Joe,

     First of all, if you have a 17 y.o. throwing 88 I would highly recommend that you and he immerse yourselves in this web site and learn everything you can about what produces velocity – then get on the 3X program as soon as possible and implement it with ferocity.  He's just a few miles per hour from the promised land and there's no better place to learn how to get there.

     If he's throwing 88 with a weak force vector, then he has some talent and he still has some velocity in the tank.  I think the force vector is the first key to 3X.  Study it and learn all you can about it – mostly from the video analyses.  It's more than just lining up the leg with the front hip.  There's much more to it than that and it's all here if you study the analyses.  Brent will answer any questions you have in as much detail as possible.  It's the force vector that allows properly timed force production – which produces triple extension – which produces hip and shoulder separation – which produces velocity. 

     My answer to your dilemma is an analogy.  When a pitcher is facing the first batter of the game, should he be focused on the 9th inning?  Obviously not.  He should be focused on the next pitch.  I think that's how you achieve any goal – one step at a time.  You can't get from 88 to 100 in one step, so why even think about it?  Focus on learning the concepts and the movements – then implement the drills and the training program.  Use velocity as a measurement of your progress.  Get to 89 first – then 90 – then 91 – then…

     I think everyone has a genetic maximum.  But, hardly anyone ever gets there.  So, don't worry about what it is.  Just do the work and find out. 

     Have you posted a video of him yet?  That's a very important first step.