Ex-NBA Player Tamar Slay Says Athletes Are Repeating 7th Grade To Excel In Sports

Former NBA player Tamar Slay says some parents are hitting the rewind button on seventh grade ... all to give their kids a bigger edge in sports and potentially make more money in college.

Slay -- who now runs the Slay Basketball Academy in Charlotte, NC -- joined "TMZ Live" Monday and told us reclassifying has become a serious move for families chasing college offers, NIL money and, eventually, the pros.

Harvey pushed back on the trend ... arguing it can make school feel like an afterthought if a kid is repeating seventh grade mainly for basketball or football.

Slay said he gets that concern -- but Charles pointed out the flip side ... if top athletes are all reclassifying, the kids who don't could end up getting left behind.

Slay agreed ... saying kids who don't reclassify can wind up competing against older, stronger players and losing out on rankings and offers.

He says some parents have even told him they're rethinking academics to maximize their kid's earning potential in college.

Still, Slay says doing it based purely on projection is a mistake ... though it can pay off if families really weigh the pros and cons.