Early commitments-any validity

There are certainly 2013 commitments happening already and you're about to hear a broad range of opinions on it.

I think a 2012 commitment at this point is a little scary (and I say that even though my 2011 committed in February of last year). Coaches change, other things change. We allowed our son to do it because it was one of 2 or 3 'dream schools' for him and we did a lot of research...and it was our 2nd time around (had a 2004 who played D1) and so we felt a little more comfortable about what we knew and didn't know.

But it is the trend...and there is no doubt that there are 2013's already committing.

How can a 2013 commit if a DI or DII coach can not approach him until June 1st of his Junior year? Did the 2013 call the coach and speak with him? Was it done at a camp?

I do believe colleges are offering spots to 2013 guys, but I also know there's some fibbing going on.

Senior Night for son's high school team, only one player had accepted a spot to play in college. When it was his turn to walk on the field with a rose for his mom and a baseball for his dad, it was announced that he would be attending XYZ College and playing 2nd base. Everybody cheered and after the game he received many a pat on the back and hugs from other parents. Turns out it was just wishful thinking. The college had shown some interest, but never actually offered him a spot. The rest of the guys were pretty PO'd at him when they found out.

Players don't realize how much damage they do to their futures and their relationships when they are less than truthful about all this. College baseball is a small community.

I agree!!!!!!!!

Thats my question. I see where players in the 2013 class are telling people and posting that they are verbally committing to D1 schools. What's up with that?
Did the player walk up to the D1 coach and say" Coach I really like it here and I am a 2013 graduate so I want you to know that I am coming here. end of story!
Then they tell everyone they have verbally committed to this school.
Believ me I do not want to take anyhting away from players that are TRULY deserving at this age to be looked at but it just seems to be more common that everyone is making verbal committments. In the next few years we will be hearing that eight graders are committing to certain colleges. Hopefully I will be on my way with my players by then.

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Players don't realize how much damage they do to their futures and their relationships when they are less than truthful about all this. College baseball is a small community

Thank you! You have confirmed the answer that has been eluding me. I thought it but never have really heard the answer.

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Originally posted by BB13:
How can a 2013 commit if a DI or DII coach can not approach him until June 1st of his Junior year? Did the 2013 call the coach and speak with him? Was it done at a camp?

Coaches can communicate through the HS or summer coach...requesting the player contact the college coach (legal) or make an unofficial visit to his campus (also legal) and then present a verbal offer of a scholarship.

Happens many times over.

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Originally posted by seventhinningstretch:

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Players don't realize how much damage they do to their futures and their relationships when they are less than truthful about all this. College baseball is a small community

Thank you! You have confirmed the answer that has been eluding me. I thought it but never have really heard the answer.

While that is (part of) the answer, it is not the whole answer. Do not dismiss that possibility.

Not every 2013 who says he's 'committed' is being truthful, some are. But you are right that fibbing about it can cause a lot of damage as was pointed out.

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And to be real honest the players that I know and have seen play I just cannot belive they are D1 or D2 material.

Another thing to remember is that they don't need to impress you. The college coach may see something that you don't.

University of South Carolina Gamecocks - 2010 NCAA National Champions. A year ago October accepted a verbal commitment from a South Carolina HS freshman catcher who hadn't played an inning of Varsity baseball. Yep....in the local paper and on their website. I believe there are rule changes coming to stem this tide.

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Originally posted by WinBuc44:
University of South Carolina Gamecocks - 2010 NCAA National Champions. A year ago October accepted a verbal commitment from a South Carolina HS freshman catcher who hadn't played an inning of Varsity baseball. Yep....in the local paper and on their website. I believe there are rule changes coming to stem this tide.

A shout out to the local paper is permitted. However, posting anything on a college (team) website is clearly a violation prior to the official signing. Perfect Game posts college verbals, signings, etc...but they also add a disclaimer, especially on the verbals that come directly from parents/players.

