RD,
You are probably seeing the excitement of parents with kids entering HS ball for the first time as many have had great success at the 14U level.
I think that they assume that will translate to varsity as a freshmen; innocently forgetting that there are older, stronger, more experienced players already at the school.
There will be a handful of freshmen make their varsity squads and contribute, but most won't, not because they aren't top players, but because the upper classmen at their respective schools are not stiffs.