or burning out on huge game mileage right now is a massive mistake. He really liked our European setup where we do 4 to 5 skill and mobility practice days a week with just 1 game on the weekend, compared to playing 4 games a day in AAU.
Finally, he noted that combining a perimeter skill set at his height with his 3.8 GPA keeps every door open for a free top-tier college degree, which is our primary goal anyway. Really encouraging to have a top coach evaluate him at camp and confirm that long-term movement, IQ, and joint health beat short-term post points every single time.