17u or 18u for a 2022

You should be getting guidance from your kid's travel organization on this. That said, where are the schools that your son has contacted going to be? Go there.

A player wants to play where he will be seen by the right coaches. It’s typically 17u. 18u is typically for players who have already committed or aren’t playing past high school. The key is asking the organization what tournaments will the team play and what exposure will they provide.

17U.  Very few scouts look at 18U because they are usually committed.  I would ask the organization how many of the 18U players would be already committed and how many will be looking.  Let them know your concern and they should be able to point you in the right direction in their organization, each is different.

Question? On which team will your son "learn the game", "gain maturity", be tested as to improve his reflex actions and develop & prepare as a future College player competing with players 4 years older.

Bob

One thing to keep in mind 18U may just be because it's the fall, a lot of tourney's move up after Labor Day. OP may mean 2022s are playing 18U in the fall, that' what my son is doing.

OP, you want to be playing with 2022s.

I still hold very few coaches I know and talk to would go watch a game between two 18U teams in the summer or fall.  Most 18U teams, in the south, are teams of players who are getting extra reps who have committed.  There are very few 18U teams down here that are made up of uncommitted players.

If he is not committed, then he probably projects  as D2, D3, NAIA, or juco.  Ask the organization where he should play to get in front of those coaches, where the teams are playing, and which colleges they are going to contact specifically about your son.  It may be that he needs to go to individual school camps or local showcases instead of playing on a fall team.  If he has been in the organization a while, he should not be "trying out" for any particular team, you should be in dialogue with them about what team will best meet his needs.

Feedback from organization is 17u.  18u is just for fun.  He emails D1 schools as a wish list item.  He is a very young 2022, so, he is strongly considering JuCo and NAIA to get bigger and stronger.  6'0" 180 is not as impressive as 6'+, 200+.

@JETSR71 posted:

Feedback from organization is 17u.  18u is just for fun.  He emails D1 schools as a wish list item.  He is a very young 2022, so, he is strongly considering JuCo and NAIA to get bigger and stronger.  6'0" 180 is not as impressive as 6'+, 200+.

What's impressive is his ability matching his position.

Email programs that would match his ability.  Not for laughs and giggles.

JMO

He has been emailing about 40-60 schools.  D1, D2, D3, JuCo, NAIA in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina.    Giving PBR showcase stats, PG Tournament stats and game video.  Rinse, lather and repeat.  He is following the HSBASEBALLWEB prescription. 

Next steps would be emailing Midwest and Northeast schools.

@JETSR71 posted:

Feedback from organization is 17u.  18u is just for fun.  He emails D1 schools as a wish list item.  He is a very young 2022, so, he is strongly considering JuCo and NAIA to get bigger and stronger.  6'0" 180 is not as impressive as 6'+, 200+.

Players get recruited on projectable talent and projectable size. If the kid has the talent the coaches project how big he can get and what it will do for talent.

My son was 6’ 170 post junior summer. He was 6’1” 175 when he graduated. He was 6’2” 195 second year of college.

One of his travel teammates was 6’1” 155 post junior summer. In college he only sized up to 6’2” 170. Both kids went P5 and stuck (pre Covid).

How are his grades? Sorry if I missed it

He can email all he wants, but is the travel organization reaching out to schools on his behalf?  Ideally, they should be able to look at his list, tell him which ones they are willing to contact about him, and then let you know.   Also, they should be able to tell you whether their tournaments will get him in front of appropriate schools.  If they don't/won't do that, then there's not much point his playing for them in the fall at all.

For a 2022, NOW is the time for this.

I want to add that we were in a somewhat large organization, and were shy about this sort of conversation, and in hindsight I regret that we didn't ask more questions earlier.  You have literally been paying them for this kind of advice based on their experience with your son, and you need to use it.  You also need to be willing to listen to what they tell you.  They recommended that your son play down, both last summer and now - why was that?  Have you asked them?  What is their plan for him?

4.0 GPA. 1280 SAT (Retaking). All AP or duel enrollment courses.

Historically, this has been a great organization.  Son and I met with the organization president/owner two weeks ago.  He is still working on 2021's and getting to 2022's.  Not pleased with the answers we received.  None of the parents are happy with the answers they have gotten so far.

We have one commit on what was a top 25 16u team. Expecting a 50%+ exodus this fall.

Looking at options for other organizations that seem to do recruiting better.

Definitely 17U.....most 18U teams are kids playing the summer after their senior year before heading to college.  Very few scouts will ever be at an 18U game.

Is his coach from this summer willing/able to reach out to colleges?  Or is he told to leave recruiting to the organization head?

That is how our organization worked - but, when it came down to it, the team coach did reach out to some colleges too, when we asked.  If he likes your son and the main guy is too busy to help, get advice from that coach, too.

@JETSR71 posted:

4.0 GPA. 1280 SAT (Retaking). All AP or duel enrollment courses.

Historically, this has been a great organization.  Son and I met with the organization president/owner two weeks ago.  He is still working on 2021's and getting to 2022's.  Not pleased with the answers we received.  None of the parents are happy with the answers they have gotten so far.

We have one commit on what was a top 25 16u team. Expecting a 50%+ exodus this fall.

Looking at options for other organizations that seem to do recruiting better.

Our program director didn’t adjust to all the curveballs Covid “threw”  at us either.  Spent more time complaining about lockdowns on Twitter than retweeting workout/skills video and then was so behind the count for 2021’s he completely neglected the 2022s. Now we have 1 commit for a top CA program that usually has 20plus per class. We have an exodus happening as well.  We will not leave. Although I think he didn’t execute well, part of the problem is the market and there just isn’t demand for 2022s.  Program directors are going to focus on getting kids any spot they can. Starting with the easiest placed (strongest players). If you aren’t one of those, I’d consider leaving.  That’s where we are losing players. B and C teams know they have no shot at getting placed until top kids have been farmed out.

My advice: you kid has good grades. Use that, because at this point it’s something a lot of kids don’t have and is something that may keep bigger fish from jumping into that pond.  Get him a tutor for the SAT stat. (Or look at schools that are test optional)

Is your kid interested in HA schools? I think there is still time for the super showcases like HF or SB. Your kid's travel org is very disappointing not providing any connections.

Use every resource available.  Email, twitter, flatground, etc.  Due to Covid, It's tough on 2022's and with his grades I'd be very open to walk on opportunities.  At this point you are just looking for a place to keep playing.