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I just want to get an answer to a question I have no idea about. My teammate in HS ball is a more than good enough player to play in College, no matter the division. He's a high academic kid and has applied and gotten into most of his top choices which include Ivy and is choosing to send out videos to those coaches and hopefully they come see him play then he gets invited for a walk-on spot in the fall. But every time I ask him about looking at other schools, he says it's too late because of the college admission process is likely over for most schools. Is that true? I really don't know but I continue to tell him to email some D3's because of his academic prowess and they are still looking for players for the upcoming year. Is it still possible to be recruited this late into Senior Year? I know I shouldn't be messing around in his business but I've known this kid for years and I know that he has the potential to get a secured spot on a college roster instead of just a preferred walk-on spot. I just want to know if it's too late for him to look at other schools because of the admission process. 

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That is a pretty bold statement to say your friend can play at any level.  If he has already been accepted to some top academic schools it is very possible he is thinking more about his academic future than baseball.   Has there been an indication that he LOVES baseball and can't live without?  It seems to me if he truly LOVED baseball he would have pursued it a little more or at least asked questions sixth months or a year ago.  If he is as good as you say he is then he won't have any problem walking onto one of these schools whether it is D1 or D3.  Many schools will look at late recruits but he's got to want it and have a "hook" for these schools to come see him.  Distance could be an issue and the college baseball season could be issue for some of these coaches to see him.  

 

But it sounds to me like his agenda is school first and baseball second.  If that is the case the D1 Ivy may suit him well with D1 competition, reduced travel, and the shorter season is very accomodating for studies.  At my son's former Ivy they gave walk-ons a fair tryout every Fall, and took a couple every year.  Every so often they got a walk-on diamond in the rough.  JMO.

 

Good luck to you and your friend.

Originally Posted by AnotherBaseballParent:

At some schools, coaches are able to get guys admitted even though they did not apply by the school's normal deadlines. One D1 coach told me he got his SS in just a month before the fall term was starting. My son had a teammate who received 7 offers after his senior season. I think it varies from school to school.

I would echo what ABP said.  I had a pitcher on my summer team several years ago that had already applied and been accepted to a great D3 program.  In July of that year we won the state tournament and went onto National play in Baton Rouge LA. The pitcher was clocked at 91 during the game by a college scout and in the period of July and August applied, was accepted and all classes scheduled to attend a D1 school on a partial athletic and remainder academic ride.  He was already in the NCAA clearing house but that was the first contact he received from any D1 program.

 

If your friend is a true prospect and a school wants him for their program they can be very accommodating. 

While the NCAA limits rosters at 35, no Ivy school (except perhaps Cornell) comes close to that number - so there is room for an unknown impact player.

 

If a student has gained admissions through the regular process (i.e., non athletic admissions) to an Ivy (btw, regular decisions don't come out until April and early application rules basically limit a student to a single early Ivy application (except in narrow circumstances [e.g., Questbridge]), a candidate who can contribute to a team's success will be welcomed by a coach. Moreover, IMO, if a student has gained admissions and can combine that with playing baseball at an Ivy, there is no better path in D1 (except Stanford).

 

I echo Fenways observation about the priorities.

Originally Posted by BaseballGuy21:

I just want to get an answer to a question I have no idea about. My teammate in HS ball is a more than good enough player to play in College, no matter the division. He's a high academic kid and has applied and gotten into most of his top choices which include Ivy and is choosing to send out videos to those coaches and hopefully they come see him play then he gets invited for a walk-on spot in the fall. But every time I ask him about looking at other schools, he says it's too late because of the college admission process is likely over for most schools. Is that true? I really don't know but I continue to tell him to email some D3's because of his academic prowess and they are still looking for players for the upcoming year. Is it still possible to be recruited this late into Senior Year? I know I shouldn't be messing around in his business but I've known this kid for years and I know that he has the potential to get a secured spot on a college roster instead of just a preferred walk-on spot. I just want to know if it's too late for him to look at other schools because of the admission process. 

Depends on the admissions process, as I understand it.  If a school has rolling admissions -- as some D3 do -- then they can still recruit you right through the summer for the fall.  If not, and you have not applied for admissions by the stated deadlines, then apparently they cannot pursue you even if they want to.  At least that's the story a D3 coached told the crowd at a recent showcase we attended.  He was specifically addressing a question from an unsigned senior in the crowd.  It was past the deadline for application to his university and he said if you've applied I can recruit you on the basis of your senior performance,   But if you haven't I can't.  Some schools have rolling admissions, though, he said, and they can recruit you even into he summer of your senior year. .   

JCG

 

All great schools. But, big time athletics (and those are all baseball powerhouses) impact academics more then lower level athletic programs (e.g., major selections, classes missed, etc.). (Except Stanford.)

