Early Commitments, Pro's and Con's??

I think that is a great topic!

 

In our case, my son did not commit early, which made me feel somewhat stressed in the summer B4 senior year. Then he had a broken thumb and for much of that summer wasn't getting seen ...talk about nerve wracking.

 

But, in the end it was a blessing. Because he did not make any decisions early, he was 'available' for what turned out to be a great opportunity for him. He reached his (then)  personal best in the fall of senior year, was seen at a small local event, and had multiple offers right there including what turned out to be the best of all possible worlds for him.

 

On the flip side, a younger friend committed quite some time ago and is feeling some trepidation about:   a) is it the right academic/social fit; b) could he have held out for a 'better baseball school' and c) he is concerned due to a coaching change. Tough spot to be in, as he will be at all the usual tournaments this summer with college coaches watching, but is listed as a verbal commit to a program.

 

I think the early commit benefits the college far more than it benefits the student athlete.

 

I guess each student and player is unique. But I work with many HS students, and I see how much they change in their college expectations / desires /aspirations between the ages of 15-17, that I think it is tricky business to commit as a much younger student.  Personally I think the summer before senior year SHOULD be the right time, but I know the fear is that all the spots are gone by then....

 

These are my thoughts as a mom and a college adviser, BTW, not as a baseball expert. (Because I am not a baseball expert!)

 

 I hope this thread gets some interesting input.

It all kind of depends on your definition of early, too. Son committed on July 5 before senior year, which felt very late to us, but is technically considered early. I've posted this before, but son's scout ball coach, who is pretty well-respected in these parts and beyond, told him that, in 20+ years of coaching, he has never had a player regret NOT signing early, vs several players who DID regret signing early. He also said that if he's getting offers early, it won't be the last one. There was only one school in the country that he would have considerd committing really early to, and that is the school he is ultimately attending (he went to the school's camp in early July), so it was worth it to wait, in his case.

(On a side note, son was injured late junior spring season and almost could not do the various showcases summer after junior year; that was the one time I wished that he had committed early...when I was in the throes of anxiety about the injury).

Let's face it, these are difficult life decisions that recruits and parents are making before their junior high school year.  As a parent, I think it our job to understand the total situation, and our son's strengths and weaknesses.   IMHO, you have to have the discipline & knowledge to walk away if a situation doesn't seem right.  If there is a thorough understanding of the risks by the parent and recruit, then go for it.

 

First off, my oldest son is not an elite baseball talent.  He is very good, and he was recruited in the normal D1 timetable by mid-majors and academic schools.  My observations have been through other players (his former VA travel team), folks I know on this board, and people I know in my community.  I believe the peer pressure and ego stroke to commit is so strong that many recruits commit too early without knowing everything there is to know about a program.  Their leap of faith is a very large leap, and they assume all the risk with today's NCAA guidelines.  This is a repeated theme that I see among my son's former travel teammates who all went to D1 programs.  I think if they were given a "Mulligan" today, at least half of the team would turn the clock back and choose differently.

 

There are also recruits like Blue10's son who have a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend their dream school which also happens to be a world class school. 

 

JMO

 

 

I also believe it is important to have people who have been through it before to act as resources as these difficult decisions come up. That's where HSBBW (and people like Fenwaysouth) come in; talking to folks who have been through similar recruiting journeys is incredibly helpful. There are numerous people on this website who are very generous with their time and wisdom about the whole recruiting process. There is definitely a lot of social pressure to sign early, which makes it really hard for kids who want to wait to weigh all of their options, but remember that it's your son who ultimately has to live with the decision, not all the people who told him he is crazy for not taking an offer from XYZ University.

For those who may be reading our forums in secret and wondering whether to join, join now and become friends with the likes of fenwaysouth.  Not only does he speak from the heart but he speaks from an intelligent and humble mind.  I continue to be a member here because of members/friends like him. 

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. 

Great advice everyone!

Good posts so far!

