Hi All, Curious what your thoughts are on JuCo in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Baseball is all over the place right now, and it is starting to look like a Juco might the better option for my younger child. I am trying to get a feel for the coaching staff(s), reputation, facilities etc. I am originally from Idaho, and Baseball is not my main sport. You all have been invaluable helping me navigate this process.
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@Confused2023 posted:Hi All, Curious what your thoughts are on JuCo in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Baseball is all over the place right now, and it is starting to look like a Juco might the better option for my younger child. I am trying to get a feel for the coaching staff(s), reputation, facilities etc. I am originally from Idaho, and Baseball is not my main sport. You all have been invaluable helping me navigate this process.
Contact adbono.
Yes, get in touch with adbono...
There are several levels of really great JUCOs in Texas...depends on where he wants to transfer for his 4 yr degree. Blinn feeds into Tex A & M, Weatherford feeds into TCU or Tarelton State (Stephenville)...Grayson to UT Dallas, San Jacinto to U of Houston, & Tex A & M, Navarro & McLennan to Baylor, U of Texas, Austin, TCU ...These are all interchangeable, of course...
In oklahoma several good ones. Seminole state, noc enid noc Tonkawa eastern Oklahoma northeastern Oklahoma.
Connors state
Confused2023, I sent you a PM. Would be happy to see if I could confuse you some more!
Many different levels of JUCOs in the region. Some can compete with the very best of D-1 schools and beat the majority of D-2 and D-3 schools 9 out of 10 times. Playing at those schools is probably more competitive than any mid-major in the region, mostly because the landscape is always changing with drop-downs from D-1 schools.
Not mentioned yet is Murray State in Oklahoma. Love that place. If a small town atmosphere is OK for your 2023, I would definitely check it out.
Start now with the summer camps (whenever they start again). Relatively cheap. Do them all this year, pick your favorites and go back to those next year. Usually in late summer/fall. Make the coaches fall in love with you.
Here are some links for you:
2020tx you're right on Murray state. I was just throwing a few off the top of my head. Western Oklahoma in Altus is good too
Hear great things about McLennan and San Jac
If you're into rankings...
https://www.perfectgame.org/Ar...w.aspx?article=17826
Most people have no clue how good of a player you have to be to crack the lineup at McLennan or San Jac. Kids that excel in those programs are drafted and/or move on to be big contributors at programs in the SEC, ACC, Big12....you name it. As was mentioned in an earlier post in this thread, there are different levels of Jucos-and there is a ranking of hierarchy at each level. In terms of talent McLennan & San Jac are at the top of the food chain. You don’t find them. They find you. If you are not a highly accomplished, highly recruited, highly regarded player w/ D1 potential you should not be thinking about these 2 schools. They are out of reach for all but the top prospects.
To Adbono's point, I attended an exhibition game early this spring between The University of Texas and San Jac. More than a couple of the San Jac players could have swapped unis and played for Texas and in some cases been an upgrade.
I have been sitting on this for a while waiting to see if this thread will continue. Since it appears that it won’t I want to comment on the schools that have been mentioned. I have to be careful what I say publicly so I’m only going to make positive comments. Based on my personal experience and observations here are the programs noted in this thread that I like: Texas: McLennan, Navarro, Blinn. Okla: NOC Enid, NOC Tonkawa, Murray St. I like these programs because I personally know kids that have played at these schools during the past few years and had good experiences.
adbono,
Expanding this to the southeast, what schools in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and north Florida stand out?
How does Walter's State compare to San Jac and McC?
@Opus X posted:adbono,
Expanding this to the southeast, what schools in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and north Florida stand out?
How does Walter's State compare to San Jac and McC?
Fair question, but I can’t answer it. My detailed knowledge of JuCo programs is limited to Regions 2, 5, & 14. I have a little knowledge a few other random places but not in the SE region - other than Pasco-Hernando in Florida, which I like. Walters State is traditionally good (as I’m sure you know) but I know nothing about the culture, the coaching staff, or what the experience is typically like for the players. The southeast is baseball rich and I’m sure there are a lot of good JuCo programs - and others you want to avoid. In that area I just don’t know which are which. You might ask PitchingFan the same question.