Soph's in HS are offered these days thats just a fact. Three already verballed to a local Major D1 here in NC. Several more around the state to local D1's as well. There are some players that college coaches want to lock up early because the talent and ability is obvious. They want to get on them early and lock them up because they know the quicker they do that the better chances they have of getting the kid from the competition.

Just one example would be a LHP here in NC that as a freshman last year 6'2 195 86-88 touching 90 and can flat out pitch. He verballed this summer before he ever started his soph year of HS. Another would be a mif 2013 who played up on a nationally recognized showcase team. He mashes from the left side, runs like a deer, has a great arm, and simply outplayed other players during the entire summer that had already verballed to major college programs.

I can not speak of areas outside of the NC SC VA areas because I dont coach or follow those HS players like I do the ones in these areas. But the fact is it is going on and has been going on. It is very easy for a college coach to get a player or a players parents to call them. It is very easy within the current rules for these deals to be struck. And yes they do happen. And yes people have always lied about stuff like this and that will always happen.

I am not a fan of these very very early verbals because I think all the advantage in these cases many times goes to the school that gets the verbal. Many times the player stops the recruiting process but the schools continue to evalute and recruit. But with some of these players its simply a case of no doubt. Some of these kids could be the same player as a Sr they are as a Soph and still be the best player at their position available.

Again I am not here to say its a good thing or a bad thing because everyone's situation is different. But the fact is it is going on. As a parent of a player I certainly wouldnt concern myself with it. If your son is good enough to be getting offers as a soph in hs thats awesome he should be just fine. If he is not so what he's just a soph in hs.

There are certain schools that have been notorious for seeking out verbals from younger kids in my neck of the woods. Because of this and the success it has brought these schools in locking up young players it has forced many other programs to join the practice. As one college coach told me "We don't like it. But right now we have two choices. Wait and lose these guys to the programs that get on them early. Or join the race and not get beat out for these guys." Many have joined the race.

The ncaa has talked about stepping in and stopping these early verbals. We will see how it all plays out.

The 2013's I know (only 2) are real, and very legit. They have played PG tournaments at a high level and made valuable contributions to their high schools. They also knew from day 1 where they wanted to go. It seems as if that should be a private matter between the ballplayer's family and the college. I guess someone could lie, but I can not understand why they would.

My son was playing in a HS Tournament last week. I was watching a little of the game prior to his, and the team on the field had a lefty pitcher dealing in the upper 80's with good command. In the only at bat that I saw him, he hit a shot over the Rightfielder's head for a triple. I later found out that he is only a sophomore, but already committed (verballed) to USD...it happens.

This the way of college baseball. It is a very competitive environment. Coaches are looking ahead and projecting kids in 9th and 10th grade, if they like what they see they may extend a verbal offer. As discussed hear, many times the club coach acts as an in-between. Our son was identified at a camp and was later extended a verbal offer.

Lefty...

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Originally posted by bsbl247:

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Originally posted by WinBuc44:
University of South Carolina Gamecocks - 2010 NCAA National Champions. A year ago October accepted a verbal commitment from a South Carolina HS freshman catcher who hadn't played an inning of Varsity baseball. Yep....in the local paper and on their website. I believe there are rule changes coming to stem this tide.

A shout out to the local paper is permitted. However, posting anything on a college (team) website is clearly a violation prior to the official signing. Perfect Game posts college verbals, signings, etc...but they also add a disclaimer, especially on the verbals that come directly from parents/players.

Sorry bout that. It's not the school website. I should have said their "Independent Authority Gamecock Sports" website, the Big Spur.

http://southcarolina.247sports...and-signees--34786/1

It's usually the summer coaches that are involved. The college coach contacts the summer coach who then tells the player John Doe from ABC college wants you to call him. It happens pretty regularly with the kids in the top CDP programs. Conversations and unofficial visits with coaches and schools are set up this way in my experience.

