Thought We Were Done - New Predicament - Need to Advise Son and Don't Know What to Do

OP,   you know the D1 , do you trust them?  is the coaching solid or will the RC and AC be gone in 1-2 years?  I think both avenues have pro's and con's  the Juco route is less expensive, as far as the D1 "having money next year"  means nothing....

 

I have had two go juco , one passed on a D1 offer to play juco for many reasons, the first was that he would start at the Juco and sit at the D1 as freshman... Also the D1 was state school , so it was not a high academic D1 anyway.

 

I have another that was juco and went mid major D1.... many many many mid majors take the best Juco players.   Also keep in mind that there will be RHP throwing gas at the juco's ,

 

I have another RHP that fits your sons mold as far as grades and athletics, we are having the same debates at our house.... gotta decide what's most important school or baseball .... Juco will give you the most options, once you crack that great institution called NCAA , it's never easy to move, transfer etc... good luck

My kid is still pre-HS, but I wanted to add a bit more to the academic side of this discussion.  There is a lot to be said for having all 4 years at one school.  Learning which professors to take and which to not, accruing credits so you can park on campus, not having to deal with certain credits not transferring correctly, as well as the social aspect. 

 

My 4 years in college were probably the most formative years aside from age 1-5.  I understand having a passion for baseball, but please consider the child/man in this scenario...baseball ends, it does for even the most talented players, but the next 4 years will shape a great deal of the man that he will one day be.  Knowing he would have to leave the JUCO in 1-2 years doesn't make for a nice stable environment where he can explore who he is as a person outside of baseball.

 

  If he was MLB level and just needed to get his grades up my advice might be different, but that isn't what he appears to be.  Just consider the future of the boy in this scenario as much as the baseball.  It's great to have a dream, but not at the expense of a future life.

CaCO3Girl,

 

So you feel that if this player goes to a Juco for 1-2 that is going to negatively impact his education?  I guess I do not understand ?

 

I know that everyone's path to adulthood can be different... my 2013 went to a Juco his freshman year , got a 100% scholarship , in fact made 1500.00  this juco had 10,000 students... after a year there he transferred to another Juco  packed his stuff , got his paperwork in on time, transfer papers, talked to both athletic directors and the NJCAA, went to the second Juco and paid for it himself by working at a golf course in the summer.... The first Juco coach told him he would never start for him , so I he left the school the money and the city for a school in the country for no money but better team.  Ended up getting a deal at a mid-major school that is highly academic...  about an hour from my house. They schedule at least 4-5 top twenty schools a season and have won 40 games the past 3-4 seasons.....

 

This mid-major passed on him out of high school and I don't blame them, he was not ready for that level then... ( also the RC left as well while he was in Juco)

 

I guess staying at a school for 4 years so you have a better parking spot just does  not resonate with me.... I get what you are saying about baseball ending some day...and not to sound mean...but you gong through college and boys going through college playing baseball are too different things... believe me... they are going to grow up, make mistakes and learn the hard way, no matter how easy you try to make it

It might be possible for a kid to emotionally develop normally with all that uncertainty and upheaval in his life but I don't think it is likely.  The person I was at 17 had very little to do with the person I was at 21.  Staying in one school, building relationships, building patterns it helped me grow as a person.  Those 4 years shaped me more than any others in my adult life and had I known I was going to have to pick up and move every year or two I don't think I would have achieved the emotional growth I was able to achieve because I had a strong base that I knew wouldn't change, it allowed me to be open to new ideas and really figure out who I was at my core.

 

I understand that sometimes the dream is vital to follow, regardless of the upheaval, because the talent is there and there is hope of fulfilling the dream.  I just worry about the emotional stability of these kids who focus their entire life around baseball and then when it's gone they have trouble functioning as people.  If you know you aren't going to be in MLB what is the advantage of going to 2-3 different schools, for the PERSON, not the baseball player.

