Just wanted to give some input based on own sons recruting story.Santa Clara, and many schools like JC transfers for several reasons.
1.The player has shown he can contribute at a level higher than HS
2.A coach can give a scolly for two years instead of four, and I was told by several coaches that with the landscape of college baseball and lack of scollys, they are going to look MORE to JC transfers in the coming years.
Biggest reason many dont, is they couldnt get them in.Way, way too many young players go to JC and
1.Are not qualifiers
2.Dont take the right classes and arent elgible to transfer.(this occurs soooo often people would be shocked)
3.Screw around in JC and dont have the grades that will attract these types of schools.
Top academic schools and baseball are tough.IMHO it is way tougher than JC ball and academics.The work load is much more intense.Especially in the classroom.
There was a comment on this thread or another about how colleges will make exceptionsto stud athletes.I think high end schools may take one or two kids that may struggle, but they cannot afford a roster full of players that cant handle the academics.its too much of a headache.They will monitor that you go to class, you miss you rununtil you will never want to miss again.And guess what , you just dont run the entire team runs for your inability to get yourself to class.
People give you money to play baseball, academic or athletic, well guess what?They expect you to earn it.
Work hard in the classroom, work hard at baseball and anything is possible.Never just depend on your skills on the field,unless you are a super super stud, in the cases of higher academic schools it isnt going to be enough.