Sorry !
@Opus X posted:adbono,
Expanding this to the southeast, what schools in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and north Florida stand out?
How does Walter's State compare to San Jac and McC?
Florida has a lot of really good JUCO program.
Chipola, Polk, Miami Dade, Florida State College, Florida Southwestern to name a few.
However, in most cases, out of state tuition in Florida is very expensive.
This link will help. Find your Region...schools are listed, with links to them. Another page shows Championships, by division, by region. NJCAA World Series is in Chattanooga 2021-2023...
https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/teams
Adbono I know several at noc enid and Tonkawa. Enid facilities are really cool but especially their home park but they really over recruit. They have at least 5 catchers on the roster this coming fall. Tonkawa does not over commit at all.
@edcoach posted:Adbono I know several at noc enid and Tonkawa. Enid facilities are really cool but especially their home park but they really over recruit. They have at least 5 catchers on the roster this coming fall. Tonkawa does not over commit at all.
I take issue with your statement about NOC Enid over-recruiting. My son played there in 2019 & 2020. Both years they had 36 players on fall roster and 34 on spring roster. The Jets absolutely do not over-recruit which is one of the reasons my son went there.
Great example of doing your homework. For example - in one state, if you look at the Small School All State selections - you will see an All State Catcher - that is going to go pitch in the Big 12. This kid never plays that position unless it is School Ball.
If you look at a PBR, PG profile page to determine college positions, you may not be getting the full picture in all cases of where kids will play when they arrive.
I was at Juco festival in the fall with a lot of the schools listed in this thread. You could look at the dugouts and determine for yourself who over recruits.
We've all done the internet research which gives some of the story. You want to see who over recruits, go watch multiple games in the fall.
@jaketaylor posted:Great example of doing your homework. For example - in one state, if you look at the Small School All State selections - you will see an All State Catcher - that is going to go pitch in the Big 12. This kid never plays that position unless it is School Ball.
If you look at a PBR, PG profile page to determine college positions, you may not be getting the full picture in all cases of where kids will play when they arrive.
I was at Juco festival in the fall with a lot of the schools listed in this thread. You could look at the dugouts and determine for yourself who over recruits.
We've all done the internet research which gives some of the story. You want to see who over recruits, go watch multiple games in the fall.
This X 1000
@edcoach posted:Adbono I know several at noc enid and Tonkawa. Enid facilities are really cool but especially their home park but they really over recruit. They have at least 5 catchers on the roster this coming fall. Tonkawa does not over commit at all.
To my & Jake Taylor’s point, I was at a JuCo Tourney last fall on the campus of UCO in Edmond. NOC Enid was playing Seminole State. Seminole brought so many kids (we counted over 50) that they couldn’t all fit in the dugout.
I'm just talking the catching position. They seriously have at least 5 if not 6 catchers . They may end up at other positions idk. I'm not saying they do it every year and I have absolutely nothing against the school at all. Love it up there but it seems crowded
@edcoach posted:I'm just talking the catching position. They seriously have at least 5 if not 6 catchers . They may end up at other positions idk. I'm not saying they do it every year and I have absolutely nothing against the school at all. Love it up there but it seems crowded
You got bad info dude. Not crowded up there at all.
The catching position there IS crowded
@edcoach posted:They may end up at other positions idk.
That is my point - only the kids know. And IF (and I will stress this is a big if), they all end up at Catcher, #3, #4, #5 and #6 knew what they were walking into.
It's too broad of a brush to paint from the outside looking in.
JMO
@adbono posted:You got bad info dude. Not crowded up there at all.
Exactly.