 

When a program has legitimate expectations of a possible CWS year (and every program you listed does), priorities of coaches and players are a bit different when it comes to academics. Sixty game (potential) seasons, seasons that begin in February and end in June, maximum practice times (and pushing that to its breaking point) do impact academics when compared to a forty game season beginning in March and ending the first week of May with less time mandated for practices, and total formal practice shut downs during things like study weeks, mid-terms and finals.

 

While there is some overlap in raw academic potential (as demonstrated by HS performance of recruits) between those schools, Ivy League rules dictate where the academic bar is set to be admitted. That academic bar is higher then the fine schools you mentioned.

 

Also, in certain industries, the Ivy League schools are job factories. It's not a single element which, again IMO, tilts the scale for most towards the Ivy League; it's the cumulative effect of lots of little factors (financial aid, employment opportunities, somewhat reduced athletic requirements, less pressure to produce right out of the box).

 

The obvious trade-off is the quality of baseball. Ivy League baseball is fine - but not nearly as good as those other schools.

Last edited by Goosegg
Originally Posted by Goosegg:

JCG

 

All great schools. But, big time athletics (and those are all baseball powerhouses) impact academics more then lower level athletic programs (e.g., major selections, classes missed, etc.). (Except Stanford.)

 

When a program has legitimate expectations of a possible CWS year (and every program you listed does), priorities of coaches and players are a bit different when it comes to academics. Sixty game (potential) seasons, seasons that begin in February and end in June, maximum practice times (and pushing that to its breaking point) do impact academics when compared to a forty game season beginning in March and ending the first week of May with less time mandated for practices, and total formal practice shut downs during things like study weeks, mid-terms and finals.

 

While there is some overlap in raw academic potential (as demonstrated by HS performance of recruits) between those schools, Ivy League rules dictate where the academic bar is set to be admitted. That academic bar is higher then the fine schools you mentioned.

 

Also, in certain industries, the Ivy League schools are job factories. It's not a single element which, again IMO, tilts the scale for most towards the Ivy League; it's the cumulative effect of lots of little factors (financial aid, employment opportunities, somewhat reduced athletic requirements, less pressure to produce right out of the box).

 

The obvious trade-off is the quality of baseball. Ivy League baseball is fine - but not nearly as good as those other schools.

Sounds like you know the baseball culture far better than me. I was just pointing out several other D1 schools that are, like Stanford, both top baseball schools and cited as among the top 10-20 most selective and/or highest academic schools in the country.

It is absolutely not too late to apply to most schools in the country…even if their published deadlines have passed. A large number of them are struggling for students (contrary to what you hear in the media) and will be recruiting students through the summer. This doesn't apply to to probably 10-15% of the schools in the country who are drowning in applications…but most aren't. 

Originally Posted by 9and7dad:

FWIW, I just checked Penn's roster - currently sitting at 34.  Doesn't change Goosegg's point, I agree with his post and the points he makes, but I was pretty sure Penn's roster was approaching the limit so I just went and checked it.

We just met with the Penn State coach this past weekend and they are holding a roster spot for my son until he makes up his mind.  How long will that be, I would imagine they would want to know in a few weeks.  I believe they said they have one slot left.

Originally Posted by lowflyby:
Originally Posted by 9and7dad:

FWIW, I just checked Penn's roster - currently sitting at 34.  Doesn't change Goosegg's point, I agree with his post and the points he makes, but I was pretty sure Penn's roster was approaching the limit so I just went and checked it.

We just met with the Penn State coach this past weekend and they are holding a roster spot for my son until he makes up his mind.  How long will that be, I would imagine they would want to know in a few weeks.  I believe they said they have one slot left.

You probably know this, but Penn ≠ Penn State.

Two ACC stories:  

  • Several springs ago I was listening to the TV commentators talk about the Ga Tech pitcher. Was a Freshman walk on.  He wanted to go to his top choice, GT, with or without baseball, so he didn't do much recruiting.  His high school coach called the GT coach and said you really need to look at this kid. Got his chance to start at an ACC school as a Freshman.
  • Former next door neighbor catcher wound up playing behind a stud in HS.  Not highly recruited, possibly some D3 schools.  At the state tournament that June, apparently he really showed his stuff.  After graduation, at beach week, after the draft, he gets picked up by an ACC school.  Currently in the MiLB.

 

I have seen D3 coaches talk to senior players after high school games very late in the season.

 

The issue with any story that begins "several springs ago" is before D1 roster limits of thirty-five. It used to be walking on was a decent gamble if the kid genuinely believed he could climb the talent ladder at his position. A team could roster as much talent as they wished. With today's rules he might not get the opportunity.

Originally Posted by RJM:

The issue with any story that begins "several springs ago" is before D1 roster limits of thirty-five. It used to be walking on was a decent gamble if the kid genuinely believed he could climb the talent ladder at his position. A team could roster as much talent as they wished. With today's rules he might not get the opportunity.

In my example it was 2-3 years ago, just couldn't remember exactly which year, and I don't think it was last spring.  So, still 35 man limit.

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