 

Keewartson got noticed the fall of his sophomore year by filling in on the travel team he now plays for.  He received several non-generic letters from coaches saying they had seen him play and to keep up the good work, etc.  He received several unofficial invites for visits the next spring where college coaches saw him play during his high school sophomore season.  The coaches and scouts were not there necessarily to watch him, but rather an mlb-worthy senior LHP and an uncommitted junior RHP.  However, he performed well and he got noticed.

 

We did the prerequisite research....what type of school would interest him?  Large, small, co-ed, out of state, in state, D1, D3, private, public?  He didn't have a dream school, or maybe he just didn't say.  We visited many schools, some just a drive through, to get a feel about what he may want with, or without, baseball. He made a list of schools to target, which was revised often. We had candid talks about what we, as parents, could afford to contribute. I read this site often and read to keewartson relevant topics over my shoulder   

 

What kept coming back to us was what we read on this site:  That you can use baseball to get into a school you may not otherwise be able to attend.

 

One of his unofficial visits was to a school with a very good baseball program and facilities, but was not reveared as a top academic school.  An ACC school invited him to visit, saw him play both HS and travel ball, had him take another tour, but then..... nothing.  I found out later that they recruited 3 in his position for the class ahead of him, so they really maybe didn't need him.  You learn that although the player may be a good player, the school may not have an opening for that position that year.  Or, maybe he just wasn't 'good enough'.

 

However, there always seems to be room for another good pitcher    And therefore, good pitchers seem to have the luxury to wait to commit.  

 

So for us, he/we had done the research.  We had several very good invites for unofficial visits.  We knew that as a position player, spots were limited or possibly not available each year.  So when a very good offer came from a nationally top academic school, with new coaching staff (a good thing), driving distance from home to see games, it all felt right.  He committed the summer before junior year.

 

I asked keewartson tonight after this topic was started if he had any regrets for committing early.  He said no, and that if he starts to think about it, he looks around to see where players he plays with and against are committing, and he believes he made a great decision.

 

He hasn't stepped on campus yet, so the final chapter isn't written.  

 

Side note:  When folks heard about his early commitment, they asked "is XYZ college a good baseball school" (since it was known more for academics)?  I would reply "not yet" .  Well, they made the NCAA regionals this year!  Woot!

Go where you are loved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great posts WallyL and keewart!  Tremendous personal examples of what to consider, do, and not do when dealing with early offers and commitments.

 

keewart - your point about pitcher vs position player is well founded.  I agree position players have less leverage, and greater pressure due to supply and demand.  I can't wait to see your son & future teammates play in college.  He's got a great opportunity for a fantastic education, and play for a program on the quick rise.  His future is very bright.

 

wallyl - that is one of the best posts I've ever read on this site.  If I'm the parent of a 14-15 elite player getting some interest, my kid is going to read your post about your 3 sons..

I know a kid who committed early after his sophomore year of high school to a nationally ranked powerhouse.. Great talent, speed, bat, arm, etc... top centerfield prospect in the state his senior season. Later, this school signed one of the top overall recruits in the country who also plays outfield. School has plenty of upperclassmen talent in the outfield and of course, play the freshman who was the national recruit. The kid I know has had 8 at bats all season.

 

Had he gone anywhere else in the state, or maybe the country, he would likely have started as a freshman. He may have a good opportunity to play next season as a sophomore, unless this school gets another top recruit which could easily happen, or they have rising juniors and seniors who have previously sat who may play ahead of him.

Great posts.

I don't know that there is a right or wrong way when it comes to commiting early.  Each family, based upon son's skills, academics, geography, etc... may find committing early/late better, but bottom line is you need to find the right fit for your son.

 

My son was lucky enough to get exposed to many schools during Freshman and Sophomore year due to his summer travel team.  This allowed him the opportunity to see schools, take tours, talk to coaches and develop his own short list.  When his top school offered the summer after his sophomore year, he jumped all over it.  We talked about risks, some noted above- the coaches leaving, other players being recruited, etc..., but this was the school he felt most comfortable with.  As Wally said, from a parent standpoint, it really lowered the stress knowing where he was going this early.

 

This early commit might not work for all, but for some it does.  Again, OP asked how often does it work out?  I think most early commits do work out.  I'd also say, most later commits also work out.

