Have been to Team One showcase and played in WWBA 17U and 18U tourneys. Now want to spend $ wisely.......should we attend a couple of camps he has been invited to or attend PG Southeast?
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I think this question is a relatively easy one, with a caveat. If your son is focused on or has strong desires for particular programs, the best route to go is to go to the camps at those schools. He has already done the sampler approach of Perfect Game, Team One, etc. If there are schools that he really wants, the camp at that school or schools is the way to go.
We have found with my son that overnight camps at schools of interest are great. The coaches and player can get to know each other over several days. The coaches can learn about your son's talent, work ethic, instincts, competitivenes, attitude, etc. It is a great way to find out if there is a good mutual interest.
The other advantage we have found at overnight college camps is that there are other colleges there working at the camp. These coaches can also get to know your son, opening up other possibilities that did not exist before the camp.
The other advantage we have found at overnight college camps is that there are other colleges there working at the camp. These coaches can also get to know your son, opening up other possibilities that did not exist before the camp.
I will also add that it might be very worth attending the PG showcase as well as a college camp. My son is attending his first PG showcase this weekend. He was planning to attend a PG event in June, but was recovering from knee surgery at the time and unable to play. PG held a credit for us since we had already paid, and said they would get my son into another showcase whenever he was ready. They were true to their word.
It depends on the type of player you have...
Nothing like a good performance at a PG showcase attended by college coaches during the recruiting periods, and other PG showcases like All-Star games where pro scouts are present are terrific for high performing recruits. Hit the right number on the gun, or wow them with your speed or power and you will get all the attention you deserve.
Some college camps are OK "if" they have already shown interest in you (seen you play, called and sent you mailers), but my opinion is that under the "new" recruiting environment, a kid who really wants that new 33% scholarship or more, is far better served with an excellent PG showcase performance, and then a followup with a college camp for a college you are seriously interested in (besides baseball) only after they have shown you significant interest.
P.S. If your kid is 6'5" throws serious gas, hits bombs to all fields or has supersonic speed then don't worry about college camps.
Nothing like a good performance at a PG showcase attended by college coaches during the recruiting periods, and other PG showcases like All-Star games where pro scouts are present are terrific for high performing recruits. Hit the right number on the gun, or wow them with your speed or power and you will get all the attention you deserve.
Some college camps are OK "if" they have already shown interest in you (seen you play, called and sent you mailers), but my opinion is that under the "new" recruiting environment, a kid who really wants that new 33% scholarship or more, is far better served with an excellent PG showcase performance, and then a followup with a college camp for a college you are seriously interested in (besides baseball) only after they have shown you significant interest.
P.S. If your kid is 6'5" throws serious gas, hits bombs to all fields or has supersonic speed then don't worry about college camps.
In my experience, the number one reason to hold college camps, is coaches income. I will even go one step further, and tell you that we wound up at a college camp where the coaches had seen my son at a showcase and encouraged him to come to the college camp to be evaluated by the whole staff. We went. Found out a month later that the only scholarship they had planned to offer a pitcher that year had already been committed to before we ever went to the showcase. Although this may be an extreme example, it does glaringly show the primary reason for college camps...coach income.
For your son, you'd be better off going to a showcase where that particular college is going to attend and continuing dialouge with the coaching staff that way. In my sons case, he emailed all the coaches of the schools he was interested in and let them know what showcases he would be at...he wound up going to a school that was never on his list that scouted him at a showcase.
Best of Luck
For your son, you'd be better off going to a showcase where that particular college is going to attend and continuing dialouge with the coaching staff that way. In my sons case, he emailed all the coaches of the schools he was interested in and let them know what showcases he would be at...he wound up going to a school that was never on his list that scouted him at a showcase.
Best of Luck