Josh McKenzie drinks a protein shake during math class at Seashore Day Camp and School in Long Branch where he repeated 8th grade during the last school year. 9/18/14 (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
By Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Follow on Twitter
on September 01, 2015 at 8:01 AM, updated September 01, 2015 at 9:17 AM
Karl-Anthony Towns. Brian Toal. Isaiah Briscoe. Johnny Sebastian.
These record-breaking New Jersey athletes all won state championships and topped national or regional recruiting rankings.
They share something else: Each repeated the eighth grade.
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While there is no known or reliable data on the new trend, coaches and recruiting analysts say more young athletes across the nation are "redshirting," or repeating a grade before high school to gain athletic advantage. Although not every decision is made with athletics in mind, experts say the extra year often helps players excel in sports and eventually earn college scholarships. In most recent cases, players have repeated the eighth grade, while others have been held back by their parents before starting school or have spent an extra year in kindergarten.
The outcome is often meant to be the same: Older, bigger, stronger, faster, more mature and more polished student athletes are better prepared to draw the attention of coaches and recruiters.
Josh McKenzie: Why I chose Bergen Catholic The No. 1-rated wrestling and football prospect nationally entering high school, Josh McKenzie, now 15, explains why he chose Bergen Catholic High School. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
"These parents want what's best for their kid," Rivals.com national football recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said. "That's their choice. That doesn't make them horrible people. There are parents out there who have good kids, who have good grades, who have good athletic ability, who they just want to put them in the best position."
In New Jersey, student athletes are eligible to compete as high school seniors as long as they turn 19 after Sept. 1 of that school year, so many families see this as a window for their kids to improve their standing. Eighth grade has become a popular year to repeat because students only have four years of eligibility once they start high school.
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"If holding your kid back gives them a physical advantage and you're that serious about making your kid a big-time star, you're only getting rewarded for it," Farrell said. "Honestly, it's a very interesting strategy because (recruiting analysts) don't care. Colleges don't care. If you're a class of 2015 (prospect) and you're 19 and there's another 2015 kid who's 16 — they don't care."
In New Jersey, some coaches estimate 20 to 50 percent of top-tier athletes have repeated a grade, even if it means leaving behind their friends and their social circles.
"You can't deny the benefits," Montclair High football coach John Fiore said. "That year of maturity really helps — with boys especially."
Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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