My oldest son had a more typical recruiting journey---summer after the junior year, and fall of the senior year. My family didn't bite at the first few offers but wanted to explore other options as carefully as possible, do the research, take visits, talk to insiders, etc. before we made a final decision (although the school my son had primarily targeted, and eventually committed to, was a relatively early suitor that summer). Our intended timetable to make a final decision was mid-fall of his senior year but we learned quickly that anything can happen---a very attractive scholarship offer from an ACC school was on the table in early July, and we were told the offer would stand through the fall, and that we should take our time considering all opportunities. In September, about 4-6 weeks before we needed to pull the trigger (we thought), the college coach called my son and withdrew the scholarship, and we had no immediate recourse, the offer was gone. The coach explained that my son's pro prospect status had increased over the summer, and that he would likely be a high draft pick in June---bottom line, the coach could not afford to waste a scholarship, and thus was going after another player who he thought was much more likely to actually attend his school. Of course, we were caught totally off guard by this, we had never been through the recruiting process before but now had gotten a taste of what some decision-makers were capable of. Not wanting to risk another offer suddenly vanishing, we immediately cancelled an Official visit to an SEC school, and committed the next day to my son's #1 choice.
Just a few years after Son #1 was out the door, here came Son #2, and our experience from the first journey had prepared us more fully for the next chapter. Not only did we learn that the recruiting process was accelerating in some instances, but that it was a more "dog eat dog" world than we expected, and we weren't about to be blindsided the second time around. Consequently, we took all the lessons learned, recognized that recruiting dynamics were always changing, and embraced an even more proactive approach; Son # 2 got on the radar as a high school freshman, we conducted the due diligence in evaluating a broad list of schools initally, targeted that list as my son's development (academics and athletics) developed, got the word out that an early commitment would be seriously considered if the right opportunity transpired, and my son went on to have a very productive sophomore summer/junior fall in front of the right people. We scheduled unofficial visits for the offseason, and were able to generate a half dozen scholarship offers by the late winter/early spring, and my son committed to school in April of his junior year.
But we later confronted a big issue---the coaches who recruited my Son #2 did not have their contracts renewed a year later, and a new coaching staff---one that would not have recruited my son---would now be on board when my son arrived on campus. Because the school he had chosen offered the strong academics, ACC baseball, and scholarship dollars he was looking for, we opted to stay where we were and take our chances with a new coach---but I did first reach out to the Athletic Department to ensure that the University policy was to honor the scholarship that the previous coaching staff had promised, and the University did honor the full amount. My son would go on to have a strong second half as a freshman but, about a week into his sophomore season, he tore his throwing shoulder in a game; surgery and a year of rehab, a lost season, but stronger than ever for the following season. Unbelievably, just days before his junior season was about to begin, he tore the same shoulder again, another surgery, more months of rehab and his college baseball career was essentially over. Yet, through all of these struggles, the baseball scholarship remained intact, and my son graduated a few weeks ago with a college degree from a great school, an achievement that wouldn't have been possible without the academic and baseball profile he developed, and the plan we built and applied during his high school career.
The experiences with the first two sons clearly helped us with Son #3, and his college focus was even more channeled as he was looking for a top academic environment with or without baseball; like every player on the planet, to maximize his chances and leverage his opportunities as much as possible, my son had to develop his own recruiting plan; the plan obviously reflected some of the qualities and approaches that comprised the plans each of his two older brothers had implemented, but Son #3's plan had to be individualized to support his strengths, goals, and talent. Armed with the experiences we had gained---but my son's baseball development being a bit slower than the first two sons---we aggressively applied the plan, he did the work and performed as needed, and eventually committed to school in late June just after his junior year had ended.
Try hard---very hard---not to let emotions or hype drive your decisions, and don't get caught up with what the kid down the block is doing. Err on the side of being very realistic in this process, and resist the temptation to deviate from the goals you envision (assuming those goals were well-constructed in the first place). When Son #3 put together several key showcase performances---right time, right place, right audience---he got a call from an ACC school; we were excited of course but did not let our ego get in the way, Son #3 was not an ACC player but he did earn the academic and baseball opportunity he had longed work towards.
Early commitments can take the pressure off a bit, lower the stress levels in the family knowing that the college choice has been settled upon, and maybe even save you a few dollars in the short-term...but you must attack an early commitment possibility with everything you have, you need to be smart about it, do a lot of soul-searching I believe, play detective, understand and prepare for the surprises; an early commitment isn't for everyone, there is risk involved, but an opportunity that is on your lap today may not be there down the road as recruiting offers can come and go without notice, so be prudent with each and every opportunity that crosses your path.