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Originally posted by warningtrack:
It's usually the summer coaches that are involved. The college coach contacts the summer coach who then tells the player John Doe from ABC college wants you to call him. It happens pretty regularly with the kids in the top CDP programs. Conversations and unofficial visits with coaches and schools are set up this way in my experience.

Or in our case, the HS coach too. Just wanna give credit where credit is due. There are some very good ones out there.

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Originally posted by WinBuc44:

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Originally posted by bsbl247:

quote:

Originally posted by WinBuc44:
University of South Carolina Gamecocks - 2010 NCAA National Champions. A year ago October accepted a verbal commitment from a South Carolina HS freshman catcher who hadn't played an inning of Varsity baseball. Yep....in the local paper and on their website. I believe there are rule changes coming to stem this tide.

A shout out to the local paper is permitted. However, posting anything on a college (team) website is clearly a violation prior to the official signing. Perfect Game posts college verbals, signings, etc...but they also add a disclaimer, especially on the verbals that come directly from parents/players.

Sorry bout that. It's not the school website. I should have said their "Independent Authority Gamecock Sports" website, the Big Spur.

http://southcarolina.247sports...and-signees--34786/1

I seriously can't believe there are 23 open spots at USC (according to this commitment/signee list for 2011)...there are going to be some dissappointed players when next year's spring roster comes out...

This has been going on unofficially since I was in high school which was back in the late 70's. Dang!

A teammate was the son of a professional baseball player and he inherited his dad's genes. It was no secret he was going to the University of Arizona very early in his high school career. I believe they could have made that deal when he was ten years old and it would have been legit. Who knows, maybe they did! These are the handshake verbal promises that prove what kind of character your family has. Nowadays families make all kinds of excuses to go back on this promise after verbally committing. That's why if the kid stalls and doesn't keep developing, this could be a poor decision but in that case I assume the college coach would kindly suggest the kid pick a different school with no hard feelings.

The act of early verbal commit is the same today as yesterday but the reasons can be why out of line. Some families just want to see their name associated with something unusual so they can make a splash on their social network. They want others to think their son has prospects and may make it to the major league jackpot. For the large majority it is a silly pipe dream but it is their silly pipe dream.

I'd much prefer to have my kid quietly sign a Letter of Intent with no "hoopalaw". That way, when the roster goes from 55 to 35 in the Spring and he's not on it, there won't be any explaining to do, just a little more hard work.

BTW the word "hoopalaw" was explained to me by my father thusly:

There was a Union General visiting an Indian reservation in Oklahoma. Large crowds of indians turned out to see him. As he walked by they would scream, "Hoopalaw, hoopalaw !!" The General was feeling quite good about this enthusiastic outpouring from the indians. He turned to the Indian Chief and commented about the grand reception all the while the crowd was yelling, :Hoopalaw, hoopalaw!!" The Chief , pointing to the ground, responded, "Yes General but be careful please...don't step in the Hoopalaw."

7th inning
A lot of these early kids go to University/College camps, spend 2-4 days getting evalauted and then are offered there on campus. I think this is how it's working.

From my small neck of the woods many of the early commitments I have seen have not worked out so well. Players change their minds from soph year to senior year and what seemed like a good fit to them (and their parents) when they were younger may no longer be so great when they actually arrive on campus almost 3 years later.

When a sophomore commits early I wonder if it's really his commitment or his parents??? Some just may think they want to be finished with all the recruiting early but they may be short changing themselves. In that length of time the program can change drastically (new coaches), other players recruited,etc.

But thats just my opinion!

I am not and have never been an advocate of early committments--why does a hs sophomore want to make this college decision so early?

how many colleges has he visited? Has he been to any college games? To be blunt about it, other than what he has beenhas been told about what lies ahead of him he knows nothing-- seniors in HS wrestle with this decision so why should a hs soph feel comfotable with it?

