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We're seeing that a lot in our area, but I think there are still regions where the whole push to earlier and earlier recruiting has not totally taken hold.  This can happen in states where the higher ed system is much more tilted to the JuCo pipeline, and also in areas where cold weather and the resulting absence of year-round baseball leads to your having more and more late bloomers.

Originally Posted by Green Light:

It makes perfect sense that the more talented kids are getting more attention or earlier attention than the less talented kids. How else would anyone want it and expect it to be? If this natural and logical state of affairs in sports and life is causing angst, I think it may be due to unrealistic expectations that need to be changed.

Agreed. 
 
 
 
Aleebaba and others,
 
Re-evaluate where you "fishing".  If "fishing" in the ocean for whales is not the right place or getting results, possibly "fishing" in a lake or reservoir may make more sense for your son?  Just a thought.
 

another thing you see good and bad is ..not saying recruiters are lazy but they seem to follow the 'academy type teams around" let them recruit the best kids then we just shop at your team and games...i have had kids play on both kinds..the top teams with names on front and teams very average but with 1-2 players just as good as the players on top teams just not as many of them.  Player agents or advisors are shady at best..some kids make the mistake of saying they have no intention of going to college and gotten for cheap in draft..others make it known they have no intention of going pro..which is not nearly as bad if that is really what you want. Thats why both kinds fall to lower round picks..one you can have easy and the other aint comin 

I would like to add some notes from personal experience.  My 2014 INF (likely 3B) signed with a D1 program just after WWBA in East Cobb.  Since he is likely a 3B, his ride in the process was unique and filled with anxiety.  As we all know, not everyone is out there looking for 3B.  Some don't even look at 3B.  In the end, he will play at a big D1 and received a huge offer for any corners guy.

 

Here are a few things that we found and some things we did in the process -

The money is not gone if you find a school with need that doesn't recruit too early

Most schools were honest when we asked if they were looking for 3B and it kept us from wasting a lot of time

He sent a ton of emails to schools, and I helped him with wording in almost EVERY email...I actually think this was a great learning experience

Phone calls that prospective schools made to references were a huge factor in getting offers

We put a lot of focus on private schools due to his academic strengths, because they find money

He put contact info for all of his coaches at bottom of every email, his HS principal, and competing coaches

His level of play on recognizable travel programs helped develop a group of people willing to help him and who know him

His current travel program was EXTREMELY helpful

He promoted things that set him apart in emails such as strong academics and success in multiple sports

Once a coach was interested, he made personal calls to them to specifically as level of interest and did his best to hold the coach responsible

Access to the PG website showing commits at certain schools is not always up to date, but can give a good sense of where schools are in the process

He lost an offer from a mid-major school at one point (had offer for over a year) and was very upset, but it just made him hungrier

He had 2 offers that were very strong, but decided that it was not the right fit, so he called the coaches within 3 days to be honest

We researched the snot out of all schools' baseball programs including recruiting habits and true commitment

He actually got a lot of help (recruiter to recruiter calls) from 2 recruiters who knew him, but did not have a spot (came from asking if they had a spot)

Recruiting coordinators are extremely important and the one at his future school really helped, but the head coach makes the decision...ALWAYS

 

These are just a few observations from one experience.  My son has found that "perfect fit" for him, and, of course, we are all very happy, relieved, and excited.  I can see clearly that the anxiety can be both motivating and limiting at times.

 

Enjoy the time with your son! 

Originally Posted by Midlo Dad:

We're seeing that a lot in our area, but I think there are still regions where the whole push to earlier and earlier recruiting has not totally taken hold.  This can happen in states where the higher ed system is much more tilted to the JuCo pipeline, and also in areas where cold weather and the resulting absence of year-round baseball leads to your having more and more late bloomers.

Agreed, I am from Ohio and though the top 25-30 or so 2014 are committed, a lot of the MAC, A10 size D1 seem to be still evaluating. I have no doubts they relativly close though, and from what I have been told offers will be coming soon to the next tier (which I hope so, since mine seems to be falling in that area). I would guess a school in big ten for instance might be done except a specific player

Originally Posted by whits23:

another thing you see good and bad is ..not saying recruiters are lazy but they seem to follow the 'academy type teams around" let them recruit the best kids then we just shop at your team and games...i have had kids play on both kinds..the top teams with names on front and teams very average but with 1-2 players just as good as the players on top teams just not as many of them.  Player agents or advisors are shady at best..some kids make the mistake of saying they have no intention of going to college and gotten for cheap in draft..others make it known they have no intention of going pro..which is not nearly as bad if that is really what you want. Thats why both kinds fall to lower round picks..one you can have easy and the other aint comin 

Academy type teams are always going to attract the recruiters. To use "Fenwaysouth" analogy...Fishing where the fish are. They are constantly evaluating talent, watching kids play and talking to kids they are interested in. If you are a talented player, you will be found. 

There are shady characters in all walks of life, but for the most part, what I've seen in the baseball world, are hard working evaluators that give honest assessments of a players ability.  

Originally Posted by chefmike7777:
Originally Posted by Midlo Dad:

We're seeing that a lot in our area, but I think there are still regions where the whole push to earlier and earlier recruiting has not totally taken hold.  This can happen in states where the higher ed system is much more tilted to the JuCo pipeline, and also in areas where cold weather and the resulting absence of year-round baseball leads to your having more and more late bloomers.

