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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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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...

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:

https://njcaaregion5.com/landing/index

https://www.njcaaregion14.com/...sb/2019-20/standings

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. 

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. 

@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.

 

@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 

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