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So my 2018 uncommitted son got this invitation a while ago and  wants to go. He's a C graded a 8.5 last fall but he's improved dramatically. He has been talking to high Academic D3 schools and I think that's where he'll go. His thinking is that there may be some Ivy or high Academic schools still looking. What's the opinion of the folks on this board? Appreciate the input

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If he's high academic what about the PG Fall Academic?  Few weeks apart, but its two weeks before and is focused on higher academic kids, if your son had an PG grade of 8.5 before and he's improved it could be a better chance to stand out.  Plus, if your son gets traction he'll have time if the HC need him to apply ED for admissions support.  (ED1 cutoff dates are either Nov 1 or Nov 15, some high academics will have an ED2).

Email or call the D3 academic coaches directly and find out if they'll be at either showcase!!  Your son will also be able to find out how many slots they have (7?), how many are taken, and if they're still looking for a C.  You can eliminate a lot of second guessing by doing this right now!

Going into this time frame make sure your son gets his common app and related essays completed, and counselor and teacher rec's... He has to have them anyway for applying, so be prepared.  Also, define his interest:  is he an engineering kid?  Stevens Tech  If he's  a liberal arts kid - history or econ major you'll have a lot of flexibility.

Can you share his ACT or SAT score?  The schools that are interested in him, make sure you look at the middle 50% percentile of ACT-SAT scores.  For high academic D3's the Maginot Line seems to be the bottom of the 50% for a HC to support.  FYI Johns Hopkins has a 32 as the bottom of 50 % of ACT scores, seems to be a key level.  

Happy to assist, just went through this with my 2018...Ivy slots are mostly taken for MIF's, no clue about Catchers.  Also, I think the Penn camp is next week, if Penn still has a C need, go!  There will be half a dozen academic D3's attending as well.  The RC Santello will tell you his need, and exactly which D3's are showing up.  If there is no interest in the D3's, move on to another camp.  I attached another camp coming up being held at Trinity.  Also, if your son really wants to play in college and has the grades, don't wait till October just for the PG Camps.  Several Camps with oppo's for unsigned seniors going on every where.  This just came in our email box this morning:

 http://collegebaseballcamps.com/nextstep/info/28959

Penn: https://pennbaseballcamp.com/fall-hs-camps.php

 

Waffles&icecream posted:

So my 2018 uncommitted son got this invitation a while ago and  wants to go. He's a C graded a 8.5 last fall but he's improved dramatically. He has been talking to high Academic D3 schools and I think that's where he'll go. His thinking is that there may be some Ivy or high Academic schools still looking. What's the opinion of the folks on this board? Appreciate the input

Here is my thoughts - He been at least once and has a pretty good grade (8.5) and you said he's talking to a few high academic D3s which he will likely attend.  Do the schools he's talking to want him to attend or need to see him in a showcase?  What is the goal of attending the showcase again, as an uncommitted senior, that is already in contact with the schools he will likely attend?

Thank you to the constructive replies. The reason given for him wanting to participate is that he is still hoping to catch the eye of a D1 academic school. Some Ivy's still not set on the Catcher position or even a utility player. Circumstances might also happen with players. He didn't get a lot of exposure and this might put some eyes on him. I'm thinking I will send him down with his mother and he will do something that he'll never get to do again.

Waffles&icecream posted:

Thank you to the constructive replies. The reason given for him wanting to participate is that he is still hoping to catch the eye of a D1 academic school. Some Ivy's still not set on the Catcher position or even a utility player. Circumstances might also happen with players. He didn't get a lot of exposure and this might put some eyes on him. I'm thinking I will send him down with his mother and he will do something that he'll never get to do again.

All great reasons to send him!

My opinion, At the risk of sounding like the resident contrarian on this board (especially as it relates to PG), go to the event if it gets your son IN FRONT OF THE COACHES AT SCHOOLS HE IS TARGETING (especially as an uncomitted 2018). Don't chase a number, get in front of the coaches who need to see your son. There are TONS on guys who are committed D1 to D3 who don't even have a PG grade. Even more who only attended one PG Showcase and graded lower than your son (I personally know several) who are D1 commits).

Conversely, I know kids who have very high (like "9") grades who are struggling with looks.