I agree that in most ways it would be easier, and probably better to go D-1 right off the bat.  However, with no money, I don't think it is the best route.  Although the road may be tougher going the JC route, because you have to transition to a D-1, and you won't get to spend all 4 years at the same school.  I see positives that can develop from going the harder route.  Son will get to meet and experience more people, and sometimes the harder path can bring more growth.

"I understand that sometimes the dream is vital to follow, regardless of the upheaval, because the talent is there and there is hope of fulfilling the dream.  I just worry about the emotional stability of these kids who focus their entire life around baseball and then when it's gone they have trouble functioning as people.  If you know you aren't going to be in MLB what is the advantage of going to 2-3 different schools, for the PERSON, not the baseball player."

 

I think by following the dream ( and his was D1 baseball , not MLB)  have an attainable goal    working his plan and seeing it come about is far more rewarding...... he believes in himself, and feels it make him better prepared for employers saying 'No' or having to work through problems... I feel its an individual decision and your way seems to be more of a safer , maybe a bit naive way of looking at this.  going to a D1 as a freshman and thinking everything is going to be fine is a fantasy.  I think there is something like a 40% freshman attrition rate at D1....  D1 baseball is very difficult.... I wish you could meet 2013.... then you would see.... another example.... most of the time when a D1 makes a move for a juco transfer that juco transfer is going to come in and play over the that has been there in the same class..... because the juco guy has been playing not watching.... as far as being more stable at a D1 for four years... I would agree , but stability does not make you prepared.... if you are worried that once dream is over they will not be able to cope without baseball... most of the time when that time comes they know it and have been planning for those days too..

this might be the difference between how a thinks mom and how a dad thinks ?  2018 is  living with a host family some 1200 miles from home next summer.... mom is freaking out... dad loves it

CaCO3Girl - I don't necessarily agree with your premise.

 

My 2nd oldest daughter attended the local community college for 4-5 years earning her AA and then transferred to a 4 year state school.  If anything, those years at the CC prepared her for dealing with the university. 

 

Same for my son.  He attended a JuCo where he played ball for 2 years before being "discovered" by a D2 university and offered a nice scholarship.  In his case, he was 5 hours from home (250 miles) and he learned to grow up real quick.  Again, I feel the 2 years at JC prepared him for the next year at the university.

 

He is definitely not the same "boy" we left at junior college when he was 18.  It's been a pleasure watching him morph into a "man".

 

Is it a pain knowing you're moving in 1-2-3 years?  Sure, but even at a university, you'll be moving on - just in a slightly longer time frame.

 

Even at a 4 year university, there's going to be changes from year to year.

 

I firmly believe most people rise to the challenge when those challenges present themselves.

Caco nice post.  Made some really great points.  And our kids are both 2020's so we have a few years before (hopefully) crossing these threasholds.  But consider this what if the 'dream' is a particular school not mlb.  Now while I realize all youth players dream at some level of being a big league ballplayer what if the kids goal is a certain college?  My son has his dream school.  It really is the next level already for our sons.  From what I know of your son making his high school team is not in question.  Same for us here.  So of course they are setting their sites on that next goal.  So let me ask you this.  Let's say university of A is your dream school.  But you are just a smidgen short of their level.  However this school makes a habit of taking kids out of jucos on a regular basis.  One of the jucos they draw from the most has offered your son a spot.  Going there and adding say 2 or 3 mph over two years will give you an excellent chance of getting to your dream school.  Change anything for you?

Exactly



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 11:11 AM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

If the subject at hands was a generic "Is JUCO an okay option" I wouldn't have chimed in, the subject is he's already signed up and enrolled at a D1 and some of the advice has said go JUCO then go back to that D1.

 

If the kid is already in his D1 of choice, and there has been talk of athletic money next year, then I see no logic in going to the JUCO just to go back to the D1, except for possibly money, which the parents seemed okay with already or they wouldn't have let him sign up at the D1.

 

My advice is to consider what is best for the person, and not just the ballplayer.

