Genuine Interest or Money Grab?

As I've said in other threads, camps have been the major tool in our process.  I'll summarize them in this way:  The ones that were useful allowed my son to be noticed, then they watched him multiple times afterwards before offering.  Others didn't work out, so they were either money grabs or he didn't fit.

My gut tells me an August camp is a bit late and you shouldn't expect an offer when it wraps up.  I would think there would have been more personal dialogue with the coach prior to the camp, if that were to happen.

Having said that, the D2 process is a little later.  But, if the coach stops the conversation and you know they've already committed to his position (school isn't going to commit 2 at same position unless they expect to change one), you may want to focus elsewhere.

Finally, we decided to cast a wide net, and throw more money around than I wanted.  So if it's an open day for you, maybe you still go.  Although, I wanted to keep to a budget, I didn't want to have any regrets/what-ifs because I wanted to save a few bucks.

Hope that helps, good luck!

GaryMe,

Continue to pursue other opportunities with abandon is my suggestion.   If there is movement with this local D2, then you can adjust your plans as needed.   Your son's question to the AC about his recruiting position and timing was more than reasonable.  Their radio silence is telling me there is no sense of urgency to recruit your son at this time.  

It may be time to re-think or re-validate your son's approach or strategy.  Several years ago, my son found himself in a situation where he was not getting in front of the schools he was most interested in.   We had to re-think our approach, and strategy in a very short period of time.  My son decided against playing any more summer or fall travel baseball tournaments to solely focus on showcases where he could stand out, and visit schools.   It worked for us.  Take an inventory...what is it about your son that stands out or makes him desirable to a college coach or to an admissions department.   Put yourself in the coach's shoes.  

As always, JMO and experiences.   Good luck!  

If the coach has already seen your son play and is inviting him to camp as a paying customer instead of inviting him to campus for a tour and recruiting pitch, then you know he is not yet sold on your son's potential to help his team. 

Yes, it is possible a coach at a small school is looking for a few more players to round out his recruiting class and hopes some players he has previously seen will step up and show him more than they've previously demonstrated. However, I advise you to evaluate the camp as a consumer. They are selling high priced, short-term group instruction in a format that doesn't give players many opportunities to demonstrate their ability to compete as college players. 

Best wishes,

There’s a concern with being a late recruit in D1 and D2. The player being recruited has to ask himself, “Am I going to get a legit shot at winning a position or am I roster filling insurance in case a couple of guys don’t pan out?”

A friend’s son received a late August offer he took at a mediocre D1. He has several quality D2 offers. When he arrived on campus he discovered he was competing with the team’s top recruit and top transfer. 

These two received every opportunity. They alternated between the position and DH. After two years with about fifty total at bats and hitting about .320 friend’s son was told he was no longer needed. In the same time neither of the other two established themselves. The coach must have seen something to put his faith in. Both busted out the following season.

To add insult to injury friend’s son was not told until a few days before his junior year opening weekend he was no longer in the team’s plans. His baseball career was over. He wasn’t going to transfer senior year.

I wouldn't be too concerned with having his friend recruited at his position.  They probably have 2 or 3 others already there at that position also.   There's a good chance that he could end up at a different position than he plays in college, unless of course he's being recruited as a PO.   If it's local and it's not too pricey, I'd probably go....it can't hurt

Buckeye 2015 posted:

I wouldn't be too concerned with having his friend recruited at his position.  They probably have 2 or 3 others already there at that position also.   There's a good chance that he could end up at a different position than he plays in college, unless of course he's being recruited as a PO.   If it's local and it's not too pricey, I'd probably go....it can't hurt

The camp conflicts with another camp at a “close enough” D2 that has actually called and spoken with my son. Not a P.O. , btw

GaryMe posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

I wouldn't be too concerned with having his friend recruited at his position.  They probably have 2 or 3 others already there at that position also.   There's a good chance that he could end up at a different position than he plays in college, unless of course he's being recruited as a PO.   If it's local and it's not too pricey, I'd probably go....it can't hurt

The camp conflicts with another camp at a “close enough” D2 that has actually called and spoken with my son. Not a P.O. , btw

Well if that's the case, I'd definitely skip it and go to the one that's shown more interest.