TOME AN EARLY committment is the wrong move

The players I have coached in the summer who have verballed this early were evaluated playing against older top tier competition an entire summer and sometimes and entire summer and fall. They not only demonstrated that they were capable of competing with kids a year or two years older they demonstrated they were capable of standing out against players that had already been offered by Major College programs. They had talent that was obvious. They were and are the type of players that when you see them play you know. They have the tools that stand out and then have demonstrated on the field that they are capable of using them.

Wether or not its a good idea can be debated on a case by case deal. But its just the way it is.

Good to see you back Tom. I hope you had a good Holiday season and I missed seeing you around. Hope all is well my friend.

A fair number of the ones who are so good that they deservedly get an offers as a HS soph end up signing pro out of HS anyways. It really doesn't make that much sense for the colleges. If they assess right they may lose the player to the pro ranks. If they assess wrong they may end up spending a scholarship on a player who doesn't pan out.

My junior just verballed. We visited 5 schools. One SEC, one Big Ten and three PAC 10 schools. He also had visited a few schools when his older brother was being recruited and had personally met a number of other coaches who were recruiting him. He also had a number of his older brothers friends to call and seek advice from. There is also a few reasons for the early commitment which I am not at liberty to divulge just yet.

Even with all of this on his side, I was not extremely comfortable with the timing. I love the choice but tried to get him to wait. The change in the landscape has been tremendous in the past 7 years. Can't imagine him doing it last year.

I do understand the process just can't say I'm a big fan.

TR glad to see you back, I hope your feeling better.

I'd say I know a couple of kids that I think COULD have accepted offers as Freshman, but as far as I know they did not. I've also known a few parents that WOULD have accepted an offer for their kid at about any age if it was made.

Not surprisingly, this includes the father that told me that he would spend any amount of money on his son's baseball because his son's baseball was going to support his retirement. His son had quit baseball before high school.

My wife and I spent quite a bit of time talking with our son before allowing him to commit in November of his Senior year...we were fine with the decision - just wanted to be sure that he understood what it meant, that he'd considered his options and make sure all of us were as comfortable with his decision as possible...Its always a bit of a gamble...Time will tell if it was the right decision for him...

The one player we know who committed to UF as a sophomore was a completely different player on the HS field than he was against top competition. He went to a relatively small HS, not a baseball powerhouse, and they occasionally played our even smaller HS team. When we would play them, many of our parents would say, "...I just don't see it..." Of course, I'm sure there was a good bit of envy there because a lot of inexperienced parents around here think their kids should be playing at UF and just don't understand what kind of player it takes to play at the next level, much less a top conference like the SEC.

But this player was on 2B's travel team, and we knew he was amazing. We had seen the 90+ arm across the IF from behindthe 3B.

So I guess my earlier point is that one shouldn't judge a player by what he shows during one high school game.

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Originally posted by justbaseball:

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Originally posted by seventhinningstretch:

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Players don't realize how much damage they do to their futures and their relationships when they are less than truthful about all this. College baseball is a small community

Thank you! You have confirmed the answer that has been eluding me. I thought it but never have really heard the answer.

While that is (part of) the answer, it is not the whole answer. Do not dismiss that possibility.

Not every 2013 who says he's 'committed' is being truthful, some are. But you are right that fibbing about it can cause a lot of damage as was pointed out.

It's made somewhat tougher in SC for a player to say he has been offered and committed to a college when he has not by the fact this is a fairly small state and baseball community and the fact that there is a web publication here that does a very admirable job of announcing college baseball commitments but only after verification.
http://thediamondprospects.com/I

I'm sure that a player and/or his parents can walk around saying he's committed to a school but that type of thing won't hold up long. Seems kind of stupid to put that out in the community anyway and taking the chance that it gets around and real schools end up not calling because you're 'committed'.

