Does anybody have experience with Top96? Pros? Cons? Was it worth it?
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My son did a Top 96 camp in the sumer after his sophomore year of high school. Some schools that are represented will send a head coach or recruiting coordinator. Others will send the first year volunteer assistant. So, don't expect to see the head coach of a team you're interested in. He may be there or may not.
They provided a written evaluation sheet of various things they measure - 60 time, arm speed, batted ball exit velocity. So, you work out on measurables, do a pro style workout and then play in a game(s).
One of the coaches will be the primary evaluator of your player. He will provide the evaluation sheet and have a face to face discussion with the player and parent at the conclusion.
Was my son discovered or identified by anyone in attendance? No. Was it a good experience? Yes. Was it worth the cost? Hard to say, but from my perspective, yes.
Son hit well, and threw well from the outfield during the drills, hit during the game and threw out two runners at the plate during the game. And ran a slow 60 time.
The one thing that made it very good was the discussion with the coach assigned to him, Kent Cox, former recruiting coordinator at Gardner-Webb. In the face to face discussion, Cox told my son that he needed to change positions. My son was an outfielder from the time he was a kid until that discussion. He then made the move to first base.
In son's recruiting journey, we found Top96 showcases very helpful and cost efficient. Went to one summer after his sophomore year and another after his junior year. The showcases are very well run, and on time. Found the administration very good to deal with, especially as they flexed on NO change/refund policy. My son had a collision in CF during a night game prior to the showcase, injuring his hand. Top96 allowed us to go to another location later in summer with no change charges.
Son was being recruited by some as CF and others as MI. The cost for extra reps in OF for skills set was low as was the cost for HD video. Unlike HF which was at a near complete halt with rain, Top 96 was able to progress and switch around activities (move 60) and keep things moving. I like that Top96 distributes shirt color based on graduation class. Kids son mentioned as really good were typically the older players. Also you can tell by the number on the back of the shirt, what players' primary position is.
One of the coaches will follow son and write an evaluation which he will present findings to you and your son. Many of the coaches are in the dugouts or running skill drills, which is different from other showcases where most of the coaches are "in the stands." Interaction as good as HF.
Tops96 presents a list of the schools to attend along with the coaches and "what division" school is. The price varies based on who and how many schools attend.
Son's first Top96 showcase put him on the map in some programs and offered a first face to face with schools he had been in contact. He was further along in the second one (June after his jr year). Within a week after his second Top96, he received 2 offers from schools that wanted to see him play, "one more time." To answer your question, DEFINITELY worth it. Good Luck!
I notice a lot of these camps are going on concurrently with PG WWBA 15, 16, and 17u? Is this an issue with the type of college coach who goes to Top96 and for that matter the type of player that may go?
I was concerned about coach overlaps and conflicts as well, but at least Top 96 lists the specific coach who will be attending the showcase (unlike some of them). That does not mean that other coaches on the staff will not be at other camps, PG events, showcases, etc. I think more than anything these events are for the schools to build their lists of possible recruits and then they narrow down from there and may make final decisions at their own camps. It is may be best viewed as an opportunity to get a school interested (or knock them off your list if the player does not get any encouragement) but there is more work ahead.
Anyone see this? Guess Baseball America has gotten involved and Top 96 is no longer referred to as Top 96.
... and used to be Demarini Top96... starting to get bounced around more than Matt Stairs and Bartolo Colon 
Hadn't heard anything about Top 96 for years....didn't realize BA had taken it over. With BA getting sold this week, who knows what the future will hold for the clinics
