I was talking with a local HS coach the other day and asked him what his feelings were about the importance of HS ball and college recruiting. He said that he has seen a significant reduction of college coaches at games over the past few years. He said that they now rely more heavily on Showcases and select summer ball.
My personal feeling is that your son would benefit from playing HS ball. Being on a HS team and representing the school that he attends builds confidence, character and pride. Making the JV or Varsity team will be something that he always remembers. While the level of competition and coaching may or may not be up to the select level, the other intangibles have to be considered. JMO.