I edited it into the piece.

WTH????

While I agree with most of your analysis, that line is just wrong.

I don’t know where you went to school, but in 90%+ of schools, it is routine for Sophomores to be starters on the varsity squad, and most of them have most of the JV Team (even EIGHTH GRADERS from the associated middle school, in some states), on the bench for the varsity games. In a few cases, for girls teams, SIXTH GRADERS have played in state championship tournaments.

It is VERY rare for a school to have a squad that isn’t about 1/3 Sophomores & Freshmen; especially if the school has a football team (as the high school football playoffs conflict with the pre-season practice of basketball – if not the first week or two of games, if they make it to the state championships).

Now, you might find that situation you thing is the norm in an urban HS with 3000 students, with only 10th-12th graders (grouping 9th with Jr High), most HS in the nation are significantly smaller than that, and have 9th-12th grades present.

I’d be still be inclined to think it as “false” – only becuase he wasn’t necessarily cut, but just didn’t make the team – which are two different things entirely. “Cut” implies you WERE on the team at some point (usually after the season begins); “making the team” in high school isn’t anything like college or pros, as Freshmen & sophomores are constantly playing both JV & Varsity if the schedule permits.