Baylor is recuiting an 11 year old?

Down in Conway, Arkansas, there is a young man named Adrian Moore.

Well, young man probably isn't the correct term. Kid isn't either. So let me rephrase that sentence.

Down in Conway, Arkansas, there is a child named Adrian Moore. This child is 11 years old, but since he is 6'3" and was able to dunk as a 6th grader, he's become a bit of a sensation. Middle School Elite has already profiled him, he's been ranked as high as No. 2 in the Class of 2016 (also known as 7th grade), and he's being compared to Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. Hell, he even made it on The Big Lead.


Baylor has taken the bait. They've already sent Moore a recruiting questionnaire.

This shouldn't shock you in the least, not with George Dohrmann's book on Demetrius Walker still fresh in everyone's mind.

I've railed on the recruitment and the ranking of prepubescent boys many times, and as recently as September. I don't have the desire to do it again. Thinking about it makes me feel like I belong on an episode of Law and Order SVU.

Some hoped that Dohrmann's book would spark change, but few -- if anyone -- expected it. There is simply too much money on the line. Joe Keller, Walker's AAU coach, made a small fortune by attaching himself to the ten year old. He took a ride Walker's coattails and ended up establishing himself as the face of elite middle school basketball. In the process, Keller completely neglected what Walker needed to do to better himself as a basketball player. Once Keller realized that Walker was done growing at 6'3" and that he wasn't a sure fire first round draft pick, Keller discarded him.

Walker's issues were no different than what happens to a huge number of kids coming up on the AAU circuit. Their prodigies at a young age because of their physical ability or their god-given talents. For Walker, he happened to hit 6'3" and reach his peak athleticism before he got to high school. He was able to dominate because he was taller, stronger, and could jump higher than anyone he played against. But his reliance on his physical gifts cost him when he didn't grow.

At 6'3", Walker is a guard at the collegiate level. He's good enough at the sport that he is getting his education paid for first by Arizona State and now by New Mexico, where he is currently sitting out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Walker is, by no means, a failure. I wonder, however, how many people view his as such because he didn't live up to the unrealistic expectations that were placed on him at such a young age. I hope he doesn't view himself that way.

And I hope that the same thing doesn't happen to Adrian Moore.