Regardless whether or not an early commitment develops, it's critical that every player consider college-selection factors beyond the baseball component.  When I privately tutor players and their families, I emphasize the overall college experience, and what life after the baseball spikes are hung up for the last time may look like.  My oldest son was a First Round draft pick, a national high school player of the year, and an All-Star at every professional level he competed at---yet never had a single at-bat in the big leagues.  My middle son earned two state player of the year awards while in high school but injuries derailed his college career and any pro baseball aspirations.  Like it or not, a player's days on the diamond will come to an end, maybe abruptly, and perhaps much sooner than you think.  As the recruiting journey unfolds, think of the big picture---does a school offer the academics you want, will there be legitimate playing opportunity, can you afford the college even with a baseball scholarship, do you have the credentials to be admitted to a certain school?  These are just a few factors of course, there are many more, but the point is to consider the college opportunity beyond the baseball---yes, your baseball talent will be the initial driver in generating any recruiting interest, but your decision---and your college experience---should be based on more than just baseball. 

 

If you have the tools, skills, and potential to be recruited by one of the top Division I programs in the nation, then take advantage of it, but if your student-athlete profile suggests an opportunity at a small college, a school closer to home, or other "less glamorous" program, please don't fret---for the vast majority of most players, attending a school that is consistent with their academic abilities and non-baseball goals AND offers a realistic opportunity to play rather than sit the bench for four years represents a success story that many players can only dream about.  With such an incredibly low percentage of high school players moving on to the college baseball ranks, any opportunity you achieve is a tremendous accomplishment, don't ever forget that.  But don't take the non-Division I world for granted---more and more coaches have a national scope to their recruiting efforts, so please "work the process" as hard for a small school as you would for a large school.  With just "one chance, one shot" to get this right, you owe it to yourself to throw the kitchen sink at the process, and that starts with understanding your talent and resources, checking ego at the door, and tackling the recruiting process with a firmer grasp of your future ambitions, baseball or no baseball. 

Wally L great post thanks , as we are going through the process now for our 2014 Grad. Thanks

Was thinking about tapping into the HSBBW collective-wisdom for input on my son's situation that developed last week following two PG and USA Baseball tournaments, then saw this thread. I freely admit, part of this is Dad being proud, so my cards are all on the table -- but this is a further twist on early recruiting ...

 

A very prestigious and storied D1 wants my rising sophomore, 2016 son to commit. They told his summer ball coach last week they were ready to make an offer if he was ready to commit. It's a huge honor. I've since talked to them, and they've invited him down for a visit, so we will go next week. 

 

Our view at this point is go and listen. I've talked to many well-respected baseball people, and the consensus is don't commit yet; he's too young and he will absolutely get more offers (God willing). The fact is though, my son hasn't REALLY thought through where he would want to play college baseball. And I'm not so sure he needs to yet.

 

He of course wants to get drafted high, but TODAY he tells us if he goes to college, he wants to leave the state and go to one of the powerhouse schools -- even though this one is long-time powerhouse! You KNOW his mom ain't lovin' that! Ahh ... the mind of a 15YO.

 

Anyway, what I find fascinating is that schools are even pursuing verbal commits this young. SO MUCH can change in three years. But from what I'm hearing, it's happening more and more. I know of at least two 2016s who have already verbally committed to a D1.

 

We'll see what happens ... and I will keep looking for counsel here ... but I have to tell y'all ... this is happening sooner that we expected. All sage advice welcomed.

 

Your son is 15, he has time, and it's on his side.

 

Yes, there are players who commit very early, it's not for everyone.

 

Very important what was mentioned, the overall college experience, and sometimes that isn't very easy to figure out.

 

Son had a great opportunity to stay in FL and play SEC or ACC ball, but the reality was that these programs were not really good fits for him, and as strange as it was to many, he decided to go out of state and would NOT commit earlier than he had to until he decided what was right for him.

 

If your son wants to go play out of state then that should be a goal for him to work towards, make sure that he visits these programs and coaches, as he has a few years to get this done.  Geography, weather, school size, degree, class sizes, etc should be considerations not just the baseball program. 

jp24 posted...

