Feedback on Duke fall camp?

I did see the thread "If you aren't sure what level, should you showcase to a broad audience?" and that was helpful. Looking for info specifically about Duke's camp or specific to my situation (although it is very similar to the post I mentioned--didn't want to hijack that thread). 

Chico Escuela posted:

...it's driveable from our home...

My thinking is that it would be good to give my son the chance to play in front of college coaches with no real evaluation pressure, and also get some instruction.

Bingo! Get the instruction, allow you son to self-evaluate vis-a-vis peers, get the experience with evaluation (& experience includes how to interact with coaches), drive-able(!), etc. It's these types of opportunities that fit well into the overall recruiting plan.

And you'll have other college coaches in attendance.

My son went to the Duke Camp as a freshman "for the experience", and it was one of the best two day camps he's attended.  HC Pollard is a class act, well run camp, and he provided great information.  Unfortunately my son was too young with no real measurables to show, albeit he had the advanced skills at SS, there was still nothing the Coaches would really remember.  While this camp was affordable for us, it unfortunately set us up with unrealistic expectations of what "interest" is and what coaches are really looking for.  Shortly after this experience I found this site and have become more educated.   

Given your proximity to Duke, I'd go for it.  Your son is a Sophomore who is more physically mature, and with low 80's now, he's becoming projectable.  With current size and velo, and the off season arriving, your son has a chance to refine his mechanics, add in serious off season training to add 10lbs to his lower half and back.  Your son "could" be throwing another 5mph in the spring.  With that in mind, the coaches may be paying attention to him; they could see that there's a chance your son is at 85/86 as a rising junior.  Great time to position your son for next summer.... 

Get stronger get better stay focused in the classroom.  Over the off season your mission to be to get your son with the right trainers and pitching instructors and develop a tourney and showcase plan for next summer.  Tons of info here.  

Good luck

My 2019 went to the Duke camp(residential) the summer before freshman year. It was his first camp ever, so we were looking at it as more of a, what's it like to be a college student and baseball player experience, etc. 

The field is great and son had a fabulous time. It was the first time he had ever had measurables done and just learning the format of camps and showcases was very eye opening. Very well run and is the only camp/showcase so far where he's ever gotten a written evaluation.

There were a ton of kids, so being "discovered" at this camp is pretty slim. But for entertainment and experience, it was well worth it. There were 1 or 2 kids at the camp who were already "recruits" so there was a lot of buzz around them, but those were kids they were expecting, not just someone showing up. 

I do think it's a little pricey, but if you have the time and money, plus since your son seems high academic, Duke might be even more relevant to him. Otherwise, you might be able to find something a little cheaper and closer to home if you are looking for just showcasing/ feedback experience.

My son played at Duke, and staffed the fall camp a few times. Coach Pollard is a class act and gives the camp attendees value for the experience. It's not, however, really a recruiting tool for them. Of course if they saw a kid who was an outlier they didn't already know about, they would follow him and possibly recruit him. But most attendees are there for the experience and the instruction.