Don't panic! this is not about my kid, but here it goes.
I am 99.9% sure that a very strong Freshman who has not played one single HS game should not be needing a Adviser. I didn't think that the Sophomores needed one either. But there may be a reason that I haven't heard of yet that would fill in the .1%
I have read some older post and like I said if there is something new I am not aware of it.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Don't panic! this is not about my kid, but here it goes.
I am 99.9% sure that a very strong Freshman who has not played one single HS game should not be needing a Adviser. I didn't think that the Sophomores needed one either. But there may be a reason that I haven't heard of yet that would fill in the .1%
I have read some older post and like I said if there is something new I am not aware of it.
In my opinion, no "need" for an adivsor until Senior year when pro scouts come knocking...and even then, it may not be necessary...anybody trying to get a player to commit to and advisor/agency is just prospecting in hopes that player gets drafted and they can make their cut. But as a Freshman there's nothing going on that would require the services of an advisor.
Agreed....a friend's son had one....but he was considered a top 5 round pick. Didn't even start talking to the advisor until summer after junior year...after he was already getting serious draft interest
5 of my former players where drafted last season. 2 never had an advisor, one got one midway through junior summer and 2 got them early in senior season. highest pick was a 1st rounder lowest a 23rd rounder.
Some agent-in-waiting has probably just tried to get his hooks into the kid in hopes of making a commission in 3 1/2 years. Unfortunately, the kid and/or his parents apparently bought into whatever sales pitch they heard, which is not an uncommon response when someone is telling you how wonderful junior is and how he's going to make millions and yada yada yada.
In my experience, the agents doing this are the bottom of the barrel, hardly the ones you'd want come draft time. But then, the families using them are probably idiots, too, so it's nice that they occupy themselves. Maybe they'll leave the rest of us alone!
5 of my former players where drafted last season. 2 never had an advisor, one got one midway through junior summer and 2 got them early in senior season. highest pick was a 1st rounder lowest a 23rd rounder.
BB, In your opinion, should any or all of these five had an advisor? My son has a few years before we even need to consider this. Just wondering what you would have done. I would guess the 1st rounder had one or should have had one. The 23rd rounder, no need. But I have no clue.
But then, the families using them are probably idiots, too, so it's nice that they occupy themselves. Maybe they'll leave the rest of us alone!
This sounds like quite a few people that I've met lately.
I have two clients who may go in the first 10 rounds of the draft, and neither decided on an adviser until late Junior/early Senior year of HS.
Isn't one of the questions any player is asked in the NCAA Clearing House is whether they have had a sports agent? If an "Adviser" receives money, then he is an agent.
5 of my former players where drafted last season. 2 never had an advisor, one got one midway through junior summer and 2 got them early in senior season. highest pick was a 1st rounder lowest a 23rd rounder.
BB, In your opinion, should any or all of these five had an advisor? My son has a few years before we even need to consider this. Just wondering what you would have done. I would guess the 1st rounder had one or should have had one. The 23rd rounder, no need. But I have no clue.
the 1st and 2nd rounders had one, both ended up being their agents. what was more important was the financial advisor one got and the other did not. Less than a year later one burned threw a lot of his bonus, the other has more than he started with. All minor league players make the same by level " basically" and it's not much.
Isn't one of the questions any player is asked in the NCAA Clearing House is whether they have had a sports agent? If an "Adviser" receives money, then he is an agent.
The "advisor" receives no money. Basically, there is an understanding that if/when the player DOES go pro, they will use the advisor/agency as their professional agent. In return for this "understanding" the advisor will provide guidance, input, etc. as the player goes through the scouting process. There is NO legal binding agreement between the player and advisor/agency (at least there's not supposed to be). Anything beyond that, ie. signing a contract with advisor/agency, would be a violation.
Personally, I think "adivsors" should be "openly" allowed if a player wants them. MLB organizations have teams of lawyers and experience and the player has...mom and dad...and the players are expected, at 18 years old, to go through this process all alone?
Isn't one of the questions any player is asked in the NCAA Clearing House is whether they have had a sports agent? If an "Adviser" receives money, then he is an agent.
The "advisor" receives no money. Basically, there is an understanding that if/when the player DOES go pro, they will use the advisor/agency as their professional agent. In return for this "understanding" the advisor will provide guidance, input, etc. as the player goes through the scouting process. There is NO legal binding agreement between the player and advisor/agency (at least there's not supposed to be). Anything beyond that, ie. signing a contract with advisor/agency, would be a violation.
Personally, I think "adivsors" should be "openly" allowed if a player wants them. MLB organizations have teams of lawyers and experience and the player has...mom and dad...and the players are expected, at 18 years old, to go through this process all alone?
The advisor vs. agent distinction is not due to MLB rules, it is to ensure the athlete retains amateurism for NCAA competition.
JH is correct and my point is, once money transfers then that adviser is an agent. Some parents are unaware of this and there are unscrupulous "advisers" out there. I had one hanging around one of my players who was being courted by SEC and Big 10 schools. When asked about my opinion of the guy by his parents, I said I'd drop him faster than a red hot stove.
The NCAA rule on this is enforced infrequently, and whom they choose to target/how they decide who slides and who gets attacked is a mystery. Search Andrew Oliver on this site to read about his saga. It really only comes up for the guy who ends up not signing in the particular draft.
Since the adoption of the new CBA a few years ago, the value of an advisor-cum-agent can be fairly debated. You're not going to get much if anything more with one than without one, so giving away a percentage of your bonus to one as a fee is not the greatest idea. Especially since the signing bonus is about all the money anyone ever sees unless and until they get on the MLB 40-man roster.
If I had a son deemed likely to go in the first round, I would think I'd want an advisor to make sure we knew what we were doing, what we were signing, and what things may or may not actually be negotiable. Since bonuses can drop off precipitously as the draft progresses, though, there aren't really that many guys I would expect would benefit from an advisor. I've even known some scouts who've given up this whole aspect of their business model, because there's just no money in it for them any more.
There are advisors who are not agents, the OP did not distinguish who the player would be getting advice from. That particular person can take a fee if he/she is not a licensed agent.
To answer the question, no a freshman/sophomore does not need an advisor or an agent (that is working in the capacity of an advisor), you are 99% correct.
However, different strokes for different folks, if this makes the family feel better, then it is their business.
JMO