Last edited by SanDiegoRealist

Sorry but I have to say something.  PG is focused on DI, DII, NAII and JUCO, in other words the places where athletic scholarships exist.  I understand that there is a lot of academic money available, but that is available with or without baseball in many cases.

I doubt if there are many graded 9 or higher that are struggling to get interest.  Possibly it could involve grades or other things when that happens.  It isn't because of ability.

I can say with complete confidence that the higher levels of college baseball, their rosters are dominated by kids that have participated in PG events.  Especially those East of the Rocky Mountains.  In last year's College World Series the championship game had one player on the two rosters that did not attend a PG event.  In fact the Champion Florida roster had attended a total of about 150 PG events.

That said, PG also is very much geared towards the MLB draft.  Over 80% of the entire draft over the past decade has attended PG events.  As of today, and that number grows quickly there are nearly 1,100 players that have attended PG events and have played in the Major Leagues.  This includes the best players in the game.  Harper, Bryant, Posey, Lindor, Correa, Trout, Kershaw, Rizzo, Seager, Kluber, Machado, McCutchen, Votto, Arenado, Donaldson, Bumgarner, I could go on forever. 

Point is, we have a large number of kids that end up at DIII colleges, but our goal is to find the very best players in the country.  Even if they happen to end up at a DIII baseball power.  We have very little interest in just filling enrollments at Weak DIII programs that don't care much about talent and don't develop.  We don't pay college coaches to work PG events, yet we get more of them to attend than anyone. They come to recruit student/athletes, not just students.  They come and spend money to find the best possible players, they're not coming to get a paycheck and fulfill enrollment quotas.  Where there is talent, there is MLB scouts.  These scouts work closely with college baseball at all levels.  The more talent, the more highest level scouts.  It's just the way baseball works.

Then there is the database, which we have by far the largest in all of baseball.  The most information about players available to the entire scouting and recruiting world.  Also by far the most used by those people.  When an event ends, our work is far from done.  Our job is to identify talent and make players visible to decision makers, even if those coaches or scouts didn't attend the event.  We have MLB clubs paying a lot of money to have access to that database. College programs that sort information to narrow down their search.  It is what we do and we have developed a very good reputation over the past 23 years.

We have been contacted by colleges asking if we pay for them to come to showcases.  We really don't want them if that is the main reason to attend.  And we don't want players that can't play. Nothing against those kids, but we can't help them, we can't make them happy they attended.  Luckily, we don't see very many like that.

There is no doubt, that some very talented players have never attended a PG event.  Some that have never attended PG, Area Codes, East Coast Pro, or USABaseball.  All PG events are not the same, some are much higher level than others.  However, we have found future first rounders at some of the less high level events. We have a lot of kids playing in the Ivy League, people can easily check the rosters and see for themselves.  There are lots of kids that have found their way on college rosters without attending PG events.  We are not the only route to take.  We might not even be the best route in some cases.  I really like the HeadFirst model, it really makes sense for many high academic type kids.  I like the Under Amour All American game.  I like the things USABaseball does.  I like Area Codes and East Coast Pro.  I like what PBR does in many areas.  I like a lot of different things that are available to young players.  There are some other events that are very good.  I do have to say that there are many events that aren't worth a damn.

I have often said that I don't participate here to promote PG.  I know it doesn't make much difference what people say about PG on a message board.  It just doesn't seem to make any difference in our growth.  It's just that I want people to know the truth from someone that is involved in all of it, every day of the year.

Sorry, for explaining what so many people already know very well, but just wanted to separate the oranges from the apples. Knowing that some prefer oranges and some prefer apples.

 

Last edited by PGStaff

You misinterpreted what I was saying (again). I told him to go if it got him in front of the schools he is targeting, but not just to chase a number. The number is immaterial, it's getting the decision makers to see you and decide you are a fit that is important. If those decision makers are going to be at that event, go for it. But if you are just going for the purposes of raising your grade, it's not worth the $$$. Spend the $$$ and go to a camp at your target school in front of the decision makers instead.

I assure you that there are many colleges that follow those grades.  They also follow the rankings. There are many colleges that sort players by those grades in forming their follow lists.  They also sort by other things like velocity, position, left or right handed, grades, region, etc..  Reason we know is because they tell us.  Before they had the ability to sort the information, they use to ask us for it.

