Middle school: what recruiting isn't yet
No, the seventh-grade combine doesn't matter. Here's what actually does at this age.
Middle school is when the recruiting industry first knocks on your door. Camps with "exposure." Rankings of 12-year-olds. Trainers who promise scholarships. Almost none of it matters yet.
What matters: building an athlete who loves the work. Coordination, basic strength, multiple sports, classroom habits. Coaches notice movers — but not until 9th or 10th grade.
What to skip: any "showcase" that costs more than a tank of gas, any service that promises college contact for a middle-schooler, any ranking site that wants your money.
If you want one thing to track right now, track grades. The freshman GPA shows up on every transcript a college coach will ever see. Everything else is rehearsal.