Agreed, I am from Ohio and though the top 25-30 or so 2014 are committed, a lot of the MAC, A10 size D1 seem to be still evaluating. I have no doubts they relativly close though, and from what I have been told offers will be coming soon to the next tier (which I hope so, since mine seems to be falling in that area). I would guess a school in big ten for instance might be done except a specific player

chefmike, you are absolutely correct. Offers should coming in the next couple of months for the next tier guys. Verbals for the elite have already been made. My 2013 had been talking with a handful of DI's up until August, but no confirmed offers.At an August showcase in San Diego, he was seen by a RC from a school that had been low on the radar,(only because the school he thought was out of his reach/talent) called him and invited him to throw for the HC the following weekend. Two weeks later, once HS started, he was invited for an OV and made an offer with 7 days to accept. Signed in November.  

The other point that we are side stepping is the plaintive cry, when does the player without big time tools get the love?

 

It should be understood that not everyone who wants to play in college gets to.  Just like not everyone who wants to be an actor has the good looks to land movie roles.  And 5'10" point guards who aren't very quick don't play in the NBA.  There are some things you need God-given talents to qualify for.  Some of us are pure of heart and we work terribly, terribly hard and it still isn't enough.  It will ever be thus.

 

For those players, my thought is to enjoy playing while you can and not let the times right in front of you right now speed by you without savoring them while they last.  No matter what your level of ability, the day comes all too soon when you don't get to play any more.  For many that day comes sooner than they would like.  When your son is doing all he can and every objective indication is that it isn't enough, maybe it's time to realize this may be where you are.

 

I would qualify that by saying, I know nothing of the particular poster's son, these comments are just made as a matter of the general rule of thumb. 

true midlo..what you also see is kids who are not as good as other players getting offers but the recruiters know or think in 3 years the kid will be better than the other...coaches are more willing to get fired over a 6 2 pt guard than a 5 10 one..

 

if you are borderline and time running out sometimes it may help to let it be known you are willing to walk on IE dont need money...i would do that as a last resort but they may take a chance on the 5 10 kid who is costing nothing and then go after a 6 8 pf over a 64 one LOL

The distinction between the 5'10" and 6'2" player out of HS is very real and legitimate when it comes to recruiting, especially at the D1 level. It can be even more of a factor if the 5'10" player is slight of build, weighing 150lbs or less.

Where the recruiting is very challenging for the coaching staff, and frustrating for the parent/player, is  projecting whether the player who is below 6" and somewhat slight of build, but with talent, heading into the HS senior year will remain that height and close to that weight when he steps onto the college campus in about 12 months.

Top  college coaches below the D1 level have won a lot of games by recognizing  players with some D1 skills who are not physically developed and by taking advantage of exactly these types of recruiting dilemmas and then stepping in when the player slips through the D1 process. If the player remains 5'10" and around 160lbs, they can be a terrific D3 player.  If they get to 6'1" and 180lbs, they can be a major part of getting a D3 team to the very top tier, while also proving anything which needs to be proven in some of the top Summer Wood bat leagues.

Reading this thread really does increase my anxiety about the recruiting process!  Our son plays for an academy type team, and only one of the position players and three pitchers have committed so far. Many of the guys on his team want to go JUCO so that they can go after those big baseball powerhouses in a couple of years. Our son is lucky that he is getting emails and some phone calls from coaches even though none of the schools are a perfect fit.  Our son has good grades and ACT scores although not good enough for Ivy admission.  Several D2s have talked with him (although no offers yet, there has been a discussion about money and one school that has promised a "package" in the near future)  I am not sure what that means. His best option is probably a high academic D3 although I have no idea how we would pay for it. The big anxiety for us is that,our son is probably going to have to decide if playing baseball is worth compromising his educational goals or going heavily in debt to play for a high academic D3. Baseball money is not a priority; our son would happily walk on to a school with strong academics and apply for academic scholarships, but we do not live on the east coast where there are many options for players who want top academics, a great baseball program, and affordable tuition.

You're thinking about the right things.  Stay on that track and best of luck to you with whatever opportunities may ultimately come as his choices.

 

One other thing:  I know many players who have greatly enjoyed club baseball, which is a growing phenomenon across the nation.  They find this as a way to attend college affordably (in-state universities), play baseball competitively, travel a fair amount, and yet not have the pressure or the workload demands that are seen with D1 programs.  And I promise you, some of these club teams would clean the clocks of some NCAA mid-major, D2 or D3 programs.

2014prospect - At the highest academic D3's (think Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore) 100% of financial needs are met by grants purely as a consequence of admission.  Only a handful of the baseball players are paying full price and the AVERAGE grant is $36,000.  The financial aid office will work tirelessly with an admit to find the financial package that works.  I don't know of any baseball "tips" (a Tip is an application supported by the coach and AD that is being shepherded through admissions) who ultimately didn't come because of finances.  So, don't be discouraged by sticker prices.

Originally Posted by leftyshortstop:

2014prospect - At the highest academic D3's (think Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore) 100% of financial needs are met by grants purely as a consequence of admission.  Only a handful of the baseball players are paying full price and the AVERAGE grant is $36,000.  The financial aid office will work tirelessly with an admit to find the financial package that works.  I don't know of any baseball "tips" (a Tip is an application supported by the coach and AD that is being shepherded through admissions) who ultimately didn't come because of finances.  So, don't be discouraged by sticker prices.

Referring to the part I put in bold, I believe you when you say you don't know any tips who didn't matriculate due to finances.

 

But readers should not draw conclusions from that about how frequently this might happen.  Just because you don't know any, doesn't mean it doesn't happen, or how frequently it might happen.......unless you tell us you have access to the results of all the offers made by the schools you mentioned.

 

I have no inside information, but I would not be surprised if it is a common occurrence. Anybody have real data?

Just the baseball results from the school I'm most familiar with in this regard.  Posters should search the media on this issue where they will find the math described in great detail.  Additionally, The Common Data Set published by each school will also describe the amount of awards give to students of all types.  Plenty out there on this topic but the best thing to do is just call the financial aid office of the schools mentioned and they will tell you directly.  That's what we did during the recruiting process.

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