My concern is you seem to think you know more about how colleges recruit than we do. We have been through this stuff with thousands and thousands for a very long time working with both players and college coaches.  You should be asking more questions rather than giving people the wrong information.

That said, the one thing you have said that is correct is that most any college will want to see the player if at all possible.  So if there is only one college you are interested in you should definitely attend there camp.  But better hope they like and want what they see or it is time wasted.  I take that back, learn something while you are there. BTW, colleges don't stop holding the camps when their recruiting class is full.

Jerry, where did I give the poster wrong information? Is it wrong because you say it is? I told the poster to go to the event to get in front of the coaches they are targeting if they will be in attendance. You even agreed that the coaches will want to see them. But you also said "they better like what they see or it is time wasted." Isn't that the case at ANY event? Or is that only time wasted if they are being seen at an event other than PG? I gave my opinion that going to a showcase to raise a grade from 8.5 to perhaps a 9 wasn't the right motivation. Will it make him come out in a search result that sorts on a PG grade of 9 or higher? Yep, no dispute there. Are those schools looking for him though? Will they reach out to him? Or will he even know they have seen his grade? He has to reach out to these schools! You are telling him essentially to do a showcase and sit back, the schools will come to him. That is not necessarily how this works, and I am not the only person who thinks this, most schools of thought are that an athlete needs to let the schools know they are interested in that program, then make sure you get in front of that school personally somehow. Send video. Call. Email. Go to their camps. Let them know where you are playing, regardless of a HS game, PG showcase/tournament, whatever. But to insinuate that all they have to do is go to a showcase and get on a list with a higher grade is not giving the best advise. Again, this is my opinion. You will tell me I am wrong. I will tell you my opinion is as valid as yours and I don't have a profit motive to tell a wide audience how important it is to play in PG showcase. By all means, OP, do what you want, do what you can afford, and get in front of those coaches you are targeting. 

To me, it is very different to go to a PG showcase than it is to play in a PG tournament. In the former situation, the player is seeking a scouting opinion from PG (or has been invited in the case of the Jr. National or National showcases), and if 80% of MLB draft picks have done so, that carries a lot of weight. In the latter situation, the kid is just playing in a baseball tournament -- and most of those kids have also played in USSSA events, or Triple Crown, or AAU, or Little League, or whatever -- so I would give little weight to that.

SanDiegoRealist posted:

You misinterpreted what I was saying (again). I told him to go if it got him in front of the schools he is targeting, but not just to chase a number. The number is immaterial, it's getting the decision makers to see you and decide you are a fit that is important. If those decision makers are going to be at that event, go for it. But if you are just going for the purposes of raising your grade, it's not worth the $$$. Spend the $$$ and go to a camp at your target school in front of the decision makers instead.

This is solid advice and no way should it be disputed 

what the Original poster really need to do is to contact his target schools and ask this question "If I go to a showcase and raise my grade up from an 8.5, will that change your opinion of me, will that make you want to recruit me?" What do you think the response will be to that? Of course not, it's not going to change where you are on their board relative to other players. What may change that is them actually seeing you play, having a conversation with you. 

PGStaff posted:

Sorry but I have to say something.  PG is focused on DI, DII, NAII and JUCO, in other words the places where athletic scholarships exist.  I understand that there is a lot of academic money available, but that is available with or without baseball in many cases.

I doubt if there are many graded 9 or higher that are struggling to get interest.  Possibly it could involve grades or other things when that happens.  It isn't because of ability.

I can say with complete confidence that the higher levels of college baseball, their rosters are dominated by kids that have participated in PG events.  Especially those East of the Rocky Mountains.  In last year's College World Series the championship game had one player on the two rosters that did not attend a PG event.  In fact the Champion Florida roster had attended a total of about 150 PG events.

That said, PG also is very much geared towards the MLB draft.  Over 80% of the entire draft over the past decade has attended PG events.  As of today, and that number grows quickly there are nearly 1,100 players that have attended PG events and have played in the Major Leagues.  This includes the best players in the game.  Harper, Bryant, Posey, Lindor, Correa, Trout, Kershaw, Rizzo, Seager, Kluber, Machado, McCutchen, Votto, Arenado, Donaldson, Bumgarner, I could go on forever. 

