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Harper Pulls the Trigger

08Dad08Dad1,000+ posts
Hot off the news wire (somewhat edited to make it read properly):

Harper ready to give college try

16-year-old Las Vegas High baseball prodigy registers at CSN, plans to attain GED to speed draft eligibility

Bryce Harper, the baseball phenom from Las Vegas High School, has no future in high school. An extraordinary player is ready to make an unusual move.

Harper, a 16-year-old who just completed his sophomore year, has registered at the College of Southern Nevada, where he plans to attend classes in August and play for the Coyotes next season.

His father, Ron Harper, announced the decision Saturday while in Oklahoma City for a baseball tournament.

"Bryce is always looking for his next challenge," Ron Harper said. "He's going to pursue his education, too. He's going to get pushed academically and athletically.

"I don't see a problem with it. I think we've handled it the right way. I think it will be a great story."

Bryce Harper gained national acclaim by appearing on the June 8 cover of Sports Illustrated as "Baseball's Chosen One." The story hinted at his plans to enroll in junior college to prepare for his professional career.

Harper, a 6-foot-3-inch catcher, hit .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Wildcats this season. He also had 36 stolen bases.

With his combination of power and speed, Harper is projected to be the top pick in the major league draft when he's eligible. That should be next June.

Ron Harper said his son, who turns 17 on Oct. 16, will be draft eligible "in 2010 or 2011. ... There are a lot of rules that people don't know about."

Bryce Harper and his mother, Sheri, recently went to CSN and signed enrollment forms and his letter of intent to play baseball. Harper is aiming to earn his GED test credentials in the fall.

"He was thinking about it. He initiated it," Ron Harper said. "He said, 'Dad, why can't I take my GED and do this?' "

The minimum age for major league draft eligibility is 16, upon completion of high school.

Ron Harper said Las Vegas High administrators and baseball coach Sam Thomas are "all supportive" of the move, though he expects detractors might surface.

"There are going to be critics. I can't worry about what people think. People are going to see what they want to see and say what they want to say," Ron Harper said. "I think this prepares him for life, playing the game of baseball.

"People question your parenting and what you're doing. Honestly, we don't think it's that big a deal. He's not leaving school to go work in a fast-food restaurant. Bryce is a good kid. He's smart, and he's going to get his education."

CSN coach Tim Chambers is a longtime friend of the Harper family.

"That's the only way this works out. I've known Tim for about 25 years," Ron Harper said. "Tim is going to take care of him. I couldn't send Bryce somewhere else. If I sent him across the country, I might second-guess myself and think I was crazy."

Bryan Harper, Bryce's brother, is transferring from Cal State Northridge to play for the Coyotes next season, so Bryce will have a strong support group at CSN. Bryan is a 6-5 left-handed pitcher.

"It's phenomenal because I get to play with my brother," Bryce said.

Ron Harper said he and Bryce have faced a "media frenzy" since arriving in Oklahoma City last week, a result of the publicity from the Sports Illustrated cover story.

"I've always tried to keep him humble," Ron Harper said. "But Bryce has always made good decisions on his own. He needs to be a good role model.

"My son is going to live with us and still eat at the same table. His brother will be a mentor to him. Why can't it be a good story?"
Last edited {1}
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08Dad08Dad1,000+ posts
I think this is a good move for him - but not something that would make sense for very many (if any) other players.

JC ball will be a big step up for him from high school ball - but not nearly as high as stepping into the pros straight from high school.

To me this is a nice transition - allows him to play at a higher level, play against men, while still living at home. High school would have been one IBB after another next year - better that he get to really play the game.
Last edited by 08Dad
lebanonbblebanonbb100+ posts
I think this is an unbelievable move....Don't get me wrong, he's great but what if he gets an injury? What if he cracks under pressure like some do and becomes a bust? What if this or that? There is no back-up plan for him. He only has his GED, which isn't even as good as a High School diploma. He isn't living his life at the age he should.

