2012 D1 Commited players

I have learned to not put too much stock in early committs---I look at the colleges list of NLI signees---when you do that you will see a variance in the names who actually are signed

First, as far as the programs you mentioned, these coaches are done with 2011 and now recruiting 2012, even 2013.

Early (very early) commits is not uncommon in states where part of all of the players tuition is paid for by state money, in FL it's called Bright Futures. The coach really only has to commit a few bb dollars because the understadning is that scholarships will pay 75-100% of state tuition.

My son had a teammate that committed very early to his program, his dream was to only play for purple and orange, his folks were alunmi (other players on son's team had alumni parents as well). Attended camps for years, many games, so the coaches essentially saw him "grow up", he was a ranked player in HS in his state but not necessarily going to be a very top draft choice out of HS. I do beleive most of his money was purely academic, as SC gives Hope scholarships. So don't always assume that these early commits get a large portion of bb money.

I believe a lot has to do with strong alumni ties to one particular program that makes these programs more attractive to players than just being good programs.

Aren't they all verbal committs until NLI's are signed in November of senior year?

Eric,

At the underclass event in Ft. Myers, all of those are verbal commitments. NCAA rules will not permit the signing of NLI's until the November early signing period of their high school senior years, i.e., over a year from now.

The time table for recruiting continues to accelerate year by year. My own son was very highly sought after, but didn't get his first offer until around Thanksgiving of his junior year and committed the following February. This year, I've seen all sorts of juniors who have committed over the summer and in the very early fall -- nearly all of them highly talented players who will end up in PG's top 300, let's say, but not just your top 50 or so as was the case just 3-4 years ago.

I think there has to be a limit on just how far back in time the players and the coaches are going to go to make commitments. Although people do sometimes change their minds, in practice it is very rare indeed -- at least now. If they start committing kids at age 15, though, I would think decommitments would explode and that would force people to rethink their timetables.

I do disagree with TR, because in the main these commitments hold up and you can see how a program's recruiting class is shaping up in ways that you couldn't just 4-5 years ago. And while I concur with TPM that in some cases there are special circumstances involved, my observation is that most of the very earliest commitments involve the programs that are perennial national powers trying to lock up the most obvious stud players. E.g., if you're a lefty throwing 90+ at age 16, someone is going to be willing to make you an offer. Whether you decide to accept early is your decision.

One thing kids need to remember, though, is that you still have to get through the admissions process and so the early commitment is not license to goldbrick it with the books. Also I've seen kids who have been nixed by admissions over behavior issues like getting suspended at school for one offense or another. Probably a very high percentage of decommitments that do occur involve things like DUI's, drugs, or other misconduct issues, even if those are not publicized as the reasons for the change of heart.

Midlo, great piece of info!
TPM, you as well!

You also have to look at where these kids are from when it comes to this kind of thing. I mean any player would love to play at Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, etc. so when those programs see a kid they want they don't to really do any heavy recruiting to get them compared to mid-major schools. Not to mention that a prospect like your son may be extremely good in OH but there are probably at least 20-25 athletes at your son's position just as good in FL alone.

I tend to agree with Midlo, most of these players will show up unless they go pro. A little birdie told me that the longer the player is committed the deeper his commitment becomes. So I would suspect that is a good for the program.

I still stand by the premise that these players that commit early have strong attachments to programs (I did mean the powerhouse programs) and not just commit there to commit early.

...or you could look at college football and basketball where offers/commitments are made in Jr. HS (which is nuts IMO)...and imagine that the time line even for baseball will get shorter and shorter too. Not necessarily a good trend IMO.

In 2003 my older (2004) son was his college's first commit of the class in early September of senior year. Six years later that school was nailing down verbal 'commits' in January/February of their junior year.

My younger (2011) son committed in February of his junior year...after pitching 1 game into the season and was probably about the 7th or 8th commit to the college he will attend. While I thought it was probably earlier than I was comfortable with, it was one of his two 'dream schools' so we let him do it. Despite a pitching coach change late in the summer, he has not wavered one bit. He chose the school first and foremost and the coaches and program, while important, second.

Time frames have changed. I'm not totally sold on it, but it is what it is.