Photo Courtesy of Tom Howell

Tyler Lewis became a starter for Forsyth Country Day when he was in the eighth grade. LEWISVILLE Tyler Lewis has seen the looks of disbelief. So have Rusty LaRue, Lewis' basketball coach at Forsyth Country Day School, and Rick Lewis, Tyler's father and AAU coach. Looks aside, Lewis -- a 5-10, 140-pound freshman point guard -- is a very good basketball player. So good that he already has three Division I scholarship offers. "I am positive that Tyler will be a Division I basketball player," said Dave Telep, who lives in the Triangle area and is the national basketball-scouting director for Scout.com. Behind his shy veneer and his mouth full of braces, the still-developing Lewis, 15, has a basketball acumen that has made him a starter for the Furies since the middle of the 2007-08 season when he was in the eighth grade.

Rick Lewis said that his son has scholarship offers from Auburn, UNC Charlotte and Virginia Tech, a sign of the times that recruiters are looking at younger age groups for potential future stars.

Tyler shrugged when asked about the offers that came last August, saying he was surprised because he hadn't yet started his freshman year of high school.

"I was thinking about it, and I was thinking that now I have to prove to everybody that I should have gotten an offer," he said. "I can't let anybody down. If I play bad, they will say 'He shouldn't have been offered.' "

Tyler and his brother, Colby -- a 6-2 senior at FCD who averages 10.5 points a game -- transferred to FCD from Statesville Christian in the summer of 2007. Rick Lewis said he decided to move his sons for better basketball opportunities, and the family chose FCD over Cannon School in Concord. Every school day, the brothers make the 45-minute trip from Statesville to Lewisville, with Colby driving.

Rick Lewis said that the move was awkward for his sons at first but that they are far more accustomed to FCD this year. Tyler spends more time on the court than any player on the team, averaging 23.8 (out of 32) minutes a game.

Despite playing against older, stronger guards, Tyler has a 2-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio, averages 12.5 points (second on the team) and shoots 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the foul line.

And LaRue said he never worries about Tyler being in over his head.

"The biggest thing for him will be the size and speed aspect," LaRue said. "His skills and IQ are good enough to play at a high level, he just needs to continue to grow. He has long arms, even for a small kid, and great hand-eye coordination. He is a step ahead seeing plays and things like that. His defensive anticipation is good, so he has intangibles. He is competitive. He is fiery kid and likes to win."

Tyler gave a lot of credit to Colby, who he said has pushed him to become better.

"He will get me to go play, and we will go outside, and he will foul me sometimes, but I guess that's what I need," Tyler said. "He is bigger and stronger. When I play against bigger competition, it helps me out.

"I know I'm not that strong. But people look at me as someone they can push around, but I'm not going to sit there, once they push me, and not fight back. I think I use my body real good when I get past a defender."

One thing that Rick Lewis, LaRue and Telep agree on -- Tyler's basketball IQ is his calling card right now.

"Very few guys have a presence at a position the way he does," Telep said. "He is an excellent guard. He has ability to distribute, great court vision, and he can score. He is a good player. He is one of the best freshmen I have seen in our state. The challenge for Tyler and any other freshman remains the same -- on a yearly basis as physical attributes catch up and athletic ability evens out, where do you stand?

"Tyler has an advantage because he has a basketball brain. He is wired up properly, a very hard-working kid, and he has the desire to be really good. He has high level (college) attributes, but quickness and size-wise?"

Rick Lewis started the Carolina Flight AAU basketball program seven years ago. Tyler's teams have won state championships five of those seven years and finished in the top 10 in national tournaments several times.

Rick Lewis said he has seen many players learn the hard way that that Tyler's looks are deceiving.

"One time at a tournament, a guy that saw him play said that Tyler was a pretty good player, and another guy said he looked like a choir boy," Rick Lewis said. "And the guys responded: 'When he gets on the court, he plays like the devil."

Tyler Lewis, who has helped the Furies to a 15-3 record, said he has a long way to go.

"I am playing to get better," he said. "Basketball is a game, and you have to have fun. My dad and all the coaches, they say if this game isn't fun, you shouldn't be playing."

That puts LaRue at ease.

"I don't think it goes to his head," said LaRue, who played at Wake Forest and in the NBA. "He understands that basketball is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport. Unless he continues to improve, some of these things might go away."

- Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com

Simmons has good size for a power forward at 6-foot-8, and because he is just a sophomore, it is no surprise that he is still growing.

"I think I'm still growing a little more" he said. "My doctor said that I'll probably finish up at between 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-11."

The talented sophomore possesses good athleticism for his size, and he discussed the strong points of his game.

"I like to run down the court" he explained. "My high school team and my AAU team run a lot. I can also shoot the ball pretty well. I worked a lot on my range this summer and my upper body strength. Right now I'm learning how to do a lot of face up moves."

Simmons has great size for a sophomore.

What does the Wake Forest coaching staff like about Simmons? "Wake has told me that they like how I run up and down the court" Simmons said. "They think that I could be a good fit in their offense. They also like my defense and how I rebound." With all of the talent that he possesses, Simmons is sure to have plenty of options when making a college decision. He claims that he is currently hearing from Auburn, Davidson, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Western Carolina. What will he be looking for from these schools? "Just a variety of things really. I want a school that has good facilities. I also want to feel comfortable around the coaches. I am looking for a close interaction between the student body and the basketball team."

Simmons claims that his experience at Wake Forest was very positive.

"It was awesome" Simmons exclaimed. "That's probably the third of fourth time I've been, and this was the best one. I like the closeness among the students and the team. The students at Wake were awesome; they were really loud. I also really like the coaching staff."

The sophomore forward was able to get a close-up look at the team and the offense they run.

