D1 or JUCO

Driller Man, people will weigh in with various thoughts, but here are a few things to consider:

Some schools recruit heavily from JUCO's and some recruit primarily from high school. It's up to you to determine which type of program this is. You can usually learn a lot from looking at the roster and where the players came from.

Is this the player's dream school? If so, the player may not get a second chance to play there if he heads to a JUCO first. The program may pursue its second-choice prospect instead and not have a need for its first choice later. Or, the player may not perform at a high enough level at the JUCO to garner interest from the D1.

If this is not the player's dream school, it may behoove him to go the JUCO route where he can hopefully get playing time, continue to develop, and perhaps get noticed by a number of D1 programs down the road.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your views!

This has been discussed many times.I have mixed feelings on several levels on this.
My own son did turn down one D1 offer out of HS, and went to a JC.it worked out wondeful for him.He had a great year, started and played every game and is at a great school D1 now.
It is really hard to give advice, as each family is soooo different.Some kids need the time at the JC to mature on many levels(not just baseball).Some are more mature and are ready for the vigors of a D1 baseball school.( and it is vigorous)
There are very good players at JCs, many dont have grades,or were overlooked.Are you sure it is a shoe in to play right away at the JC?
I think every player needs to understand that they may have to earn playtime wherever they go.JC or D1.
When you get to the college level,every player is an all conference, all state, all city , even at some of the top JCs.
For us, it worked well to go to the JC.Lots of ABS and plenty of playtime.I have to say I like the surroundings of a four year school better.My son is at a strong academic, so school is a priority to the players and parents.I like that.
Its really hard to give out a specific answer.There are kids my son plays with, that I think could of been at a JC for a year or so, freshmen who have talent, but arent quite ready to contribute.But they are competing and working hard.
Very difficult decision, and can be right or wrong for every different kid.

Driller Man:

Our son took the offer from a major D1 with dreams of going to the CWS. Then the entire coaching staff left, a new coach came in, and within a year most of the recruits were gone, including our son, who went to a JC. He was then picked up by another D1 and it is going well. What we found out is that movement is "normal" as many of his friends started out one place and ended up in another, and sometimes another...

But it is not just about baseball. Over the years our son grew up, raised all his grades, and found out what he wanted - or at least didn't want. At the JC he got great coaching and played with an excellent team. The classes weren't too hard and he could live at home.

He is much more mature now, bigger, and able to handle living away from home, going to classes, and balancing that with an intensive baseball regimen.

In the end, you must go where you will get the most love and allow your son to grow academically and athletically. Remember, even if he sits on the bench, his summer college team can allow for baseball growth and nothing replaces the experience of that first year of college. What you and he have to determine if he is ready for that.

Hope this helps.

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He is much more mature now, bigger, and able to handle living away from home, going to classes, and balancing that with an intensive baseball regimen.

That is the answer in a nutshell.That is the question you have to know about your own son. Mine as well grew up a lot at the JC.

This like many questions can only be answered by the player himself. I talked to the parents of a D-1 player that played with my son that had never started a game and had fewer than 10 AB during his entire four years of being on the team. I asked why he didn't go to a JUCO where he could have played. They said he wanted to stay and "experience" playing for Auburn --- (obviously his dream school). There are reason to go to a JUCO and reasons to go to a D-1. It boils down to whatever "floats your boat".
Fungo

Why do so mnay people think that just because you go JUCO you will start as a freshman ?---that is not a given---JUCO'S have players on the bench too you know--and many JUCO's are quite high powered and highly competitive

TRhit...so true...every starting spot has to be earned no matter a D1 or smaller school...JMHO...man this stuff is tricky wading through...good thing we have the HSBBW to help out and folks talking about their experiences...

I don't mean to beat a dead horse but Ill chime in as this particular question and/or dilema is right up my alley. lol.

It seems when I left home as a young 18yr old to Marine Corps bootcamp that I never remember having any troubles that some youth do today, i.e. missing home, adjusting, social skills, meeting/making new friends, etc. The Drill Instructors made sure that I had a busy day beginning at 4:30am each day so I couldn't dwell on these things!

My son struggled in various ways as a JUCO freshman last year in ways that perplexed me and his mom. A kid can appear normal and seem to have everything going for him in the confines of his home, school, and surroundings. It's only when he/she leaves that they/us begin to learn their strengths and/or weaknesses. After struggling academically both semesters due to the new rigors of college baseball, this semester he boasts a 3.95gpa. What a year of maturity and experience make.

Bottom line. My son needed the JUCO route to enable himself to grow academically and figure things out. Being a starting pitcher in high school he also learned how to become a role player last year coming out of the bullpen and/or closer role. He did ok. Not great, but ok. His opinion. This year as a sophomore he is slated to be one of the three starting pitchers on weekend conference games. He figured it out during the season and off season.

