@blossom, @cityran has done this rodeo once already and is asking these questions from experience with her daughter’s successful hoop-jumping and is returning to the collective institutional wisdom offered by the community here to help her and her son craft a targeted list of boarding schools that might fit his unique shape, which appears to be very different from her daughter’s. Because there is an athletic component to all boarding schools, offering his athletic experience is quite relevant, and knowing where he is strong and where he struggles (and if there are any LDs) is even more relevant as it will be critical in choosing those schools best suited to address those strengths and weaknesses and LDs if there are any.
From what she posted, she and her son already know that boarding school would be a good high school option for him, so she’s sharing all those things about him that are relevant to those here who can evaluate that portrait and help her start her “son’s BS journey on the right foot with eyes that are open a bit wider.” That’s how the process starts on this board.
7th grade is not too early to start targeting (I sure wish we had come to this process better informed), and it sounds like the son is on board, so they have plenty of unhurried time to start learning about schools that were not a consideration for her daughter. At this stage, learning about boarding schools that might fit his profile is not going to interfere with his middle school experience or be an undue burden.
@cityran, I can’t help much other than to say that you can certainly tour schools without interviewing (@buuzn can comment there; I believe she started looking with her 7th grade daughter), but COVID is complicating and changing this process, so it looks like virtual tours and, later, Zoom/Skype, etc. interviews are the model. I know you will get a lot of helpful suggestions from current BS parents who are closer to this process than I now am and who can give you some excellent suggestions.
Good luck this round getting to know a broader list of schools.