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First Impressions Can Create Unrealistic Expectations for Recruits
Perry Dozier Jr. of Columbia, S.C., has been
ranked by recruiting analysts as the top
prospect in the country for the class of 2015. - Brett Flashnick for The
New York Times
March 10, 2009
By ADAM HIMMELSBACH, The New York Times
Excerpts from the full article below. (Please
click here for the original
article)
(Clark)
Francis, who charges $499 a year for a subscription to his
recruiting service, said he would rather not rank sixth graders, but
since he was one of the few analysts who did, it made his business
stand out.
He said it was not his job to determine which players could be
negatively affected by his reports. He does not scour elementary
schools, but when a sixth grader attends an A.A.U. tournament or a
showcase camp, Francis considers him eligible to be ranked.
“A lot of people are horrified that we watch players at such an
early age,” Francis said.
“But plenty of college coaches want to know.”
They might want to know about Perry Dozier Jr.
Last summer, Perry Dozier Sr. was sitting in the bleachers at the
Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp in San Diego when one recruiting analyst
after another told him his son would be the top-ranked player in the
class of 2015.
Dozier Jr. is a 5-6 sixth grader at E. L. Wright Middle School in
Columbia, S.C. He signed his first autograph when he was in fourth
grade. He has a Web site, perrydozierjr.com, that displays his
highlight videos.
Last month, Dozier was selected to play for the junior N.B.A.
national team in an exhibition during All-Star weekend in Phoenix.
He stayed in the same hotel as Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving and
Dominique Wilkins, and when he met the former stars they told him
humility would be his greatest asset.
Dozier Sr. wonders if the rankings and the spotlight are creating an
impossible standard for his son.
“There might be expectations that are unreachable, or there are
worries about getting injured or anything that could possibly take
this game away,” said the 6-11 Dozier Sr., a former South Carolina
center. “But he’s a very mature young man.”
Dozier could thrive like Marshall, or he could be burdened by heavy
expectations like Allen. Whatever happens, it will not be because of
a lack of exposure.
For the next six years, the rankings and ratings will follow him to
tournaments and games and camps.
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