College

That’s a tough dilemma but my feeling is that there’s two schools who “know” they want him and the first choice seems “on the fence”.  If they really want a player it shouldn’t take them that long to deliberate and it seems unreasonable to keep you holding on while you are sitting on offers.  To me it says they are waiting to hear back from other players first before deciding to offer your son.  If it were me and I liked the two comparable (D2) schools that have already made it known they want me......I’d be leaning towards those.  

So, let me get my facts straight...the camp school is asking you to delay a decision (with bona fide offers) but the camp school isn't offering anything in return.   Did you fail to mention the camp school has offered anything?  If I'm reading this correctly, the camp school wants you to forego an acceptance to another school for a couple weeks until they can figure out what they want to do.   First, I think this is very presumptuous of them to suggest your son wait a couple weeks until they make up their minds.  Second, if you've been through this process you know that coaches can't tell time...its a known fact.   They are missing the time reading gene.  Two weeks might as well be two months.

College baseball coaches don't make decisions in a vacuum.   There has to be a reason they do or don't offer.   In your son's case they know there are competitive pressures, and yet they still did not do anything.  This is a red flag for me.    I would keep moving forward, and doing whatever you've been doing successfully.  Your son has offers, and possibly more camps or showcases to go to.   Keep moving forward with the offers you have.   If this other school can figure it out before it is time for your son to make a decision then good.   If they can't, then don't worry about it.   Your son has to make the best decision at that point in time with the data he has.

Good luck.

Dan1122

Honestly, I think it is different for everyone.  I've heard of people who got their first offer, and were happy every after.   I've known people who've ended up transferring because they made a mistake picking the wrong school for the wrong reasons.  My son was extremely selective and patient (almost to a fault) where it was driving his parents crazy.  But he knew when it was right.   Yes, this is very much a feel thing of knowing what your son has to offer and what the coaches are looking for.   I agree with 4ARMS that you have to go where you are loved, and where you are going to be supported...not an afterthought.  

If he has reservations about the outstanding offers he's received then I think it is in his best interest to directly confront those reservations while continuing to move forward to get in front of other schools.  Never stop moving forward until he commits, signs an NLI or gets and Admission letter.

As always, JMO.

When a school is asking YOUR SON to wait, then you need to assume they are waiting on their FIRST choice to make a decision...

So, legit, actual offers from others sounds like he is #1 on their list at those 2 schools...

I'm with fenway...this is a big red flag!

Dan1122 posted:

We have been hearing from people to take his time and be patient. But obviously this is not easy when other people are committing.

Should he wait much longer before he gives a verbal commit to any school?

 

What position does your son play?  I ask this because....there is always room for a good pitcher, and time could be on your side.   Not so much for a position player.  (Fenway is relaying info in his experience regarding pitchers.  Keewartson is a MIF and took the first offer lol).

baseballmom posted:

When a school is asking YOUR SON to wait, then you need to assume they are waiting on their FIRST choice to make a decision...

So, legit, actual offers from others sounds like he is #1 on their list at those 2 schools...

I'm with fenway...this is a big red flag!

Yes - and not only this, if he does end up getting an offer will he likely be in the top 20 players (i.e., possible/probable playing time) or the bottom 5 or 10 players (i.e., no playing time).  I would guess he would probably not be near the top of their roster given the scenario that was described.  Go where they want you, love you, and you can play.

I will - mildly - disagree with the view that if a player isn't the #1 recruit for his position, he isn't loved.

During many of the recruiting visits, I sat with son in the coach's office. I have also sat with HCs/RCs offices without him.

In each was a whiteboard listing "depth charts" of potential recruits. It was not unusual to see the same potential recruit listed as #1 on the board of several different schools. Why? Because EVERY school wanted that guy. BUT, there's only one school which could land him. That leaves the others on the board. 

So, if that #1 guy turned that school down, why think #2 wasn't wanted?Recruiting is more like a game of musical chairs and guys who were lower down the depth chart elevate as guys above them choose other schools, cant make admissions, cant afford the remaining tuition, etc.,

Will a coach continue to seek to upgrade at a position? Of course; coaches never stop that process - for any player.

Moreover, performance ultimately is all that matters. I have seen schools go way, way down their depth charts and have that player become an All-American.

For pitchers, I believe it's even more fluid. A big time program will have 15+ pitchers on a roster. EVERY effective pitcher will have ample opportunities to earn playing time. Arm, shoulder issues, grades, performance, all conspire to allow EVERY pitcher his opportunity. I have seen a freshman pitcher who began the season as last man out of 18, become a freshman AA. He was ready when called upon.

I think that when you are sitting in the coach's office, ask to see his white board (if it's not right over his shoulder). Dont be shy about asking about the status of guys ranked higher than your son.

And remember this rule for position players: if you hit, you play, regardless of whatever position you were recruited to play.

This one school hasn’t made its 2020 decisions, please wait? No! Some A list recruits haven’t made their decisions and the coaching staff is waiting and hoping. Even if they offer in a couple of weeks having to wait is an indication of where he sits in the pecking order if he receives an offer.

The objective isn’t to get an offer from your dream school unless attending is more of a priority than playing. The objective is to have the best opportunity to prove you belong on the field. I’ve seen a lot of players who pick their dream school not make the right choice and ultimately transfer.

If his dream school is a D1 and all his other offers are D2 it should be a tip off. What are all the other D1’s missing? Or is this D1 making a mistake?  The ego gratification of a D1 offer only lasts until the player isn’t getting on the field the following year.

The kid has birds in hand. Pick one.

*** A travel teammate of my son had several D2 offers from the top teams in a nearby D2 conference. He received one major conference offer and took it. Mid spring of his freshman year he had not got on the field even in blowouts. He went to the coach. The coach had decided by the time the season started he was not going to bring the kid back soph year.

Quick email or phone call to the coach of his top choice. 

"Hey coach, one of the other schools made a great offer and I plan on making a decision by the end of the week. I would love to come to __________, but I can't wait two more weeks. Unless we can work something out by the weekend, I plan on committing Sunday evening." 

That's it. They will either get back to you with an offer or they will try to convince you to hold out a little longer. And you don't nor do you have to tell them which school it is. Personally, I would've went home after hearing the "wait two weeks comment" slept on it and then called them back the next day and let them know I committed elsewhere. You are Plan B. Plan A is waiting two weeks for his top choice to give him an answer. What happens when you wait around 2 weeks and they tell you they don't have money or that you can walk on and try out in the fall. Save yourself the time and trouble and move on unless there is significant upside to his top choice ($, academics, etc). 

Just as a note for all of us who say choose a school you will love even if baseball isn't involved.

He likes two of the schools very much but went to a camp yesterday at his first-choice school.

Mine committed in September of his senior year. He was very clear with other coaches about when he would commit, first-choice school wouldn't offer until after he went to their last fall camp in early September.

WARNING WITH THIS — first-choice school offered no money for the first year, but told us what they would do for the next three. We just finished the conversation on what that looks like and they are exceeding their commitment. So it can work, but it is a risk and it's a risk that requires a huge amount of hard work by your son and a coach that has a lot of integrity. Only you know if those two components are in place.