Looking for some advice. My son’s dream school reached out and asked him to attend a Prospect Camp the same weekend his Showcase team is scheduled to play at a smaller venue. Normally I would preach a “team first” mentality to my son but this is also the last scheduled prospect camp for this school until spring of next year. Would you attend the camp or the team showcase?
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If the school reached out to him, and it wasn't just a generic email, camp no question. His team should understand that. On my son's 2020 team starting in August there would be kids missing any given weekend when camps started up.
It depends on the age of the kid. A 2020 in the Fall of his Senior year? No doubt about it. A 2021 in the Fall of his Junior year? It depends. If it is a Power 5 school, the recruiting window is beginning to close, and it might be wise to attend the camp. For a mid major D1 on down, there is still time
You have to try to determine how much interest the school really has in the kid vs how motivated they are to fill up the camp. You also have to determine how close your son is to *wowing* the coaches. If his measureables exceed the numbers that the rostered players achieved at a similar age, then he might be in position to get himself an offer at the camp...
What do your showcase coaches think? Hopefully they are involved in his recruiting process and can help discern if attending the camp is worthwhile. If they are involved in his recruiting process I would think their insight would be most important.
I'd venture a guess that Dream School will have representation at the Showcase Tourney...
You son is 2023...Is your son their "Dream Player"???
I'd send my son to Showcase...
4arms posted:Looking for some advice. My son’s dream school reached out and asked him to attend a Prospect Camp the same weekend his Showcase team is scheduled to play at a smaller venue. Normally I would preach a “team first” mentality to my son but this is also the last scheduled prospect camp for this school until spring of next year. Would you attend the camp or the team showcase?
The purpose of camps and showcases is to be recruited and offered. If the offer to attend the camp is for genuine recruiting purposes I would advise your son to go. My son always put his travel teams needs ahead of his own and it ended up burning him a couple times when given these choices. Take the opportunity to showcase in front of his dream school and don't think twice.
As always, JMO.
As long as the invite came from the RC and not the Director of baseball operations, I'd say go to the camp.
A "Showcase" team is what by definition? To showcase a player for purposes of being recruited, right? If the player has a sincere invite from his dream school, i don't understand why this is even a question. This is the goal for all parties involved, isn't it?
Now, as others have pointed out, you do have to decipher the sincerity and level of interest from the school. And you do have to determine if player has yet reached the point where he can display the skill set that matches up or at least projects well to do so.
A decent showcase travel team has plenty of back-up butts to fill the seats in this scenario.
baseballmom posted:I'd venture a guess that Dream School will have representation at the Showcase Tourney...
You son is 2023...Is your son their "Dream Player"???
I'd send my son to Showcase...
This is a good point... is someone from Dream School going to be at tourney? A question worth asking. If so, who? Answer could definitely sway things. Who has the player spoken to at the school? What has dialog been to date? Has there actually been dialog specifically regarding the prospect camp? Did they say they want to see him there?
This is what I meant by deciphering the sincerity and level of interest from the school.
cabbagedad posted:A "Showcase" team is what by definition? To showcase a player for purposes of being recruited, right? If the player has a sincere invite from his dream school, i don't understand why this is even a question. This is the goal for all parties involved, isn't it?
Now, as others have pointed out, you do have to decipher the sincerity and level of interest from the school. And you do have to determine if player has yet reached the point where he can display the skill set that matches up or at least projects well to do so.
A decent showcase travel team has plenty of back-up butts to fill the seats in this scenario.
Saved me some typing
Unless your 2023 is an uber stud and has the goods to be offered soon, I say neither and save your money. There's a very good chance you'll look back down the road and say "that fall showcase team sure was a waste of money."
If your 2023 is not an uber stud, my guess is your camp invite is generic and you need to start learning the difference between real and spam.
Not sure what a Showcase team really is, btw. A Travel Team? Theoretically all travel tournaments are showcases, but really only some of them are scouted by college coaches. College teams are pretty busy with fall workouts, so only a few fall tournaments are heavily scouted by college coaches...
Dear [Players Name Here], err 4Arms,
If your son is a 2023 who played 14u this past summer, unless he’s already a future top draft pick you received a form letter. Has anyone in the family filled out the dream school’s online recruiting form. This will generate form letter invites. Colleges also purchase mailing lists from showcases and tournaments.
To prove a point to the parents of a 14u player I coached I filled out the online recruiting form to their son’s dream school for my dog. He received an invitation to a camp. Of course, it makes sense a (Coach) Fox might be interested in a dog.
So 4arms, I just saw a previous thread from you early last month... (for others, yes, player is a 2023 and yes he does have some very good measurables). You mentioned that he went to a prospect camp then with his dream school and did fairly well. Are you talking about the same school? Has there been dialog since? These are yet more factors that come into play when making these decisions.
Also, I will give some unsolicited advice. Based on his age, his numbers, his current involvement with showcase ball and prospect camps, and the fact that he pitches sometimes, you will have to be very careful with planning out event participation, shut-down time and arm care over these next few years. Demand for his services/participation/attendance will be constant. Most of these events will seem "critical" at the time. Most are not. You carry the burden of protector. You will very likely have to learn to stand firm and say no far more than you want to. You will have to plan logical rest time and ramp up time well in advance.
Lots of 2023's are committing to Power 5's this year, especially in the SEC, so if the measureables are there the interest in likely legit.
In that case I would go to the camp, not the tournament.
Great info and advice thank you. He had an idea of three schools he considered his dream schools. This would be one of the three. We’ve been told his measurable are there for his age and he still has growth left. He’s been in contact with the staff about who he plays for and where he’ll be playing but obviously no direct contact about recruiting per NCAA and his age. This is our first go around so the advice that’s been given has been very helpful. Thank you.
In our experience they will ask you to call when they are serious about recruiting you. That said, I’d still go to the camp.