Like others have said on here, there are SO many reasons kids choose 4yr schools or JUCO. The program, the coaches, the opportunities, the playing time, draft, buddies, girls, location, school reputation, academics, dream, etc etc. What one cannot prepare themselves for is the unknown, i.e. missing home, g/f back home, don't like the coach and/or players for various reasons, hate the school, bad professors, roomate, cafe food, no cable, etc. and thus, they begin wanting to either come home or go somewhere else. It happens.

I know someone suggested to me a long time ago on here to sit down with my son and make a list of pros/cons on all of the above and put it in front of him and get his opinion on each one. It made him "think" what his decision was about, and to "think" about these things from outside the box.

Drillerman, your post asked about playing time behind another player. When he is on the field and looks to his right and his left, he is going to see kids as good or better than he. For the first time he will understand what the term "sink or swim" means. It will help begin to define him as a young man and setting goals. If he decides to leave after seeing he is #3 on the depth chart, does it mean he is a quitter or weak? No. He may see something that you can't from home. Encourage him and support him, and listen. I'm a firm believe that when one door shuts, another opens. But he has to twist the door knob!

As a parent, help him come out of the clouds for a moment and look at the very real possibilities that it could happen and to know how to deal with it when he sees the signs. He'll be thankful you did.

Ok. I'm hopping off my soap box now! lol

YGD

quote:

Ok. I'm hopping off my soap box now! lol

YGD ... You very adeptly nailed this one! The "Ben Franklin" process of listing pro's vs. con's still works! We found that prioritizing his academic & baseball wants helped determine HIS best overall option which was a 4 yr. D-II school. Good academics, close to home, great opportunity to play early and everyday, baseball program with a great history of "post season" success, ethical and professional coaching staff, etc.

Leave no leaf unturned prior to making the decision as the NCAA penalizes your son if he gets it wrong!!

Question:

Is the "close to home" aspect for the player or the parents ?

Parents in this house!

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Question:

Is the "close to home" aspect for the player or the parents ?

His of course, but we are most certainly a benefactor and very pleased with our good fortune.

Thanks everybody lots of good info.!

Very good posts! My son has had the option to go D1 but also has opted to go JUCO first. One, he liked the coaching staff. Two, it is in one of the top D1 JUCO Div.in the Country. Three, he loves wood bats. Four, even though he has a 4.0 GPA he can get his classes out of the way in case he transfers up after his first year. Five , he wants to go into a D1 program as an impact player so by starting JUCO he can learn the ropes and develope his talents. Sixth, You can save a few thousand in College dues the first two years in a full ride JUCO. If you decide to transfer after the first year you still save a full year. Seven, you stay Draft eligable should you put up great numbers your first year. Eight, (using a wood bat for a year)if he can swing a good wood bat in JUCO just wait til he gets an aluminum bat in his hands again when he moves up. But most important to my son. He wants to make sure before he committs wholeheartedly to baseball,he wants to be sure that after JUCO he still has the passion for baseball. If not then he will move on academically to his future. But you still have to plan your work and work your plan. To each his own plan. But as for my son he will sign JUCO in two weeks and will see what the future holds! Sure am excited to watch and enjoy it while it lasts.

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One more thing unmentioned that should be a consideration in the stated DI/Juco choice...

With the DI rules changes in the last year it has become much easier to shift players from baseball $ to walk on status at years end without ramifications for the program. This puts freshmen non starters at increased risk in comparison to previous years. It has become a very simple process for the program to take baseball $ from existing players at years end and give it to the incoming freshman class in order to "churn the roster" to find better recruits. Not all programs do this, but if my son were an incoming freshman and making this choice I would more seriously scritinize the choice and talk to the caoches. It might not affect my choice but I would certainly want to be be up to speed on this. There is now less time and availability to develop in house at DI than there has been before.

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If he decides to take the JC route make sure you are up on the rules for transfer to an NCAA school/program and that he follows up on the Clearinghouse process. I'll echo what others have said and that is that a player who isn't expected to get significant innings at a D1 will not necessarily start at a quality JUCO.

Personally, if it is a school he wants to attend and he feels he has a good chance of being a starter later on at the school I'd say not getting much playing time as a freshman is just part of the normal development process.

What about D2,D3 and NAIA?

As a Juco coach I have come to believe that Juco is a wise option for many players. It allows a young man to establish themselves as a student and athlete. After a year or two at the Juco level, at a bargain price compared to a 4 year school, they are in better position to a make a educated/wise decision on the best academic/athletic fit for them. The Juco transfer that has matured as a student/athlete makes an attractice recurit for 4 year schools in comparison to some HS prospects. Every situation has unique variables. Poor decisions, chosing the wrong school for the wrong reasons seems commonplace.