My kid made an interesting observation when we attended a Nebraska vs. Northwestern baseball game this year.  Looking at the roster and the starting lineup he noticed that most of the Nebraska kids where Freshman/Sophomore.  Most of the Northwestern kids where JR/Sr.  Nebraska kids, big strong, like bull.  Northwestern kids, not so much.  Obviously two sets of kids focusing on different college experiences. 

Crack good point , however the promise of money next year is not worth anything g as many many things can and will change



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 11:24 AM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

One factor that hasn't been discussed much in this thread is how hard it is to make the jump from JUCO to D1.

 

There are more JUCOs than D1 schools. Most JUCOs start the fall with large rosters. Each JUCO graduates half of its players each year. Most of those players are looking for but do not find roster spots at 4-year schools, let alone D1 schools.

 

The average JUCO succeeds in placing one or two players per year with a D1 baseball program.  Those numbers are skewed by the powerhouse JUCO programs that have a track record of placing many more players; however, it is also much harder for a freshman to show up and make an impact at one of those schools.

 

D1's generally want JUCO transfers only if they are ready to win a spot in the starting line up or clinch a key pitching role immediately. 

 

JUCO is a hard road. You have to stay healthy, contribute immediately, play for a good enough program to get seen, and dominate to a degree that the transition to a D1 starting role looks plausible to a D1 coach.

 

The numbers are not in his favor, and the JUCO transfers I've known who have made the transition to D1 (or back to D1 in the case of 4-2-4 transfers) speak of the experience as being a grueling ordeal. 

 

If your son goes to the D1 and things don't work out, he can transfer to a JUCO or a D2/D3/NAIA school and keep playing.  If he goes to the D1 and settles in as a role player, he may be able to keep playing all four years.

 

However, if your son goes to the JUCO and things don't work out, his college baseball career could be over next spring.

 

Which negative outcome is he more willing to accept?

Great advice, having been there , I was trying to explain that it takes a special guy to do this. Lucky for me and more so 2013 he was able to . When he left his first juco where he had full ride to a juco of here the coach promised nothing but the fall to a conference starter in the spring with a 15th rounder in front of him and a D1 lefty , to say he had to prove hims of is an understatement .... BUT this why the D1 coach said you will pitch or me as soon as you get here . Balls , talent and work a top twenty five juco can beat some D1 schools



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 1:02 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I am presuming your son is now an adult, or at least very very close. Adulthood is filled with difficult decisions, and this is probably your son's very first. I'd encourage him to visit the JC and meet the coach in person and then let him make that decision himself. Worst case scenario, he is playing baseball somewhere. As others have stated, there are pros and cons with either decision, maybe him laying those out on paper is in order and can make the decision a little easier.

 

I will say this though, having a 100% scholarship is nice. I am certainly glad my first two years of college were completely paid for. The shock of consolidating my student loans and actually having to pay them off after I graduated was tremendous, I can only imagine how bad it could have been.

 

Similarly to your son, I was asked to walk on and pretty much guaranteed a roster spot at a D1 powerhouse. A senior year arm injury completely changed the recruiting dynamic for me, but I was going to choose a JUCO or a smaller D1 (had one come around) anyway. 1) I knew I wasn't going to pitch any significant innings for two years at least at that D1 2) an "verbal almost guarantee" was not an agreement or a guarantee and they had no skin in the game, and 3) if I was going to be paying to play ball in college, I at least wanted to lessen the blow by having two years paid for.

FWIW I agree with swampboy. Its not as simple as it sounds trying to go from JUCO to D1 and IMO that option should only be used only when the player has issues with grades or physically immature. For many it is a very good choice.

I don't believe in walking on either, but I don't think at this point you guys have much of a choice, do you?

Take the D1 opportunity but leave the door open at JUCO if things don't work out. 

But then again your son will be the one attending so it has to be his decision, with your input of course.  

 

The stability issue brought up here is a non issue, if you play baseball and very serious about it, you have to be willing to be flexible, IF you really want to play ball. That would apply for college as well as professional ball.  

question to the OP... is the Juco a top tier Juco?

Yes (ranked year after year).  I'll post again after all settled.