I wish him luck nonetheless, but hopefully you guys see my point.
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
quote:
I think this is an unbelievable move....Don't get me wrong, he's great but what if he gets an injury? What if he cracks under pressure like some do and becomes a bust? What if this or that? There is no back-up plan for him. He only has his GED, which isn't even as good as a High School diploma. He isn't living his life at the age he should.


Like everyone else who has to make decisions in life when they grow up, make the choice and deal with it. What else is there?
Last edited by zombywoof
JMoffJMoff1,000+ posts
I've seen the kid play a few times over the years. There is no doubt he is 'special'. In fact he redefines the term 'special'.

He carried himself like a pro player at 13. When he walked into a park to play, he walked in owning the place. I don't have the years of experience that many of you have, but he's the only player I've ever seen that could actually pull this off.

He's good enough physically, I just hope he's doing the right thing from a maturity perspective.

Good luck to him.
coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by lebanonbb:
I think this is an unbelievable move....Don't get me wrong, he's great but what if he gets an injury? What if he cracks under pressure like some do and becomes a bust? What if this or that? There is no back-up plan for him. He only has his GED, which isn't even as good as a High School diploma. He isn't living his life at the age he should.

I wish him luck nonetheless, but hopefully you guys see my point.


And he could stay in high school and face a kid who throws it 85ish and get hit in the head. That leads to his vision getting bad and he is never the same hitter. Injuries can happen anywhere at anytime and there is nothing you can do to stop them. Just do everything in your power to try and avoid / stop them but never let it hold you back from doing something.

Every so often there comes a kid / person who has "it". You know they have "it" when you see them play. The ball jumps off the bat differently. Their throws / pitches are different. Their hands fielding are just smoother than others. These guys go to major colleges or get drafted and you know it when you see them.

Then once in a lifetime here comes someone who is just a little bit better than the guys I just described. They don't get any better playing against guys their own age. They need to compete against bigger / older players. Usually those kids are more mature than normal and are able to function socially than what a regular young kid would. But then again a lot of that goes back to good parents and raising the kid right.

I think this is the right move although it's not the normal one. It's going to be met with skepticism by many and understandably so but he will end up wasting two years staying in high school. He might not make it but any MLB team that takes him will make sure to give him every chance to make it and try to protect him as much as possible.

I hope he makes it.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
Wasn't Robert Stock "it" at sixteen? Seems he left high school early to jump into college ball and stopped being "it." He wasn't taken in the first round this year like he would have been if he had stayed in high school one last year.


Spot on RJM. And last years Robert Stock is Levi Michael at UNC.

There is some talk about how Stock was used improperly at USC, and should have been moved to the mound, where most scouts project him, but that still doesn't change the fact that his draft standing dropped off since making the early change from HS to college.
S sportsfan5100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by nhmonty:
I think he is playing in the Tournament of Stars at USA baseball facility next week. My son is playing for the Legion team in this tournament and he is looking forward to playing against him (thank God he is not a pitcher).


I was told by the person who organized the Legion team, that Harper would be playing with the Legion.

I hope this is the case. My son is also playing for the Legion at the TOS
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
Wasn't Robert Stock "it" at sixteen? Seems he left high school early to jump into college ball and stopped being "it." He wasn't taken in the first round this year like he would have been if he had stayed in high school one last year.


Spot on RJM. And last years Robert Stock is Levi Michael at UNC.

There is some talk about how Stock was used improperly at USC, and should have been moved to the mound, where most scouts project him, but that still doesn't change the fact that his draft standing dropped off since making the early change from HS to college.
Aside from the talent perception aspect of his slide, when he signs it will probably be for a million less than he would have received out of high school.
Last edited by RJM
08Dad08Dad1,000+ posts
Here is an interesting twist I had not thought of (from ESPN)

quote:
"This kid is the reason players should have to declare for the draft," said one front-office man. "A kid like this could go in, get drafted, say, 'No, I don't want to go there,' or, 'That's not enough,' and then do it again the next year, and the next. He could do it three times by the time he's 19. That's not how it works in the other sports. In basketball, you have to declare for the draft. Then, once you get past a certain date, there's no alternative and no going back to school. You're in. If this is the next loophole people are going to try to exploit in baseball, we're going to need the same type of rule."