Point is, we have a large number of kids that end up at DIII colleges, but our goal is to find the very best players in the country.  Even if they happen to end up at a DIII baseball power.  We have very little interest in just filling enrollments at Weak DIII programs that don't care much about talent and don't develop.  We don't pay college coaches to work PG events, yet we get more of them to attend than anyone. They come to recruit student/athletes, not just students.  They come and spend money to find the best possible players, they're not coming to get a paycheck and fulfill enrollment quotas.  Where there is talent, there is MLB scouts.  These scouts work closely with college baseball at all levels.  The more talent, the more highest level scouts.  It's just the way baseball works.

Then there is the database, which we have by far the largest in all of baseball.  The most information about players available to the entire scouting and recruiting world.  Also by far the most used by those people.  When an event ends, our work is far from done.  Our job is to identify talent and make players visible to decision makers, even if those coaches or scouts didn't attend the event.  We have MLB clubs paying a lot of money to have access to that database. College programs that sort information to narrow down their search.  It is what we do and we have developed a very good reputation over the past 23 years.

We have been contacted by colleges asking if we pay for them to come to showcases.  We really don't want them if that is the main reason to attend.  And we don't want players that can't play. Nothing against those kids, but we can't help them, we can't make them happy they attended.  Luckily, we don't see very many like that.

There is no doubt, that some very talented players have never attended a PG event.  Some that have never attended PG, Area Codes, East Coast Pro, or USABaseball.  All PG events are not the same, some are much higher level than others.  However, we have found future first rounders at some of the less high level events. We have a lot of kids playing in the Ivy League, people can easily check the rosters and see for themselves.  There are lots of kids that have found their way on college rosters without attending PG events.  We are not the only route to take.  We might not even be the best route in some cases.  I really like the HeadFirst model, it really makes sense for many high academic type kids.  I like the Under Amour All American game.  I like the things USABaseball does.  I like Area Codes and East Coast Pro.  I like what PBR does in many areas.  I like a lot of different things that are available to young players.  There are some other events that are very good.  I do have to say that there are many events that aren't worth a damn.

I have often said that I don't participate here to promote PG.  I know it doesn't make much difference what people say about PG on a message board.  It just doesn't seem to make any difference in our growth.  It's just that I want people to know the truth from someone that is involved in all of it, every day of the year.

Sorry, for explaining what so many people already know very well, but just wanted to separate the oranges from the apples. Knowing that some prefer oranges and some prefer apples.

 

Couple grains of salt please?

2019Dad posted:

To me, it is very different to go to a PG showcase than it is to play in a PG tournament. In the former situation, the player is seeking a scouting opinion from PG (or has been invited in the case of the Jr. National or National showcases), and if 80% of MLB draft picks have done so, that carries a lot of weight. In the latter situation, the kid is just playing in a baseball tournament -- and most of those kids have also played in USSSA events, or Triple Crown, or AAU, or Little League, or whatever -- so I would give little weight to that.

2019Dad, there is no disputing MLB players have gone to showcase. So what? Most college and pro players are attending these events as high school players now, b cause it seems to have been accepted as part of the process. I could be evaluating that level of talent and clearly see those players are better than everyone else. It doesn't take a trained eye. USSSA, Tripel Crown, LL...those aren't even places college coach go to look at talent. That is a faulty comparison.  But while you are at it, you don't see USSSA saying "since 99% of college and MLB players played in one of our events, we are very important in the recruiting process."

People attend PG events because they think it will give them exposure. Go to WWBA 15, 16 and 17U events and you will see college coaches there, you will get exposure. They pretty much know the best guys already. Not saying PG isn't part of the exposure process or that it is not good for exposure, what I am saying is that I know at least one kid who has gone to 5 showcases to raise his grade to improve his recruiting. Two events he graded 7, 2 he graded 8, and most recently 8.5. His measurables have not improved in over a year, not one but, so why is his grade improving? I see this kid regularly. Nothing has changed. He's fully grown, hasn't grown in almost 2 years. But his PG grade has gone up as he has attended more events. Interesting. Another player I know was invited to an invitation only event and did nothing, did not perform well at all. Grade of 8.5. Goes to another invitation only event. Lays an egg offensively, didn't even make contact with the baseball. Grade goes up to a 9. Plays in a recent event, pitches 3.1 innings and gives up 7 hits, 2 walks, 4 runs. Gets a glowing report on the Scout blog. His stats, which I saw, were removed from his PG profile. Why would they be removed if he got such a glowing write up? Because the results contradicted the write up. Batted sub .200 for the event. He will probably make the All Tournament team. Nobody can dispute it because his stats are wiped from his profile...but they are on diamndkast, and a lot of us who know this kid can see what is going on. 