"Was thinking about tapping into the HSBBW collective-wisdom for input on my son's situation that developed last week following two PG and USA Baseball tournaments, then saw this thread. I freely admit, part of this is Dad being proud, so my cards are all on the table -- but this is a further twist on early recruiting ...

 

A very prestigious and storied D1 wants my rising sophomore, 2016 son to commit. They told his summer ball coach last week they were ready to make an offer if he was ready to commit. It's a huge honor. I've since talked to them, and they've invited him down for a visit, so we will go next week." 

 

jp24,

 

My two cents....

 

Wow!  I think it is great that your son got an offer this early.  Now, you know what others think of him and the skills he can bring to just about any program.  From what you've shared, I'd assume your son is an elite national talent.  They know it, and now you know it.  With that said, he will most likely have many choices with regard what college he selects and when he selects the college.  It is a double edged sword because he has the potential to choose just about any school due to his baseball skills.  The question becomes what does your son want, and when does he want it.   Certainly, not easy questions to answer for a 15 year old faced with an adult situation & decision.   He's fortunate to have someone who loves him, and will guide him.

 

There are market forces at work here with supply, demand and time.  Was the offer time bound?   It seems every talent level has a timetable or recruiting window loosely set by the coaches or programs.  You've already established your son is a low supply/high demand recruit.  If your comfort timetable is not the same as their timetable then I'd pass.  I think you are doing the right thing by visiting the school. listening and learning. 

 

IMHO, most 15 year olds will be awed by visiting any college baseball powerhouse.  They certainly know this.   He needs to see more schools, do more research, and talk to more coaches if possible to at least form some opinions about what he likes/dislikes and what is important/not important to him.   While you are on the road visiting this offering school, why not take some short detours to see other schools.  Just a thought.

 

Good luck!  

Did your son actually get an offer or are they just talking possible commitment, huge difference.

 

If you have to talk to them and not your son, he isn't ready to commit to anything. Let him continue to play and mature.

 

JMO.

What are some of the reasons anyone would orally commit (two years) early?

 

1. Worried there might not be any other good offers. (Doesn't seem applicable in your situation)

 

2. Reduces pressure to perform in the next two years (No way, I've seen kids where this has added pressure)

 

3. Want to lock in the coach. (As we've seen in a couple of current threads, oral commitments are worth the paper they're written on)

 

I think it is a great compliment to get an early offer, but I think whatever advantages there are, accrue more to the school than to the player........it takes you off the market during your most marketable time.

 

School gets a call option on you. If you continue to do well they pick up the option, if you fall by the wayside they find a way to let it expire. In the meantime you are giving up options to show interest in other schools.

No such thing as a binding offer for a 2016 prior to Nov 2015. Before that, it's all just "possible commitment"

That's right, forgot, so why would ANYONE commit without knowing what they will get or do they convince in scenerios?

BINGO!

Just asking, what would you consider to be an "early commitment" for a 2014?  Anytime before NLI signed?  Is it fair to say that every major program has locked up most of their 2014 recruiting class with verbal commitments?  

Best thread I have ever read.  Really good insight.  

Early commitment would be, IMO anything prior to the summer of senior year.  

 

The player will sign at the early signing period, not the regular time in april.  

 

I would think that most major D1 programs, that being the top 25  may have locked in their 2014 for early signing or will by summer's end. That doesn't mean that they may be waiting for someone to commit and still have others on the radar. I think that WallyL touched on that.

This all comes down to the coaches A,B,C type commits.  If A doesn't commit, then they go to plan B or C.  Keep in mind this is a business, and many decisions are based upon their specific business plan not always on talent alone.  And FWIW.most teams cannot have all A players, they can't afford them, and too many egos can get in the way of a successful program.