I bet Boras has thought of this - and talk about leverage!!! Nationals take him first overall - "give me more than Strasburg or I return to school!!!"
Last edited by 08Dad
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by captlid:
This man child hit a 570 foot homerun at the age of 15? Is SI exaggerating or is that really true?
When was the last time a mlb'er hit a jack that far? That's 190 yards.


Put a rocket launching bat in the hands of a MLB player during BP in a controlled environment and they would surpass that distance IMO
lebanonbblebanonbb100+ posts
so this fall could the guy play for a 18u/17u team or there a rule under JUCO rules he can't? I would assume Southern Nevada plays all year round(or close to it) but I was just thinking about this.

What if he doesn't sign, could he play for a 18u/17u during the summer or would he have to play College Wood Bat Summer Ball?
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
All I know is I have seen the videos of this guy and there is no doubt he is a pure stud. Every once in awhile someone comes along and there is just no doubt. I remember watching Josh Hamilton in HS and I felt the exact same way the first time I saw him. There was just no doubt. Head and shoulders above the rest in every phase of the game. Head and shoulders above the rest physically and athletically.

There is no way to know for sure how he will develop from this point on but come on the guy has got it.
M mikamom100+ posts
I have read on the SI site about the disappointment of a couple young men who had made concrete plans to play at the same school, and now are being told they have no room for them at this late date. Although I am happy for him, I have to feel sorry for those kids whose spot he takes. And yes, I know all about the "that's the way it goes", but this coach in my opinion needs to help those kids find a place to play and at least open some doors for them.
What say you?
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
It will be interesting to see what his impact on the team will be. On one hand he'll most likely create a lot of distractions and it will be a challenge to treat him the same as other players on the team. Also given the way baseball works one great position player does not in and of itself make for a winning team.

On the other hand he's good and he's going to make the team better on paper at least and he's going to get the other players more exposure than they could have ever dreamed of.

Personally, if I were a community college coach the hassles wouldn't be worth it for just one year of having a player like that. My guess is that most coaches would be more than willing to put up with it just to have that kind of talent playing for them.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
CPLZ I fail to see the comparison between Stock and Levi Micheal other than both came out of hs early to attend college. Levi has made it clear that he has dreamed his whole life of playing at UNC and going to college was a big priority for him. He left halfway through his sr year in HS and would have been elgible for the draft this year out of hs. He turned down that opportunity to go to college. He had an outstanding year starting every game at 2B and hitting close to .300 while earning freshman AA honors.
C Catchpop1310+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by lebanonbb:
so this fall could the guy play for a 18u/17u team or there a rule under JUCO rules he can't? I would assume Southern Nevada plays all year round(or close to it) but I was just thinking about this.

What if he doesn't sign, could he play for a 18u/17u during the summer or would he have to play College Wood Bat Summer Ball?
I know for a fact that a few juco and d1-d3 players are playing in the east cobb programs and theres about 3 college kids one who is very good and plays on a ACC team out here in Midland , so I am pretty sure that as long as he is within age limits he can play.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
I have read on the SI site about the disappointment of a couple young men who had made concrete plans to play at the same school, and now are being told they have no room for them at this late date. Although I am happy for him, I have to feel sorry for those kids whose spot he takes. And yes, I know all about the "that's the way it goes", but this coach in my opinion needs to help those kids find a place to play and at least open some doors for them.
What say you



I do feel for those kids, but Juco coaches are always looking for the best talent available.The one positive is they were told, instead of coming in the fall and then not having a place to go.The more I watch all this college stuff the more I realize it is about winning at every level.Whoever they can get to help them win they will get.And it will be that way for the rest of these boys careers.
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