As far as 2013's committing to a school. I've only seen that around here with the top tier teams, which makes sense when it happens. If you are 15 and the top dog college program of your area or state comes knocking with an committment offer why not jump on it? Would you turn down a great deal on a Mercedes because you're waiting to test drive a Sabaru or Toyota? I don't think colleges should be recruiting that young but if it was my son at 15....yea, we'd probably have done it at that time. Glad it didn't happen that way though. His decision, and his alone, near the end of his junior season to drive the Toyota was a much more educated and satisfying one.

Yes, early verbals happen a lot. Coaches are not thrilled about it either. Right now they are in a ****ed if you do and ****ed it you dont situation. I could give a ton of examples but I will just give two......

Two highly recruited Nor Cal catchers early verballed (sophomores)to top Big West schools when my son was going through hs as a catcher in So Cal.

Both were "first to varsity" kids in smaller schools. Both had good athletic make up and both had been rated highly by PG. Both had performed well statistically in hs. Both had "projectability".

Both got minimal at bats their freshman year in college, neither batted over .100, both left for jucos.

IMO, early verbal did not quite work out for them. Early verbal did not work out for the coach either.

The difference is that the coach is not bound to the player for longer than a year, the coach had a few other catchers in his stable to rely on, the coach could recruit a JC kid to replace the freshman that did not pan out of the following year and the coach has no NCAA penalty to serve for making a "mistake" in recruiting.

The player who "super early verbals" has to ultimately make the grades and test scores to get into the college, has to keep progressing as a player and the coach has to still be interested and need a player at that position for the dollars they have committed to the player... Or he will be hinted at that juco might be a better option for "more playing time". The player will pay a NCAA penalty for making a mistake in early committing.

A good portion of the time early verbals do not work out for the coach or the player. It is just the player who pays the price.

Most sophs don't have enough course credits or even test scores that would even make them eligible for the clearinghouse (as that time) for D1, so the whole point of commiting that early might also mean commiting to working hard in the classroom so the player can be eligible to play at that program.

While I am not a proponate of early commits (fresh/sophs)I don't see where this is a bad thing for players who need that incentive. I don't think that having early commits stops the coach from recruiting either.

My son verballed september of his senior year, that was 8-9 years ago. That was considered an early commitment. Pretty sure if it was today, he'd be commited by end of his junior year, latest.

It's very hard to actually say that everyone who verbals very early will make a mistake in doing so.

Someone who said that early commits usually end up going pro, that is NOT necessarily true. Many of the early commits are from drafted players that turn down nice signing bonus to go to school or got drafted late because their college commitment was so strong.

That's just the way it is and I don't see it changing. I don't see it for my son but I would if this would add incentive for him to do better in the classroom.
JMO.

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It's very hard to actually say that everyone who verbals very early will make a mistake in doing so.

TPM, that is not what I said. I said it often does not work out and the cost of the mistake is shoved on the player not the coach.

IMO, if your kid is good enough to get the sophomore commit AND if the school was my "if baseball were not in the picture it would still be my dream school" then fine... commit.

But the player is at risk, not the coach.

My 2012 LHP commited to a D1 in October 2010 by his own choice. He was being looked at by colleges and told them all he wanted to commit before he started playing baseball of his junior season. Everyone thought this was way to soon and might limit his choices. Even some of the college coaches were complaining that the industry was forcing them to make offers earlier and earlier every year to athletes or they would lose out. The recruiting process is very stressful and time consuming to a high school athlete. It was a full time job visiting colleges, playing fall ball in PG tournaments to be seen, and answering emails and questioneres. He had no life outside of baseball and school, but all of this had to be done to stay in the light to be recruited. He was too young for the pressure and responsibilty of this type of commitment he was trying to make. We stayed with him on this and helped guide him to the best choice for him and us as a family. He was blessed to commit to a respected local D1 college. It was a no brainer even if he had commited his Soph., Jr. or Sr. year choice would have been the same. When you get the right offer....you know it. Now he is focused on academics, enjoying high school baseball season, and even has time to date and be a high school kid. The advantage of knowing he will represent his college team one day soon and his high school team today has raised the desire to be a better leader on and off the field. Self respect and discipline has jumped to a new level in every area of his life. For my son an early commitment has been the best thing that he could have done. His college told him that they could not announce that he had committed but asked him to contact PG and local papers to get the word out. I do not think they would do this if the early offer was not intended to be legit and stand. It does concern me when I read about all the commitments schools are offering when we know how many spots are available. Time will tell, but so far so good.