 

Maybe it has been noted before (so please forgive me for being redundant), but just be sure that you understand what the scholarship offer consists of and what it doesn't.  College coaches are very good at what they do, they do it every year---families don't.  Of course, we know that an offer can be a percentage (of tuition only, or tuition, room and board, etc.) or a dollar amount.  We also know about scholarship duration, what the NCAA stipulates, the coach giving his word that the scholarship amount won't decrease while he is at the helm, etc.  But what happens if the coach leaves the program?  It happens every year, thus you should determine what is the university's policy regarding athletic scholarships---not what the coach thinks, not the NCAA rules (subject to change), but what the university's policy is as well. Will the university honor your scholarship if a new coach comes on board?  To be a bit more certain, send an email if you have to after the offer is on the table "confirming my understanding of the scholarship..." that the university's policy is to honor the scholarship regardless of performance, injury, etc.  Also, will the scholarship apply if the player has to attend another semester, or opts to take a summer course or two? 

 

Some coaches may not like these questions, some answers may seem obvious, but you get just one shot at all this and I've seen misunderstandings in this process, so please don't take anything for granted.  Email the HC, recruiter, and even the assistant AD for baseball (or the AD) to be sure everyone is on the same page.  There may be some risk involved in doing this, you have to weigh each situation very carefully to determine how to proceed, but, personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry so I suggest going the extra mile to ascertain exactly what all the numbers mean, and clarify some "what if" scenarios as well.  Stuff happens, so be prepared.  And if the coach balks or is vague with his answers, you may want to think twice "is this the guy I want my son to play for?"  The answer may still be "yes" since the program and/or school may offer other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but at least you move forward with your eyes open a little bit more. 

It's clearly true there are no binding offers possible at this age, but it's also true that there are a few 2016s who have received concrete percentage verbal offers in exchange for a verbal commitment from D1s. I talked to one of these boys' dads.

 

My son does not have an offer. I expect it could happen when we visit, based on what's been said so far, but we will see. Green Light, you summarize the ups and downs almost perfectly, I think -- particularly as it relates to the school getting a "call option." That's exactly it! The only debatable point you make for me is your No. 2: Reduces pressure to perform in the next two years (No way, I've seen kids where this has added pressure)

 

I have one baseball friend -- a coach for a Double A pro team who knows my son well -- who basically said, "Since you HAVE to pick a college, the upside to verbally committing early to one you are willing to attend is it eliminates that whole issue and allows you to focus on getting better every year. No distractions.

 

He still thinks this is awfully young ... but that's an interesting point, and I suppose the question of "added pressure" is unique to every boy.

 

My son aside ... I'm most interested in y'all's views on this whole trend (if it even IS a trend??). I guess my view is that I understand it from the school's perspective (what do they have to lose?) but given their limited number of scholarships, committing to a young man three years out entails risk, too -- because if they back out later, absent injury or grades or something, that would seem to harm their reputation. Maybe not since it was only verbal?? 

I agree with the Double AA pro team coach. Even kids who make early oral commitments need to keep getting better. If any player thinks an early commitment reduces the obligation/pressure to do that, I think he is misinformed

Then again could a very early commitment make the player lazy, the "I don't have to work so hard now" mentality might set in.

 

8-9 years ago we wouldn't let son commit early and we wouldn't now, that being earlier as a rising freshman, sophomore maybe into junior year second half, and that I still might consider early. Recruting can be a distraction if you allow it to be. Let your son do his homework and then narrow the choices down 1,2,3, commit. I get a kick out of the people who say that the recruiting process was tough for their sons, they visited so many schools and that just makes you more confused. it doesn't have to be difficult, only if you allow it to be.

 

If he is that good he will have plenty of opportunities. and he can begin to narrow them down early.

People have to do what they feel is right.  The trend now days is to get commitments as early as possible. Only a few years ago we held underclass events that had very few college recruiters in attendance.  Now there are hundreds of recruiters that attend and follow closely the top underclass players. Back then we would have 100 agents at those events looking to build a relationship with the most talented young kids.

 

In order to compete at the National level, colleges need to get commitments earlier than ever. If they wait until that last summer before the senior year, many of the very best players will have already committed. Good or bad, it is what it is, and it isn't likely to change anytime soon.  Obviously most all of this takes place at the upper DI level.  The power programs are very aware that they are among the dream schools for many young kids.

