I'd suggest a year abroad. Sort of like a senior year of high school, as part of a student exchange program, without having to bother about transferring credits, simply to enjoy another culture and get fluent in another language. That way he has a project like his friends, won't be hanging around his hometown, academics won't count and he can gain maturity. He could apply in his last year of high school and ask for deferred entry or apply over the summer just before leaving. Either way, it would look interesting on his application.
