D3 recruiting myths?

Worth it, does he have any advocates that may be connected/respected by the college community?  Established club coaches, respected instructors, etc?  Does he  have good video available that can be sent out?  

Is there a desired major your son is targeting?  Other limitations, geographic, etc?  Is he/you set on high academic or is "pretty high" academic an option?

Based on my neighbors experience I would say this.  Go to the school with the best academic/career/social/college atmosphere fit.  Then try out for the baseball team. My neighbor did it a pretty good local d3.  The coach told him no promises but come out.  Wasn't rostered as a freshman.  Played the last three years as a DH.  His roster profile was pretty funny.  Something like "Player doesn't really have a position, but he sure can hit. " Good luck man. 

There is definitely no spring recruitment because the guys are in the middle of the season and are working on 2017s when they have time.  Some teams may be interested who didn't fill there 2016 class the way the've hoped, but they are out there contacting follows, or just dealing with the consequences.  Your son could take a PG year at a boarding school and start over.  Its expensive but that's what I would recommend.

If he doesn't have pro aspirations, pick the best overall fit, train hard and show up in the fall ready to display baseball skills.

Unless he has pro aspirations (and legit pro potential), do not let the baseball opportunities guide the process. Jmo.

cabbagedad posted:

Worth it, does he have any advocates that may be connected/respected by the college community?  Established club coaches, respected instructors, etc?  Do you have good video available?  

Is there a desired major your son is targeting?  Other limitations, geographic, etc?  Is he/you set on high academic or is "pretty high" academic an option?

We thought he did. Paid a pretty good sum of money to an organization last summer for that purpose yet nothing. Had to split playing time with a kid a year younger because money rules all and he was new to the organization. Money grab, but I digress. Again, his head was filled with "if you were any good, you'd be starting. (as a junior). The HS  had D1/D2 recruits not starting as seniors!

BP/fielding/throwing video is from last spring. Have attempted to get game video which is difficult. Our school doesn't film - heck they don't even publish stats (but obviously some of us manage to piece things together). Trying real hard not to make it about individual performance but rather team results which I respect the heck out of.

Yes...high academic. The original thought process was target academic D3s where baseball can tip the admissions in your favor. DID NOT WORK. Huge ACT score, so-so GPA helped tremendously by a better than 4.0 fall semester but it was too late as the ED decision came out in mid December. Software engineering major has given way to computer science to broaden the reach. The main obstacle now is hearing that all the app deadlines of schools worth it to him have passed. Don't get me wrong - once school A shot him down we backtracked and went down the list of all the schools who had expressed interest, applied and he got accepted into 11 of 14 and wait listed at 2, but without them "actually seeing him play" (and you know that won't happen prior to having to make a commitment deposit somewhere), no promises, no guarantees. 5 D3s, 5D1s and a D2 is the mix. Hard to find the right D2s offering the academics he wants. Heck at this point I say go to the local D1 flagship (and take your 30 college hours with you) and when the 2-4 upperclassmen and/or recruits take the MLB nibble, walk the heck on that team. Shoot, he'd take preferred walk on NOW if they'd just offer.

I guess I better go start polishing my golf clubs...

I can't remember anybody ever saying D3 recruiting heats up in spring.  Your story and others sure do indicate that D3 recruiting is a crap shoot that takes place during a high wire act, and that for some it turns out great and for many others, not so much.   I know your kid's a very solid student so I'm guessing the schools he's been admitted to present some really great options.  If I was you I would be unable to resist checking out rosters etc, to see where he has the best chance to play,  but I'd advise him to select the school he most wanted to attend for academics only, enroll, and then start the process of making sure the baseball coach looks for him next fall. 

My went through the same thing, verbaled to high academic D3 but did not get through admissions even being on the Coaches supported list . He was accepted into some very good academic schools including the AF academy. He has started his campaign with the AF HC so we will see. He will attempt to walk on so all he can do is try and get himself on the coaches radar by sending emails and providing current video. His current coaches (including the D3 coach he verbaled with) will also help in trying to establish some repoire on my sons behalf so that when he shows up he will hopefully remember him. One more thing many posters have suggested this and too me its right on. Your son should choose the school  he would most likely attend if baseball was not an option. 

What was he doing as a Jr?  Guess that doesn't matter now he's in a bad place.

He can go to committed D3 and try and walk on, or look into JuCo and get to baseball opportunities that way-maybe even D2.  How important is baseball to him!  Major is computer science so should be easier to find good school w that then an engineering good fit,  At Juco he will be seen by many college coaches during fall scrimmages. It's possible a very good D3 shows interest and he ll have his basics out of way w less debt and can move on then. 

Good luck