Last edited by SanDiegoRealist
adbono posted:
SanDiegoRealist posted:

You misinterpreted what I was saying (again). I told him to go if it got him in front of the schools he is targeting, but not just to chase a number. The number is immaterial, it's getting the decision makers to see you and decide you are a fit that is important. If those decision makers are going to be at that event, go for it. But if you are just going for the purposes of raising your grade, it's not worth the $$$. Spend the $$$ and go to a camp at your target school in front of the decision makers instead.

This is solid advice and no way should it be disputed 

I don't understand why PGSTAFF can't dispute. He is behind the scenes and has been doing this for a long time. Have either of you worked for PG? Had countless conversations with coaches at all levels of play? Had countless conversations with MLB scouts? Followed PG as long as PGSTAFF has been involved with PG? The guy has even referenced other competitors and why they might be a good fit for different players. Stated the following in post that you quoted: "There is no doubt, that some very talented players have never attended a PG event." What more do you want him to do?

Attending a PG event is one of the tools that can be used to help your son in the recruiting process. It does not, and in most cases should not be the only tool used. I am a firm believer in prospect camps where coaches have expressed serious interest. My son has received interest from a showcase, from prospect camp, from email/video.

Ironically, my son has never attended a PG event. If I could do it all over again, I would have had him attend at least one PG showcase late in JR year or summer before senior year (he was not ready prior to that). He will attend World's more for the experience then anything else. PG has its place and even though my son did not attend, I would definitely recommend as one of the tools you use to help your son with recruiting! Just my opinion.

 

coachld posted:
adbono posted:
SanDiegoRealist posted:

You misinterpreted what I was saying (again). I told him to go if it got him in front of the schools he is targeting, but not just to chase a number. The number is immaterial, it's getting the decision makers to see you and decide you are a fit that is important. If those decision makers are going to be at that event, go for it. But if you are just going for the purposes of raising your grade, it's not worth the $$$. Spend the $$$ and go to a camp at your target school in front of the decision makers instead.

This is solid advice and no way should it be disputed 

I don't understand why PGSTAFF can't dispute. He is behind the scenes and has been doing this for a long time. Have either of you worked for PG? Had countless conversations with coaches at all levels of play? Had countless conversations with MLB scouts? Followed PG as long as PGSTAFF has been involved with PG? The guy has even referenced other competitors and why they might be a good fit for different players. Stated the following in post that you quoted: "There is no doubt, that some very talented players have never attended a PG event." What more do you want him to do?

Attending a PG event is one of the tools that can be used to help your son in the recruiting process. It does not, and in most cases should not be the only tool used. I am a firm believer in prospect camps where coaches have expressed serious interest. My son has received interest from a showcase, from prospect camp, from email/video.

Ironically, my son has never attended a PG event. If I could do it all over again, I would have had him attend at least one PG showcase late in JR year or summer before senior year (he was not ready prior to that). He will attend World's more for the experience then anything else. PG has its place and even though my son did not attend, I would definitely recommend as one of the tools you use to help your son with recruiting! Just my opinion.

 

Yes, I have had countless conversations with coaches at all levels. Yes, I have had countless conversations with MLB scouts. Furthermore, I am one of many on this site that does not see the need for someone to respond in opposition to ANY statement that could POSSIBLY be construed as being critical of PG.  I joined this site with the understanding that it was a public ( not private) forum designed for the free exchange of information for the benefit of the members involved.  As PGStaff has accurately pointed out many times, PG is doing just fine. They don't need any help. 

You know who I don't see on here? College coaches who are willing to come on here and say how important a perfect game grade is in the recruiting process. Not once.

My son has gotten legitimate interest from a number of schools, and it was generated from different sources (Headfirst, Stanford Camp, and WWBA). None of these schools who have contacted my son have indicated they are interested in him because of a showcase grade. They saw him in person. Never asked him if he had showcased or what his grade was.

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