Have to be "done" by start of senior year?

You've got a bit of time to find out how he stacks up with the kids in his class. It takes some stress off the parents when they are an early commit before their senior season but it is not at all unusual for players to commit far later than that and even after the end of their senior season.

I totally agree with CADad. In addition, there is a recruiting timeline on the front of the HSBBWeb website. Everybody is familiar with the HSBBWeb message boards, however there is a wealth of information on the main website. This is an overall recruiting timeline (guideline)and your mileage may vary.

http://hsbaseballweb.com/recruit_timeline.htm


Best of luck!

Thanks for the link - you're right, there is a lot of other info. here other than the forums.

I'm still not quite sure how this would work though. Most students have already applied and been accepted to their college by early spring of their senior year.

It would seem as though the HS senior year and certainly summer ball after senior year will not be able to be used, as you need to know where you're going before this time?

As I mentioned I'm a bit concerned about his age compared to others, and more importantly the fact that there are 3 pitchers one grade above him that are all very good. Unless something changes drastically, I don't see him getting much time his junior year.

The link that I was directed to seems to be the "traditional" way this happnes. Does anyone have any experience or heard about being "late to the party" and still finding a place to play in college?

Sorry if i'm being a bit dense LOL. Kind of went into panic mode the other day when thinking about what we've done for my daughter this year for college search just from the academic standpoint. It's almost like I feel my son will have one less year to get this done.

My son did a camp at a D1 in April of his senior season and was seen by a JC coach who recruited him heavily. (Pure speculation but I think the JC coach worked a deal with the D1 pitching coach, because the head coach seemed very interested.)

Then he did a D1 camp in June after his senior season and they offered to get him accepted into the university but said he'd have to compete for the last roster spot(s).

He was also young for his grade. Lots of things can happen later on. He did have some D1 and D3 options before his senior year at cold weather locations and turned them down.

I think TRhit has examples of players signing as late as August after their senior season.

My son committed on May 1st (the official last date) and was accepted to his school after the official filing date cut off of Feb 1st, as the coach wanted him. He flew through the process also because he had good grades and ended up getting more academic money than athletic money than he was offered elsewhere. He had an acquaintance who was going as a walk on to one school get an offer from another in late July and was on campus in August. Not ideal but it happens. Of course you have to have JC options lined up if you are in this situation.

Plenty of players commit during their senior year.

Several honest thoughts:
1. It's WAY too early for you to project that he's likely to find himself signing during his senior year.
2. If he's good enough to play college ball, chances are that he'll find a way into his high school team's pitching lineup before his senior year. After all, if he ends up being good enough to pitch in college, he's going to be competing against very good pitchers for a spot in the rotation once he arrives.
3. His performance on a high quality summer/fall team is probably more important than what he does with his high school team. College recruiters see summer/fall teams more than they see high school teams because of the conflict in their seasons' schedules.
3. One of the most important traits of successful pitchers is self-confidence. They have to want the ball at all times and carry the belief that they can get any batter out that they face. His self-confidence depends, in part, on the confidence you show in him.

Assuming the coach seriously wants your son, many schools will accomadate a last minute application request. I am sure this varies greatly by school, but on my son's team a kid applied and was accepted the week before classes started, not sure he got into the classes he wanted at that point Many JC kids are late signs and/or walkons that missed the orginal application date for just about every school.

I had one of those dismal summers before senior year. Had been 1st team all-district as a junior, but summer coach changed stance and I barely hit my weight. Did some camps and showcases. Had a solid senior year, but nothing spectacular...made 2nd team all-district. Turned down several D3 and a couple of D2 offers just because I felt like I needed a jr. college experience to get bigger and stronger. I'm just now signing with a local juco....a little late but it happens.

I know one athlete that signed his deal (50% at D1 Texas JUCO) in April. If you're good enough, it will happen.

There's a player up here who is a 2011 grad, who signed with Texas Tech in early June this year, right around graduation.

Another 2011 grad up here just signed with Univesity of Portland last week. 1 month after graduation.