I'll add my name to the list of those who wish there were some workable means of shortening the timespan between commitment and signing. However, I think BBB08 has done a terrific job of describing the sort of circumstance when the acceptance of an early commitment can make sense. Congratulations to your son, BBB08!

As some others have expressed here, an early commitment's acceptance ought to hinge upon everything seeming to be right about the situation. If a player has any misgivings about making the commitment at the time it's offered, he should politely decline it. If he's good enough early on to attract a commitment, the probability's high that the same school and others will be equally interested later; putting him in a better position to choose among the interested programs.

A note to those of you who accept early commitments: Keep your grades up! The official admissions process doesn't occur until much later on the timeline. Players can and do create problems for themselves if they let their grades slip.

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Originally posted by playfair:

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It's very hard to actually say that everyone who verbals very early will make a mistake in doing so.

TPM, that is not what I said. I said it often does not work out and the cost of the mistake is shoved on the player not the coach.

IMO, if your kid is good enough to get the sophomore commit AND if the school was my "if baseball were not in the picture it would still be my dream school" then fine... commit.

But the player is at risk, not the coach.

BBB08, great for your son! This is almost the same scenario for my son. We will see how it works out, good luck!

Lefty

BBB08,

Congratulations to your son, it sounds like a win-win situation all around. I agree with you, the recruiting trail can be very exciting and stressful at the same time. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the OP of this thread was referring to kids committing early in their sophomore year? I know that you stated that this would have been his choice, whether it was his Soph, JR., or SR. year. I'm on the fence in regards to Soph commitments, as many things can change in three years...not only with the player, but with the college he's committed to.

BBB08,
I have heard similar things from others whose sons have committed early.
However, if your son was offered early, I agree with Prepster the offer would have still been available later, it's just that coaches want you to beleive if you don't take it someone else will. Not everyone is offered early, despite what we may be led to beleive.
I am with the above, I thought the OP was referring to much earlier offers (2013), which I do not necessarily agree with.

TPM, yes you are right. The verbal offer would have been available later for him at several colleges. He did not commit due to being afraid of being passed up, he commited because the right school offerred at the perfect time. The stress of the recruiting process was way more than we expected. These universities can hound you to death and everyone you are linked to while still being within the NCAA rules. They are very clever. They romance the heck out of you and make any player think that they are going to move mountains around them. My son really liked every program and coach at each school he visited. Why wouldn't he...they tell you that you are just what their program needs. He was starting to feel guilty about having to choose one program. Way too much stress for a sixteen year old kid. The deciding factor was that the D1 school was close to home and a power house program. If we had this to do over again, I don't think we would entertain the thought of starting the recruiting until the beginning of his senior year. This worked out like a dream for him, but I do realize that it could have back fired. What was strange with the school he commited to, they never recruited him hard like the other D1s. They sent mail and invited him to a football game (the usual), but then got real into it when they heard he may accept one of the other offers. If it is allowed to start ealy then I think for us an early decision needed to be made to get back to reality, but I personally would like to see the recruiting process start when these kids are older and more mature. I truly do not think the colleges like their hands forced to offer this early either. Alot can change with the players when they have two season of high school left. And yes...he was asked for a verbal coming out of his freshman year from a University. This being our first rodeo we just laughed. Had never heard of that at the time. Thank goodness or we may have taken it serious and missed on a better opportunity.

When an early commitment is given (2013),is there a scholarship involved or is this worked out later? How does this work?

Everything is verbal and an unbinding agreement on both sides until an NLI is signed in the fall of the player's senior year.