Baseball academy vs PG at prep school?

If education doesn't matter you're probably better off with an academy baseball wise. I know kids that went to P27, seemed to work out ok for them.

Something to think about...the private schools in New England (Andover/Exeter/Belmont Hill, etc.) have become major feeder programs to the colleges in the area, check the rosters.  Could be a leg up if the player is prioritizing one of the locals. 

Are you hoping to use the academy experience to increase the ability to be recruited or is the recruiting over with? I know a ton of kids who have gone through the academies you listed in FL. The kids who signed with P5 and other D1 schools were already committed or close to committing before going to the academy. I've seen several kids end up at schools that basically take anyone willing to pay the tuition. So if you're just looking for a place to train for a year, then they are good. If you are hoping it increases recruiting activity, I'd go another direction.

How skilled are you? After reading your other post why would you spend money on a PG year to play D3 ball? The only reason would be at a place like Exeter or Andover for the academic challenge in preparation for a HA D3 like a NESCAC or similar.

Unless things have changed ISLs (Belmont Hill**, etc) don’t do PGs. They prefer a student repeat a year and be there for at least two years.

** I have to think anyone from The Belmont Hill School (keep your nose up when you say it) cringed last night hearing the ESPN announcers referred to  the school as Belmont Hill High School.

I went to an ISL freshman year. They’re so condescending towards public schools they refer to the high school kids as townies.

I have heard of examples, so I was looking for additional collective experience from others. 

A strong HS player getting committed/accepted to Patriot league/D1 school and encouraged by college coach to train at academy for year prior to showing up as a frosh. Effectively a deferral with gap year to train with the blessing of the coach.  Motivations include:

the congested state of college baseball with lots of covid waivers/extra yrs of eligibility creating too much supply

avg age of college rosters highest ever, so the ability to compete as a younger player is more challenging

@TV posted:

I have heard of examples, so I was looking for additional collective experience from others.

A strong HS player getting committed/accepted to Patriot league/D1 school and encouraged by college coach to train at academy for year prior to showing up as a frosh. Effectively a deferral with gap year to train with the blessing of the coach.  Motivations include:

the congested state of college baseball with lots of covid waivers/extra yrs of eligibility creating too much supply

avg age of college rosters highest ever, so the ability to compete as a younger player is more challenging

If this is the situation (in bold above), and you understand what you are getting into and have the finances to pull it off then why not...go for it.  Playing devils advocate after reading this thread, it appears to me the coach benefits the most with this arrangement.   He's not committed to anything in writing and there are no guarantees the coach will be there beyond making this verbal suggestion.  Did he, or is he actually helping you with admissions into a school you ordinarily would not have access to?   This just seems a little "forced" and uncommitted in my opinion.

Getting recruited to play college baseball and getting on the field to play college baseball is a significant mountain to climb.   Add a D1 Patriot League education on top of that and the mountain just got higher.   Go where you are loved, and the coach has some skin in the game in your recruitment.   Typically this is in the form of $$ scholarships, but it can be also be access to an admissions back-door (Patriot, Ivy, D3 HAs) too.   I like my life when it is uncomplicated and simple.   This path seems to add complexity that you have to pay big bucks for.   

There must be a different path/door to consider.   JMO.

fenwaysouth, simply to clarify, when you "defer acceptance" you are accepted into that school without risk and come 1 yr later. That's the deal. I don't think that qualifies as uncommitted on behalf of school.  If you are suggesting the coach leaves or gets fired during that year, that might happen, stuff happens. Hard to plan around that.  You might also throw out in devil's advocate mode that fall baseball doesn't go well and the player might not make spring roster. But a good way for a player to mitigate that risk is get: bigger, faster, stronger

I am very removed from my son graduating from HS, but a player on his college team went to Exeter for a PG year.  I am not sure if it was prearranged by the college coach or as a way to get recruited in the first place.   He wound up getting drafted, as a 4th year senior, which made him an additional year older (23).  He left after his first season.

I think if your son is deferring a year after being accepted, I would encourage him to take a college class or two.  A full year away from academics could be difficult for some to re-enter as a full time student.  (speaking from experience....me)

Can he take college level classes that would be transferrable at one of the prep high schools?  Having a few credits under his belt could  help him take a lesser load in seasons.

@TV posted:

fenwaysouth, simply to clarify, when you "defer acceptance" you are accepted into that school without risk and come 1 yr later. That's the deal. I don't think that qualifies as uncommitted on behalf of school.  If you are suggesting the coach leaves or gets fired during that year, that might happen, stuff happens. Hard to plan around that.  You might also throw out in devil's advocate mode that fall baseball doesn't go well and the player might not make spring roster. But a good way for a player to mitigate that risk is get: bigger, faster, stronger

Understood, the when is irrelevant.  Acceptance is acceptance.   What is relevant is understanding what the coach did to help with acceptance, and what skin in the game he has with all these moving parts.  Hence the comment about go where you are loved...and that love is tangible.   Back in the old days (10+ years ago), my son was given a training and lifting schedule (by the strength & conditioning coach) over the summer before his freshman year.  He did get bigger, faster, stronger in just 4 months before Fall baseball.   This led to earning a starting pitcher slot when conference play started in the Spring of his freshmen year. 

I don't fully understand your background and what you are trying to do.  I only know what is in this thread and another one about D3 HAs.  In the many years I've been on this website most people try to reduce risk and find the best fit academically, athletically and financially.   It doesn't seem like you want to go down that path which I find very interesting.

Best of luck!

Unless a player is a pro prospect he should be looking for the best academic, baseball and financial fit regardless of the level. He should have a forty year plan. Playing baseball is great. But how is this college preparing me to hit the workforce?

The kids I know and know of who went to Exeter or Andover were non pro prospect, Ivy recruits. They PG’ed to get one year older, bigger and stronger. But, more importantly the PG year at these schools was to prepare them for Ivy League academic rigor compared to the high schools they came out of. What I never heard of was an ISL athlete doing a PG year at Exeter or Andover.

ISLs provide academic rigor. From experience I learned you can’t skip doing your homework and hide in the back of a classroom with only 8-10 students. You are going to be called on every class.

A friend of mine’s kid did the Baseball Academy thing in Texas, and credits that experience with getting recruited to a competitive JUCO and now being a starting CF for a D2.  He felt he was headed for a D3 and thinks it was worth it.

This kid runs a 6.5 60 though, which is a difference maker.  He needed help with his overall Baseball skills to match his speed

He’s happy with the decision

I'd look at the college's stats from the past year, and see how many of the players getting PT are freshmen.  Most schools at all levels have a few, some have more.  For example, Holy Cross (Patriot League) lists 6 players who went to boarding schools after high school.  One was a freshman,  he played in a lot of games this year.  But several of the other freshmen also got significant playing time without an extra year of training.

I think I'd want to know why a coach would be willing to commit admission support but then not think the kid might be ready to play.

I met a dad a couple of years ago watching a high school game. His son was committed to a top twenty program. But it was for the year after he prepped at a powerhouse PG baseball program. The kid was 90+ in high school. But he was 6’1, 175. Maybe they wanted him to bulk up some.

After his PG year the kid shows up at the ranked program. The program brought in seven graduate school pitchers for this season. The kid wasn’t rostered this year. He’s now two years out of high school without stepping on a college field. I’m guessing he’s in the portal now.