Div. I/II vs. JC for pitchers

having just gone thru that I feel JC is a very good option.


Pitchers need to pitch regardless of level. Because they are still growing and getting stronger, they will be very different in a year or two's time.

My son was a 6'3 165 lb RHP out of HS and was a marginal DI player. Went JC and after 1 year is now a 6'3" 190 lb soph. He picked up 3-5 mph and lot's of experience at the JC and then played in a good college summer league. He signed with a DI this past summer.

Our expereince says go where you can play. If you play you can be seen. Can't be seen if you don't play.

04 that is good advice. My son has a LHP friend who was mid 80 and after one year at a D111 JuCO in NJ is touching 90. He is nasty and has been getting lots of D1 offers but may sign a pro contract.

If you want to play ball. I'd definately go with the JC. We coouldn't even get MU to take a close look at my son after HS so he signed with Maple Woods JC and he did so well there that he ended up playing in the summer collegiate league in Minnesota, did very good there and as a result of his freshman year and summer stats is now being recruited by a number of D1 schools. From what I've gathered, unless you're one of the top high schoolers in the country, you're going to spend most of your time on the bench as a freshman or sophmore at a D1 school.

If I had to do it all over again, exspecially as a pitcher, I would have pushed the JUCO approach first. Exspecially for the marginal D-1 player. If your throwing 87 plus out of HS then D-1 makes sense. If your that 83 -85 MPH high schooler, then JUCO might be a better option.

But as always, as this board so strongly preaches, you have to make sure the fit is right.

Tripleplay33-Welcome!

There have been many good discussions here regarding JUCO vs 4 year. And there are many many factors that come into play regarding the individual and his situation.

One of the "pros" of going the JUCO route is that it does give you the opportunity to play right away. My son was a late round draft pick out of HS last June. He was a ss who was drafted as a RHP. He had very little pitching experience and rather poor mechanics. He decided that the best situation for him so to learn how to pitch and get as many innings under his belt as possible.

He had heard from some very good D1 Schools during the recruiting process but went the JUCO route and is very happy with his decision. It is a quality program and many of the pitchers there have been drafted.

I guess I dont have to tell you that your area has some of the best JUCO programs in the country. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted.

BobbleheadDoll-
You have a PM

Always overlooking DIII...if you want to have an opportunity to play right away that is another viable option...and once again I think everyone needs to remember college is about the education: out of the 130,000 HS seniors and 5,700 College sr...only 600 play any sort of professional ball .6% IF you are good enough, it DOES NOT MATTER where you are the scouts will find you! More importantly...there's limited scouting opertunities in all of NCAA unless your at one of the top 40 schools in the country! The scouts want to see these guys in their respective summer leagues with wood bats!

http://www.ncaa.org/research/prob_of_competing/

VJC, I agree with you completely. At DIII schools there is more opportunity to play as a freshman and alot of these schools have JV programs which mostly play JC's. In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast there are some very good DIII's that are strong academically and have very competitive baseball. My son is an 06 LHP and most of his applications have been to DIII schools with strong baseball and science/engineering programs.
I would recommend a JC if you need to strenghten your academic record. If you have a solid GPA and good SAT's look at the DIII's. The other risk is not having all your credits transfered from the JC.
Good Luck

Your absolutely right...We have a JV program actually and we only play local Juco's so you get the same experience...as for the JUCO transfers...people think they are saving money...guess what your going to spend 3 years at a 4 year school after your JUCO years...I have a Catcher "Academic All American" from JUCO...he will be here next year after he's finished his eligibility (provided he doesn't get drafted, which is a distinct possiblity) and his parents will end up paying for 3 years anyway! Besides DIII is strong in the northeast than most DI programs...where your at ECSU...are you kidding would compete with anybody...Ladies and gentleman...after the first 50 DI programs that are fully funded...the talent pull evens out...it's not like football or basketball...welcome to the life of a "none revenue generating sport" go where you can have fun, enjoy your time, get a good education, and make an impact in the program...if you are good enough...you will be found ala Billy Wagner (DIII), Jarrod Washburn (DIII), David Justice (DIII) to name a few!

VJC....couldn't agree with you more. Glad you are posting....a lot of parents and players need to hear the D3 side....

Son's decision to attend a D3 was based on the reasons you state ....he may get to play as a freshman....and for a kid that just wants to play baseball....it beats sitting the bench at a D1.....then you add in the academic scholarships, the quality of the education.....and the quality of life in general on a small D3 campus....a win-win situation from every angle. I asked him last week if he was still happy with his decision.....and he said very happy.

And you're right....if you are good....they will find you.....

Good comments by good people. There are JUCO, DIII, NAIA as choices. Juco programs give playing opportunity, usually have good coaching, at least here in florida, and many get drafted right out of Juco. DIII is an excellent choice and I agree the ECSU is a qualty program. You also have Amherst with their coach Thurston, who s a great pitching coach. Good luck.

Coachric

Hey Tripleplay33, I just noticed that you're from Tallahassee. Good Juco right there, North Florida, and Chipola might be the best. Check their web sites and look at their team histories.

Coachric

From personal experience here, I went to an NAIA school right out of high school, and I wish that I went to a JUCO instead. Would have gotten more playing time and would probably be a little better off than I am now

I have said before and I still feel that players should look for a "fit". To me, that doesn't mean a particular division. There are many things in a fit, that in my mind, may end being found at a NAIA, DIII, etc. There's good ball and a chance to develop and learn at all levels. When my son's JUCO time is up, he'll consider schools based on the same factors he did in HS and what level they are will not be at the top of the list.

Also, JUCO doesn't mean that you'll have tons of playing time immediately. My son expects that there will be one freshman starting at his JUCO - the rest will be sophs. If it's a JUCO with a lot of talent, you'll still ride some pine.

quote:

Originally posted by VJC Baseball:
Besides DIII is strong in the northeast than most DI programs...

Must be a typo.

Im an asst coach at a junior college and I know what I tell our recruits. I think D3 only fits certain types of players. Some D3 schools are very weak in terms of athletics so most anybody can play there. I ask the recruit what specifically are they looking for? I agree with what people are saying that D3 you could possibly start as a frosh but you could at a JC too. There are some very good JCs in both academics and athletics. I know ours is ranked nationally in both which is a selling point. I definately feel that some kids go to D1 schools because they can say I went to say FSU, FLA, etc to play baseball. When if fact they will just sit until maybe their semior year. I think it should be up to the student/athlete to decide what fits them as a person the best.