"I went to the shootaround at around three. I talked to a few of the players. I feel pretty comfortable around the team. There were a few sets that we use on my high school team that they were running against North Carolina. Everything seems so familiar with them. The visit was good, it's always good when I get to go there. I just love being around their campus and seeing their team. The game was rocking from start to finish. "

Simmons, who has led his Smoky Mountain squad to a perfect 13-0 start to the season claims that he doesn't have any favorites at the moment.

"I'm wide open right now" Simmons explained. "Each school brings something different that sticks out to me."

Simmons has not set a timeline for his recruitment at this time.

Associated Press Greenberg and the Hokies have already offered Gill.

One such player is Anthony Gill, a 6-foot-8, 204-pound forward from Charlotte (N.C.) Christian, who is averaging 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game during his sophomore year, according to his father, Anthony Sr. "I have been very pleased with his development. He has worked very hard and is constantly striving to do his best," the elder Gill told HokieHaven.com. "During the off-season he works very hard and we are pleased with his development both as a player and a young man." Gill has helped his team to a 10-4 record to this point in his season and spoke about the changes that have emerged in his game. "I would probably have to say that my biggest improvements have been stepping up when the team needs me in games and being able to handle tougher situations this year than in the past," the younger Gill said. "I am getting on the boards, my rebounding has improved and my ball handling has improved quite a bit since last year." Gill noted that he is getting interest from Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, Wake Forest, Davidson and Virginia, pointing out that Virginia "has stepped it up quite a bit recently" and alluding to offers from the Hokies and Appalachian State.

"I just want to keep working hard and see where I end up as a player," Gill said. "I would love to be able to play in the ACC."

The Hokies have stated their case where Gill is concerned and the attention is something that he has certainly noticed.

"Virginia Tech started recruiting me during my (2008) AAU season and Coach (Assistant Stacey) Palmore has been the lead coach in my recruitment," said Gill. "I really like how (Head) Coach Greenberg stays on his players and coaches his teams and brings out the best in them. I like that style."

But Gill understands that his game still needs refinement and improvement before he eventually arrives at the next level.

"During the school year I play the four (inside forward) and five (post) positions, but in AAU I usually play the three (wing forward) or four. I would like to play the three eventually but I will play wherever my team needs me to," he continued. "I need to improve my shooting from the perimeter and just become more of a perimeter player. I need to be more comfortable out on the wing since I play in the post so much during the school year."

It's no joke. College coaches looking for a competitive edge are in some cases recruiting and accepting commitments from players earlier than ever.

'Abdication of ethics'

Haney, the NABC executive director, said it's difficult to predict if a junior high player will make enough progress on the court and in the classroom to live up to a commitment.

"Kids committing in the eighth or ninth grade, in some cases they haven't even taken a core course toward initial eligibility," Haney said.

Davidson coach Bob McKillop said college presidents and deans of admissions need to stop coaches from offering seats at their universities to players with no high school academic credentials.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski worries about high school students getting preoccupied with college instead of focusing on high school academics and experiences like the prom.

"They're going to get screwed up a little bit," Krzyzewski said. "You've got to stay in the moment. As a parent, I think you would be concerned."

Morgan, the sports ethics expert, said coaches under intense pressure to win sometimes do things they otherwise wouldn't. He said it's up to the schools to stop them.

"Institutions can't get off the hook here," Morgan said. "Simply leaving these kind of decisions up to the coaches is an abdication of an ethical role of these institutions."

Morgan, author of "Ethics in Sport," "Why Sports Morally Matter" and other books about sports ethics, said it's up to parents and high school coaches to protect them from college coaches who might not have their best interests at heart.

Morgan said parents sometimes get starstruck by the attention and don't act in paternalistic ways, either.

"Obviously the younger they go, the more problematic it becomes," he said.

Will he grow?

Because of his extensive background as a club team coach, Rick Lewis isn't as awestruck as some parents when he meets famous coaches or players.

He said Tyler has been around so much big-time basketball that he isn't easily impressed, either. During the summer, he played in the backcourt alongside New Orleans Hornets All-Star Chris Paul at a Pro-Am event at Forsyth Country Day.

Tyler enjoyed it but wasn't used to playing with another point guard who commanded the ball.

"It's pretty cool playing with him," Tyler said. "He's a good leader. He tells you what you need to do on the court and what man to pick up and everything."

What's Tyler's basketball future? During a break at his annual Tournament of Champions club basketball event in Chapel Hill last summer, All-Star Sports recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons spoke glowingly of Tyler, who twice has attended Gibbons' evaluation clinics for younger players.

Gibbons calls him an outstanding passer and playmaker and says his point guard skill level is advanced far beyond his years. He says Tyler is a precise shooter if there isn't a taller player guarding him. Gibbons believes he has "tremendous upside" if he continues to grow.

If not, Gibbons said, it's difficult to project him as a prospect for a major college program.

"That's the unknown factor," Gibbons said, "and the risk coaches take in offering players this young and immature."

Most high school freshmen do grow, and Tyler said coaches like seeing him shine now against bigger, older players. He surmises that coaches expect him to get quicker and stronger. In the past year, he has grown two to three inches, and his brother Colby is 6-2 as a high school senior.

Tyler grew up a North Carolina fan and said he probably would go there if given a chance but is in no hurry to decide on a school.

"As I get along in high school, I can go visit some more colleges, see how I like them, meet the coaching staffs," he said.

His father is proud and excited about his son's prospects, but also is more pragmatic. Rick Lewis wants to make sure Tyler won't sit the bench wherever he goes.

He acknowledges that the schools that offered scholarships early made an impression on the family with their early interest. That's the edge some coaches are seeking, despite the NABC's objections.

"Whoever shows you the most love early," Rick Lewis said, "you have to show them some respect."