Earlier Recruiting

My 2017 has committed to play for 10 D1 schools.  Unfortunately the coaches of those schools don't know it yet.  

1.  At the end of his sophomore HS season.

2.  Immediately after receiving his first offer (the school that offered was local and had been interested for ~6 months).

3.  USA Baseball 15U Team Championships (may have been the timing of the event rather than the event itself - some coaches came specifically to see him).

4.  Been more patient, had more faith in the process, and waited longer.  Accepted his initial offer in August prior to junior year, decommitted due to a coaching change fall of senior year, and ended up signing his NLI with an academically and athletically stronger program that had once been at the top of his list. 

When did your son get his first offer?

• Beginning of junior year. Flattering, but didn't believe it was anything more then an expression of mild interest. That program never seriously pursued him further.

When did he start generating serious interest?

• Towards the end of junior year from the local powerhouse school; though the other schools which became seriously interested had all seen him at the Stanford and Headfirst camps as a rising junior (and expressed interest in following him). He followed up at many by making unofficial visits and meeting with the coaches on campus during his junior year (holiday, spring breaks). By junior year what he brought to the table academically was apparent and the coaches he visited sought him out at Stanford and Headfirst camps (rising senior) until he decided (end of summer as a rising senior).

Where did he get the most visibility?

• Scout ball, Stanford, and Headfirst camps. He didn't play any significant travel ball nor attend any showcases (though he did attend the Area Code tryouts but didn't make a team).

What would you do differently (if anything) now after having a chance to look back?

• Wouldn't change a thing. But the end result was more a matter of luck and the randomness of fate (the precursor was the hard work over many years - as all college players did to get there - on baseball and academics). In other words, beyond getting over the minimum needed to pique interest on his baseball skills and academics, the final result was all luck and the randomness of fate.

I'll add this: he was 5' 3" and 125 lbs the day he turned 16 (that's still on his current driver's license) - towards the end of sophomore year. So, physically he was not a particularly desirable specimen (parents were normal size). Never really had a growth spurt - sort of grew three inches a year until he maxed out at 6 ' 1" in college; but, he was a LHP.

sent pm

Committed 2019s?  Bragging rights for the fathers. Good for them.

Thanks for sharing, guys! Best wishes to your sons on healthy, long and prosperous baseball careers. 

Enjoying the Ride posted:

1.  At the end of his sophomore HS season.

2.  Immediately after receiving his first offer (the school that offered was local and had been interested for ~6 months).

3.  USA Baseball 15U Team Championships (may have been the timing of the event rather than the event itself - some coaches came specifically to see him).

4.  Been more patient, had more faith in the process, and waited longer.  Accepted his initial offer in August prior to junior year, decommitted due to a coaching change fall of senior year, and ended up signing his NLI with an academically and athletically stronger program that had once been at the top of his list. 

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How did you get on the USA Baseball 15u team? I checked their website and was hoping that there was an event in Texas but see one in NM, AZ, NV. Thanks in advance for any info. 

My son was not on the USA Baseball 15u National Team - that is by invitation only.  Rather, he played at the USA Baseball 15U National Team Championships, where a larger number of teams play (divided into East and West events):  http://web.usabaseball.com/art...;content_id=40145142

To attend this event (which is also held at the 14u and 17u age groups), your son will need to be on a team that has accepted a berth to play in either their East or West event.  These annual tournaments are great for college recruiting, and also serve as a venue for USA Baseball to identify potential players for their National Teams.  Hope this helps.

Enjoying the Ride posted:

My son was not on the USA Baseball 15u National Team - that is by invitation only.  Rather, he played at the USA Baseball 15U National Team Championships, where a larger number of teams play (divided into East and West events):  http://web.usabaseball.com/art...;content_id=40145142

To attend this event (which is also held at the 14u and 17u age groups), your son will need to be on a team that has accepted a berth to play in either their East or West event.  These annual tournaments are great for college recruiting, and also serve as a venue for USA Baseball to identify potential players for their National Teams.  Hope this helps.

Thank you Enjoying the Ride. 

Here is an older thread that I resurrected awhile ago because I had the same question:

http://community.hsbaseballweb...77#21004146684173577