ARIZONA ( UofA, ASU,GCU) + JC

In my opinion the AZ jc system is in the top 2 in the country. Specifically Yavapai and Central AZ.

Both feed heavily into ASU.

If your child is a great student athlete start showing up to UofA camps.

IF he is really special try ASU.

I am of the opinion that Arizona is a top 5 state in the country for baseball. If you can stay there then stay.

Thank you Mr. Playfair. Very good thoughts especially coming from California. He is currently a sophomore in HS and its probably not too early to start the process.

Yavapai has a very storied history...

National Championships 3
World Series Appearances 7
Regional Championships 7
ACCAC Championships 6
All-Americans 26
All-Region Players (last 6 years) 27
All-Conference Players (last 6 years) 38
Players Placed to D-1 Level (last 7 years) 48
Players Drafted 150
Former Roughriders Currently in MLB 4

And at least one very famous retired major leaguer, Curt Shilling (85-86)

Ryanrod23:

My son has HS teammates playing is just about every program in the state. Many of the kids played for me in club ball. One of his teammates and the son of one of my buddies just started at GC. They are hopeful they will be moving up to DI within a few years.

Playfair give you a pretty good description of things. ASU is ASU and it's different then any place else regarding baseball. The last few years since they've changed some of the rules regarding scholarship breakdowns the JCs are pulling lots of kids that could play at most DIs. I've been impressed with what the HC at Arizona has done with the program in the last few years.

As mentioned Arizona is starting to produce lots of good players and there just are not enough programs for them all. California, Texas and Fl have a lot of options, AZ has three 4-year schools with baseball programs. The kids who played for me and now are playing for JC's all seem to really like playing with wooden bats except when they have to face the stable of stud pitchers Yavapai seems to have every year.

Thanks for all the input.. I wonder how recent events (ASU) would affect the college baseball landscape in the state in the next few years. Going into a JC won't be a bad idea especially with a quality wood bat league in what I would say is the best conference nationally. U of A has been getting more in-state players more than ASU so far this year based on 2010 college commitments. I believe that with the current economy unless you will get a significant scholarship offer which is rare for baseball, more players will more than likely stay locally in their respective home state. Unless of course they get drafted and go to the majors or should I say minors. I know there will always be that rare player who will be ready for the MLB out of high school but I still believe that finishing college would lead to more opportunities in the future. Let the pursuit begin.

Coach Waltrip,

Looks like you know a lot about the RoughRiders. They will see a lot of Bryce Harper media this year.
Good Luck!

I did not know Grand Canyon University (GCU) was going DI, they are playing in a DII baseball conference Pacific West Conference with selected schools from Hawaii, AZ, UT and one new one from CA.

Mr. Homerun04,

GCU is petitioning to be DI and this probably wont happen this coming season but maybe in the next year or so. Thanks for the link. I am discovering that there are lots of quality programs here in the state if you want to stay here. Just need to be someplace where you fit.

RR23

I heard there is currently a moratorium on schools going into DI, so it may be a couple of years before it comes true.

Ok now. I like this post. I am an AZ parent of a senior in HS. I have looked into the colleges here in AZ. It is in IMHO one of the best JC programs in the country. It really doesn't matter what JC team you get on here. Because with Yavapai,Central AZ,and a host of other great programs here, if your son can put up good numbers in this Div. you will be noticed Nationally. Because, he will be hitting against some of the best pitchers. Competeing against some of the best athletes in the country. Yes, they have alot of quality D1 players playing here that even with their scholarship money offered couldn't afford to stay up in D1 with this economy. Plus, the bonus of wood bats get the Scouts attention. If you can be an impact player in this Div. with wood bats, you could easily be on the radar of MLB Scouts to be drafted or earn yourself a better offer to a D1 school while getting your core courses out of the way. Also,as you know some players don't swing a wood bat as well as an aluminum bat. So the Scouts will see a players future development easier after having seen them hit well with wood. And as you know the player will be draft eligible in JC.

So we have affordable, competitive, opportunities, MLB draft recognition and a chance to earn a better scholarship offer to D1. I believe the trend for MLB draft is turning to JC's and GPA based players. This way they get responsible players for team chemistry and wood bat talent already developed, creating a quicker transfer of a player to through the Minors into the Majors. Of course this only IMHO. Great post tho and good info! Keep up the good work with your son Ryanrod23. Looking forward to our boys progress this year. Have a Merry Christmas!!

For AZ guys up North/West...Any news on GCU going DI? Seems like the new Coaching staff is very active looking at players and really excited on getting things turned around.

Allan, What's the plan for your sophomore?

OK it has been a few years since I have posted...some information for parents of kids thinking of playing JC ball in AZ. It was a very competitive, fun league. My son played at Phoenix College, received his associates and had a 3.6 GPA. He went to the midwest to a top 20 DII program...and the university didn't recognize a lot of his courses as "transferrable"...so he had to retake about half his classes. Since it is common place for athletes (and non athlete's) to take 5 years for a 4 year degree...it took 6 for him to get his. Just something to think about and realize that just because they have their Associates Degree...doesn't mean all the courses will be accepted as "equal".

Remember GCU is private so even with a decent scholarship you're still looking at a hefty tuition bill. Nothing wrong with starting at one of the top JCs and transferring out of state for a better opportunity to play. AZ just doesn't have enough 4 year schools and there's a lot of opportunity elsewhere for AZ kids, they're playing all over the country.