 

People need to understand that this early commitment can be a one way street.  Power programs don't get a sophomore to commit and then quit following him.  I have been at games and talked to college recruiters as they are watching a player that committed to them. I've heard comments like, "He can't play for us"!  or "He will never play for us"! Believe me, at this point the college wants out of that commitment. Some might say they are committed anyway, but do you want your son committed to a school that no longer wants him. Yes, it was their mistake, but you end up being the victim!  They will get rid of you, one way or another. 

 

Many times these early commitments take place at a college camp.  Recently we were shocked when a father told us his son had attended a high level DI camp and based solely on his performance at that camp was offered 60%.  His son later committed to that college.  This is a case of the college taking a chance because they have very little to lose. In the meantime the family and their son is extremely excited about all of this. The college saw the kid for two days indoors in the Winter.  We have seen the player many times over a two year period.  Unless he were to improve in a gigantic way, there is no way in hell he can play at the level he committed to.  What will likely happen... The program that he committed to is going to figure this out and the kid and his family are going to be devastated. The kid is a good player and can develop into a good college player at some level. But we are talking about a program that has played in the DI World Series in the recent past.  Things will work out in the end, the kid will probably end up at a much lesser program, but this is an example of a one sided commitment. You can like them forever and plan on honoring your commitment, but what happens when they no longer want you?

 

That said, many times these things work out well for everyone concerned.  But think about this... Lets pick any top power program... If they want to make you a great offer as a sophomore or even freshman in high school... Would they not be interested in your talent the following year or two.  They want the best players, they can get! Just see how interested they get when a senior to be is throwing 95 mph.  

 

Also it should be said that the player can always decommit and that happens quite a bit. But more often than not the big disappointments happen because the college changes their mind. This stuff has the biggest affect on the border line type players.  The best players in the country don't really need to commit early, though many of them do.  Recruiters want the best players early and they also want them later.  When that "best" player becomes available, they figure out how to get him in. Even if this means someone becomes a victim of the process.  

 

Please understand that I am talking in general terms here.  Not every program is alike! But overall recruiting is a dog eat dog business. The biggest dog usually wins!  The competition is fierce at the upper levels.  And for those that think professional baseball is any better, you are in for a real shocker.

 

Do what you think is right!  Every individual case is different. I've always been a single focus type person.  But I think people are better off having a plan B in this case, because you can bet the college program has a plan B.

Thanks, PG. Appreciate it a lot.

 

My only remaining question on this ... the one there seems to be a lot of differing opinions on ... is:

 

Do high-level D1 schools tend to gravitate TOWARD or AWAY from young men who have verbally committed young?

A lot of great info posted so far! In regard to the definition of "early commitment", it seems clear that there are different periods for each position. I recently heard of a major D1 coach tell a Pitcher (2015) that the money is all gone, his pitching recruit budget exhausted they are now working on position players. Could this be true that D1's are done with pitching for 2015 other than walk-ons? I would love to see a graphic on time-line commitments per position.

Its a lot easier to tell a recruit they ran out of money than we don't want you.

I suppose that it's possible that the program's current pitching staff is exceptionally young and/or the incoming crop of 2014's is sufficiently large and costly that his 2015 budget could be limited; but, on the face of it, I find his statement highly suspect.

 

Too bad for him if he's right. There are plenty of other major programs out there right now who are focused on 2015's with plenty of dollars to spare.

Except, in the real world anyone who receives a call option has to pay for it...... to the person who grants the option. It's called a "premium", as most of us here likely know.

 

In college recruiting, the school receives the call option, but pays nothing for it......to the player or anyone else. So who does pay the premium?

 

The players!! Your sons!! The premium they are paying to the school that is offering early is the valuable acquiescence to take themselves off the market for all other schools just as they are getting most marketable.

 

School gets option plus premium. Player grants option and pays premium.

 

Only in college sports recruiting.

 

 

Green Light: You say "The premium they are paying to the school that is offering early is the valuable acquiescence to take themselves off the market for all other schools just as they are getting most marketable."

