Props to Elder Chandler for serving. But the other 69,999 also sacrificed and most of them are also "incredible" missionaries. Elder Chandler did make some sacrifices but so have a lot of other young men and young women.
I don't see the need to praise the kid for going to Kentucky. Honestly, I hope it doesn't work out for him at Kentucky and that he chooses to come to BYU next year and he can serve as a poster child for any other LDS prospect who considers following Mark Pope. I don't have anything against him, I just think that is what would be best for BYU.
I can tell you that Elder Saunders and Elder Knell and Elder Hall will have a much bigger influence on my kids than anything Elder Chandler has done so far or will ever do at Kentucky.