Sharing the experience

Well, congratulations on committing but there are a couple of things. While there is no NLI, your son and the coach made a commitment to one another.  And the school made a commitment to him with awarding more scholarship dollars.

What does your son considering playing at the highest level?  I am not sure, is he waiting for a better offer from a D1?  

Also, if anyone has told your son he will start at his intended position (not pitching)  I am pretty sure you may not undetstand that in ANY program, you have to earn your position on the roster. 

That is the big thing we stress here, freshman usually have to prove they belong.

I agree that it is a commitment. The coaches did promise him that he could play at whatever position he wanted, as he was top recruit. He can pitch and play position/hit if desired. They went to bat for him both in admissions and with the financial aid office and we are very grateful. It's a young team, not over-recruited (its hard to get into the school, for one, and it's not large), and we believe what he's been told.

Son considered walking on to a D1 but realized the better opportunity was to play at a D3, at a very good school. However, I think he would take a late offer from a D1 if one came his way because he knows he could fight his way on. I realize things could be much worse, but there is a bit of wondering what could have been right now. (He is the only player on his high school team to make the senior all star game, he made first team all league, and he is a smart kid.)

So these coaches told your son he could play where ever he wanted and he still would consider breaking his commitment?

Doesnt matter though, good coaches dont tell that to players, even the very best recruits, they tell them they have to earn their position.

Just doesnt sound right to me, but coaches will say anything to get a player to committ.

JMO

Just as a side note related to one of TPM's comments...  there were dozens of players who were first team all-league and played in their league's senior all-star game who were cut from the JC programs my son played in.  That was JC.

You may be right and he may end up being the best player in his D3 school's program but it would serve him well to go in assuming there was some persuading in the recruiting dialog and that he will have to work hard and compete to the best of his abilities to play and succeed at the school.  Even if he is the best at the school, at some point he will face opposition who is better.  Also, browse the roster bio's of D1 schools.  Most are far more accomplished than all-league.  I find All-state kids who are sitting D1 and D2 benches in lots of places.  Just trying to provide some perspective that I hope is helpful. 

Congrats on a great offer!

I completely understand (preaching to the choir), and we've already been through the reality check and realized that he may not play D1, which is when he opened his mind to other options and led to his eventual commitment here. There are 100 kids like him competing for every spot at every university in the country, and even a great player/student/all around good guy has to compete hard anywhere he goes. He is not afraid to work for his position and his work ethic is strong. But (and I'm sorry if this ruffles any feathers) this is a D3 program / small school and the reality is he is very high on their list and will play. They don't overrecruit, they got to him earlier than the other D3's, they're lucky to get him, and he is lucky to hopefully be attending this school in the fall. He'll get a stellar education and will go farther in life with this degree than with baseball.

PS - The all-state lists are not out yet. I included some recent notes to give context for what is going through his mind right now, no need to list his accomplishments.  

baseballlife,

I agree with cabbabgedad, and FWIW it doesnt matter if the all state lists haven't come out, these lists do not indicate who plays D1 or D3.  It just indicates who got high marks agains others from your area.  I don't know the talent that comes out of your state each year. What dictates it is the offers he has gotten, the opportunities.

What I do know is that you came here and announced your sons commitment, and that is just awesome. But it sounds like he has some regrets to his commitment and IMO that's not fair to those that you say obviously are willing to pay for his education (the whole point of going to college) and let him play right away.   I dont think he realizes just how very hard it is to get on any college roster, let alone a D1.  

I am not in agreement with the coaches telling him he will play as a freshman and any position.  That to me is sounding like they have a hard time recruiting. But, he does have a great academic commitment. Chances that he will play past college are just not in most players favor, so get a solid education where ever you can for who ever is willing to pay for it (if mom and dad don't want to second mortgage their home and should not have to).  Always use as much as the  god given gifts you can to pay for school , no matter what that may be, brains, sports, etc. 

Go where you will get an education without acquiring a huge college debt and can continue to play the game that you love. Do not walk onto a college program if you have a solid offer like the one you say he has. My opinion.

Be a bjg fish in a large pond not a small fish in a big pond.  Trust me on this one.

Did your son apply ED?  If so that's a binding agreement. If not, well, I'd let him make his own choice, even I felt it was the wrong one.  Just MHO of course.

I agree with those saying don't buy into the sales pitch about starting. That comment could disappear the first day of fall ball even if it was said. As far as playing D1, if D1 was a marginal choice go with D3. Everyone at D1s was all everything in high school. Everyone is cabaple of playing a role on the team. the big question is will the player get the opportunity? It's why 50% of D1 players transfer for an opportunity to get in the field.