This has the potential to be a controversial topic and I’m hoping that some of you may have done this, thought about it, decided against it, etc.  This is my first time posting a question so please bear with me.

My 13-y/o son is in 8th grade.  He has played on a travel basketball team for several years.  He’s a good player, has great basketball IQ, but isn’t the most athletic kid on his team.  One of the topics that is frequently discussed by our coach is the goal of getting our kids in to good colleges—develop their skills now, get noticed in high school and get a college scholarship.  

On our team we have several families who have held their kids back in school for a year, so that they will be bigger and stronger when they get to high school.  I talked with 3 families this past weekend and they said they are very happy with their decision and their sons are doing well.  For the most part, their sons have repeated 8th grade.  They take them out of public school, and have them attend a 2nd year of 8th grade at a private school.  

I think my son might benefit if given a little more time to mature physically and would be more confident playing high school ball if he were a little taller and stronger (he’s 5‘7“, maybe a little taller now).  

On the other side of the coin - he's a smart kid, hasn't gotten straight 4.0 all through middle school (a public school). If he gets bored doing 8th grade again - there will definitely be discipline problems.  But...private school will be more challenging hopefully.

What about when he’s 18 through all of his senior year of high school?  Will that be a struggle...on the other hand, he’s a good kid, always has been.  

And finally (oy vey, there's a lot here, thanks for your patience - if I haven't lost you already!) his dad and I have been divorced for 8 years, don't communicate very well, but he is very involved with my son and they have a great relationship - for that I am thankful.  I need to have all my pro and con arguments lined up before I talk to him.

So...what do you think?  

Thanks so much for your time.