It just seemed on twitter kids were committing there all the time and pbr backs it up. Like I said I'm not knocking enid at all I love it up there and know many happy players from there
@edcoach posted:It just seemed on twitter kids were committing there all the time and pbr backs it up. Like I said I'm not knocking enid at all I love it up there and know many happy players from there
You can believe what you read on Twitter or you can listen to someone that has actually been there. That kinda sums up a lot that is going on in America right now, doesn’t it??
I know the college and juco scene pretty well in Oklahoma and I'm sticking to my facts that they have a log jam at the catching position prior to any position relocation. If you say I'm wrong on my numbers at that position you're either lying, don't really know or have an agenda. That pretty much sums up what's going on in America right now doesnt it?
@edcoach posted:I know the college and juco scene pretty well in Oklahoma and I'm sticking to my facts that they have a log jam at the catching position prior to any position relocation. If you say I'm wrong on my numbers at that position you're either lying, don't really know or have an agenda. That pretty much sums up what's going on in America right now doesnt it?
Logjam at one position prior to position relocation doesn’t constitute over recruiting.
@adbono posted:To my & Jake Taylor’s point, I was at a JuCo Tourney last fall on the campus of UCO in Edmond. NOC Enid was playing Seminole State. Seminole brought so many kids (we counted over 50) that they couldn’t all fit in the dugout.
Seminole usually has 60+, but they also have a JV team so that may be why.
When I coached DII in California, I always selected 5 catchers. When they arrive as Freshman in the 1st week it is obvious the only 2 can "catch and receive" maybe one can hit hit and play 3b or LF with daily training. the remaining two are "bullpen" catchers. They bare an injury away from moving up.
Bob
@Consultant posted:When I coached DII in California, I always selected 5 catchers. When they arrive as Freshman in the 1st week it is obvious the only 2 can "catch and receive" maybe one can hit hit and play 3b or LF with daily training. the remaining two are "bullpen" catchers. They bare an injury away from moving up.
Bob
And there you have it ! Funny how the most experienced people always get it.
I know a young man that played for San Jac a couple of years ago. They bring in 6 catchers every fall because they need the kids to catch all the bullpens of the huge number of pitchers they bring in. At least half of them are cut at the end of the fall season. This young man was a pitcher, and at the beginning of the spring semester, they had 7 D1 dropdowns. He ended up getting redshirted and then never when back. I've seen that happen at MANY JuCo's and D3's here in Texas. Parents don't do their research and everyone is very disappointed.
Adbono;
My 3rd catcher is now the catching coach for a MLB team.
Bob
@Consultant posted:Adbono;
My 3rd catcher is now the catching coach for a MLB team.
Bob
Yes sir! You are the man. I love your posts!
Looking at JUCO route in TX OK area so kind of related to the post. What’s the difference in talent in D2 JUCOs in OK? In TX they appear to be D1 or D3.
In selecting a JUCO how much emphasis should we put on whether the JUCO has a pipeline to certain D1 schools assuming our kid continues developing and has the skills?
@Dallas2020 posted:Looking at JUCO route in TX OK area so kind of related to the post. What’s the difference in talent in D2 JUCOs in OK? In TX they appear to be D1 or D3.
In selecting a JUCO how much emphasis should we put on whether the JUCO has a pipeline to certain D1 schools assuming our kid continues developing and has the skills?
The best D2s can compete with the best D1s. LSU- Eunice is probably the best D2 program in America year in and year out. The most important thing is to find the right fit. There are more D1 JuCo teams that play at a high level compared to D2 JuCo but at the top there is little difference. The JuCo team with the most talent in 2019 was D2 Western Oklahoma. The entire infield was drafted along with the CF. But they didn’t win because they weren’t the best team. The good D1 Jucos in Texas are really good. So is D3 Texas Tyler. Don’t worry about the number after the D. Go where you can play.
How do you decide if his metrics add up? What do the metrics look like? Lot's of variables I am sure...... Possibly more confused than ever. Said above that people underestimate the talent, but what specifically?
Confused
how can your son help his future team WIN? What is his 6th Tool?
can he read the bat, the runners feet, the coaches mind?
Bob
