D1 Roster Spot or JUCO $$$ ???

quote:

Do NOT accept the only offer made, do NOT settle for Junior Colleges if your son is better academically that JCs...

I really get tired of people especially from recruiting services telling people they are settling for junior colleges.This insults many players of posters on this site.
In all honesty the junior college was the best showcase my son ever played in.Tons of scouts all the time.
I think going to n showcases is great, we did that with our son.But sometimes the timing isnt right and the kid goes to a JC to get bigger, stronger, improve his abilties.That is not settling.
There are good academic students at JCs as well. f

We found ALL the direction, advise, and support we needed to "market" our son right here on hsbaseballweb, along with a few pm's and emails to fellow posters on the specifics of coaches & programs that were "recruiting" my son in 2005-6(several offers with $$$'s!). Anyone can find ALL the info & steps from the pull out tab on the upper left side of every page on these forums. And there are some great posters here who are more than willing to share their knowledge (most by first hand, and including current & former players!)

And, this statement is misleading and TERRIBLY inaccurate:

quote:

do NOT settle for Junior Colleges if your son is better academically that JCs.....

Juco offers an opportunity for one to "get the basics" out of the way, at a substantially lower cost, and many offer "honors" course work. Working with the advisors at both JUCO & 4 year school will eleminate "qualifier" issues when transfering. In other words, don't take Texas Gov, if, in 2 years, you are headed off to Arkansas or Alabama, or other out of state college, without FIRST confirming the transferability of ALL coursework, prior to signing up for a class!

Parents & players just need to do their homework thoroughly to avoid mis-steps or wasting valuable time & $$'s. (especially to services that "cop-out" on JUCO validity & value or academic level!)

Our strategy included a GREAT summer coach and travel team that went to a couple WWBA tournaments, a couple showcases. The summer between son's Jr-Sr. year of HS, I put together our team "Media Guide", bound, color with bio's of each player, team schedule, contact info, pro-scout references, etc.. Happy to say, every one of the 18 on that team went to college: several to major D-1 (son), mid-D-1, & several to JUCO (who then transferred to major D-1's & mid D-1's). All but 2-3 are now playing their Senior year at various 4 yr. colleges in Texas (Baylor, A&M, Tx State, U of H, etc) Louisiana (Tulane, son), Okla. (OU), Ga, & Fla.. Several were drafted out of HS, and last June.

I'm more than happy to pass it on FOR FREE!

Thank you fanofgame and baseballmom, those are very encouraging posts!!!

bb10,
you are very welcome!

Thanks again for this great discussion. It has helped so much and given me more food for thought. And I've turned into "passthecooler" instead of "packsthecooler". LOL

Feel like the JUCO route is the best all the way around for my son.
1. Academically-above avg student, below average study skills/SAT scores. Good maturity, good teammate, very coachable
2. Athletically-Can compete with D1 players but late in his high school prep, changed positions. Got on the radar late so to speak as a catcher. Comes from a small but competitive and successful baseball program etc.
3. Financially-older sibling has two more yrs then medical school/grad school so $ to foot the entire college bill just so he can have a spot on a D1 roster is pushing it for us.

We have done all the homework of getting him on a first class travel team and taking him to some college prospect camps & staying away from the "snake oil salesman" recruiting services. My only regret is not taking him to a Perfect Game analysis but we had to make a choice between PG and Fall Ball. (I had one check left in the checkbook so to speak)

I also appreciate the comments about biding your time, sitting the bench, working the trenches in D1 etc to compete for your spot. However, I don't see how competing for a spot on a JUCO roster isn't the same kind of experience. I think you are really even more in the trenches so to speak, competing for your final two years. From having the older one @ a D1, I do think the D1 offers more of a "college experience" with the big time football games but it also comes with 400 in your english class.

Neither parent ever went to college, we have the older sibling with a 4.0 at a major TX university who will more than likely make a doctor. Older sibling takes care of all the classes, etc.

However, son just plays really good baseball. (over .400 BA last year, starting catcher on both teams, 4 yr varsity letterman, officially @ camps has had several 1.8-1.9 POP times, 82 velocity on throw to second, I know he has the tools for the game but Trying to help the son with all of this is sometimes overwhelming especially considering as non college parents, we do not understand the terminology etc. So many questions....
Understand the credit transfer part, BUT how on earth do you know if you might be at an out of state college after JUCO thus don't take TX Gov ???

I'm going to attempt to PM baseballmom, sounds like she has all the answers.

keep talking, everyone is really helping me understand all the pros/cons and ins and outs.

"BUT how on earth do you know if you might be at an out of state college after JUCO thus don't take TX Gov ???"

Plan like you are going to the best in state school. i.e. if in a CA jc steer towards classes that will be accepted by the uc system. My son went out of state and didn't have much trouble transfering his units. I sure some didn't transfer, but nothing substantial.

Cooler,

It's great to see that you are picking up all the important morsels to make an informed decision that many of us had to face along the way. Trying to make all the square pegs fit in the round holes can be so frustrating!

First and foremost.....your son is a true player so take solace in knowing that he will play ball at the next level. Now if you can just figure out where you will be able to sleep better..lol. My son committed in the fall of his senior year in high school and in hindsight now, regretted it. He wished he had waited because he got a LOT better when spring came around. He honored his committment but it was extremely hard. Lesson learned with growth.

I see that you are in the south. As you can see, I am too. My son is a sophomore at a JUCO and I know a lot about SE JUCO's so if you'd like to pick my brains about any please feel free to PM me.

great posts by everyone and lots of useful info.
Packsthecooler,if your son starts at a JC, he will still get the 4 year experience at a later time.
There are things you miss when at a JUCO,compared to a four year school.But when baseball is a major consideration for many of our boys, then they have to be willing to do without the 4 year exp. and work towards that for later.
Many boys are luck to get to go to 4 years right out of HS, and many, more than most do not.The fact that you play any baseball past HS is a huge accomplishment.
Just remember the thousands and thousands of kids who never play in HS, let alone college.Sometimes you have to take baby steps.
Many peoplethought we were crazy to let our son go to a JC, he had good grades, good sats etc, but he didnt get the looks he wanted.So in the end put it all on paper, look at options, desires of the heart and what will motivate them.
There are many boys who would not even go to college without baseball, my son is a good student, but hes not a kid who loves to be in a book all day. baseball helps to keep him organized and motivated.
At the end of the day, if my son has a big chunk of college completed, and gets to play baseball, wow , that is a huge accomplishment.Again dont get so concerned about 4 years from now, focus on today and what is best for today. A lot can change in 6 mos and younggundad talked about.
Players can develop a lot in a year, two years, even 6 months. Keep the course, keep doing your homework, it will all work out. nocd
g < pur