 

This gets to the heart of the issue, so I'm glad you framed it that way. The question is, is it accurate in most cases? One very young D1 verbal commit I know heard from the RC of another D1 right after he had committed (not directly, of course). The RC said: "This is a long way from over. We'll be in touch."

 

So if the verbal commitment really meant nothing to the other D1, the young man has not really taken himself off the market at all. In fact, he might have expanded his appeal!

 

So it seems the most important question (which again ... I honestly have no idea how to answer) is:

 

Do high-level D1 schools tend to gravitate TOWARD or AWAY from players who verbally commit two or three years out?

 

Another twist: Would PG and others tend to follow such playerseven more closely?

 

If in fact it attracts attention from other schools and elite organizations, committing early MAY be a good move for some.

 

And just to be clear, I'm not implying that the player's commitment can or should be rescinded willy-nilly. There are character, reputation and integrity issues involved that go far beyond recruiting here. But as PG said, players can de-commit ... and as we've all said, a lot can happen in the interim between freshman or sophomore year of HS and graduation.

I think PG laid it out pretty well.  It's a very personal thing.

I know of players that commit early. Most do so because they are familiar with the program and the coach is familiar with them. Kevin O'Sullivan at UF gets early commits. The impression I get from him is that he doesn't just see you once and ask you to commit. He actually watched son for awhile before he asked him to come to Clemson, though the invite was there, my son knew little about the program, directly, not what you see on TV or hear from others.

So the scenario in which a player commits after the coach sees him play one time for us would be an uncomfortable one.

 

If your son is good and establishes himself early as a prospect people will follow him, you would be surprised who is watching or has someone watching, no matter what.  And keep in mind it just isn't about the baseball program, what other reasons would your player want to attend that school?  These are personal decisions to be considered.  Son had a great offers here in FL but it just wasn't right for him, he wanted to go away to a place with less distractions, he didn't need a school located next to south beach and he didn't want a SEC powerhouse with 40K enrolled. Some thought the decision to move out of FL was not a good one, but for him it worked out very well.  These are things to think about when deciding where you might possibly spend 3-4 years in one program. Is your 15 year old mature enough to make that decision?

 

But keep in mind that a lot can happen between freshman year and junior year.  That would be either between the player not performing as well as he did when younger, to many coaching changes at the program. Make sure it is the program your son wants to commit to more than the coaching staff.

Folks,

 

Don't you think we are making a difficult decision even more difficult?  We can talk about external things that we don't control (supply/demand/timing/budgets) all day long, but the thing we can control is internal.   It is all about the recruit....does the recruit want to go to school there?  Yes or No.  If yes, done.  If no, keep looking, and looking and looking until offered again with a "Yes".

 

I've gone through this experience twice with my sons (third son waiting in the wings), and also through many on this board that have shared their experiences with me.  The biggest challenge is usually internal which is figuring out what our kid's want or educating them on the options.  The external stuff is secondary.  Am I missing something?

 

Possibly it is more fun to discuss things we have no control over, or things we'll never totally understand.  Many decisions are made on a college baseball coaches whiteboard back in his office that we'll never see.  Again, I don't see an early committment that much differently in the internal decision making process.  The offer may catch the recruit and family off guard due to the early time frame, but he decision making process is essentially the same.

 

JMO

I know you're right fenway -- and that is how we will approach this over the next 36 months for sure.

 

Honestly for me it's just a curiosity.

Some random thoughts:

 

1. I think the average 15 or 16 year old who is certain where he wants to go to school for academics and baseball is a very rare bird. Many youngsters that age who think they are certain, I believe, are basing their decisions on reputation rather than honest self-awareness. (Didn't someone on one of these threads recently say that about 50% of D1 ballplayers transfer after the first year? Did I get that right?)

 

2. I cannot get my little head around the concept that committing early is a good tactic because it is a sign of demand that can be parlayed into a decommit and a better offer. Don't want to get preachy, so if that is anyone's MO out there, cool. In my limited experience....not saying it is the rule, but I have seen it enough to know it is not an outlier......committed kids who start flirting with other schools end up getting burned unless they are super-elite. Schools hold the cards.