HS freshmen committing to college

To think that some of these "young men" are committing to one of the biggest decisions of their lifetime before they get their drivers license is just hard for me to comprehend.`

My 2017 son is committing to the University of Alabama football.  Coach Saban just doesn't know it yet. ;o)

I am in the class of 2017, got no commitment, no interests from colleges either, yet. But still working hard and trying to improve and get better every day.

Well I think you can safely say this is out of hand. I wonder what nonsense sent it spiraling off into commitment lala land? Never mind I know what nonsense. Koolaid on!

For some that I saw or heard about while there last week, I completely understand based on multiple dominate performances by these tremendously talented players.  I am not sure whether or not it is a good thing either, but if it is your dream school why wouldn't you commit early?  Saw this last year as well, so with two more years of it continuing answers will begin to surface. 

I just saw on social media the other day that a 2018 kid just committed to TCU - was just discussing this with fellow baseball parents over the weekend.  Wow.

Wesley, you are in the majority in the first case, and in the minority in the second. Stay the course, and I'm betting you will find a place to play. Here's a rough count of college baseball teams by division. Most will need 10-15 freshman in 2017.

 

300 DI
260 DII
370 DIII
180 NAIA
400 JUCO

 

Thank you! Check out my video from Baseball Factory and tell me what you think! http://members.baseballfactory...er/_/109066/#member/   Also, can you tell me what the numbers mean on my evaluation, I think I might know, but I am not 100% sure.

Wesley ... Most future college baseball players will be making their decision at the end of summer travel season after their junior year and into their senior year. It's typically only major conference players who commit any sooner. Don't jump at any baseball offer. Find the proper balance between academics and baseball. The chances are extremely high your education will be the pathway to your future.

 

Add: Based on your numbers I would say you need to work on your overall strength. You need to increase your throwing velocity, your bat speed and your 60 time. Have you been in front of York? Have they shown any interest? You have good grades. What about Gettysburg? 

Okay, thanks for the advice! I know that I am going to have to rely on academics to help get to college, not just athletics.

Frankly, I think the ultra early commitment is more about publicity and "bragging" rights.  There is no logical reason to commit.  If they are truly studs, multiple offers will be coming their way for the next several years.  If you're that good, why wouldn't you use the leverage?  And it is all one way -- the kid is "committed" and off the board, but the school just keeps chugging along. 

 

We had a local kid commit way early to an SEC school.  Lots of hoopla, tweets, etc.  Guess where he is going in the fall.  Not the SEC, but some JUCO.  A lot less fan fair about the de-commitment.

 

I have not been in front of York nor Gettysburg. I have gone to a Millersville camp. I am trying to work on arm strength and bat speed. I have not found a good program or workout however. I am trying to long toss and do resistance band exercises.  Can you provide me with any information for these types of workouts to improve arm strength and my speed to decrease my 60 time.

Very good point, I would want as long as possible to try to get as many offers and then choose the best school fit and what's best for me.

2018 has been in Emerson for two weeks, I'm ready to go home.... he  hit 88-89 and from what we here there's a good chance he will get offers by the time he goes to Jupiter in the fall... I always felt this would happen next year... I'm not sure this is a good idea. I was told the NCAA dropped the commitment age to 14 ? 

Wesley - no worries!  My son is 2017, too - and working his butt off this summer to get bigger, faster, stronger!  Lifting, field practice, batting practice, speed training, weekend showcases and more!  Training has been his full time job this summer!  Heading from East Coast to West Coast in August to visit Pepperdine, Big 3 of the West Showcase (CSULB, UCI, CSUF) and then to a Trosky 30-College Showcase in Fresno... working on more exposure, filling out recruiting questionnaires and just doing his thing!  Heading to Florida in October for Perfect Game to just keep up with exposure and opportunities!  You're not behind - everyone's path is different!  You may also want to look at the Headfirst Honor Roll events in Long Island next summer.  I've heard some good things have come to folks we know from that event, as well!  Good luck to you! 

My son increased his arm strength through long toss. For his overall strength he did FASST (fitness, agility, speed, strength training) in Conshohocken. He did training specific to running a baseball 60 at Velocity in Warrington. His high school also had an excellent off season program. These are to far away for you. Do the research to find programs in your area.

 

Add: Create a business plan/strategy on how to get to college ball. Don't leave it to fate. Figure out 30-50 colleges that could be a fit. Email them. Express interest in the college and the baseball program. Ask where you can get in front of them. Then find the right team, the right tournaments and the right showcases.

Can it be that the big schools want to get as many commits as they can to satisfy their fear that if they do not offer someone else will or maybe they want to fill their prospect bucket with as many choices as they can?

 

I think a 15-16 yr. old player is way too young physically and mentally to make that decision. (There are rare exceptions) The school may want to fend off the competition and make the player feel special with the bragging rights of the "Early Big Time Commit". Yes it may be their instate dream school and parents like the instate tuition but why so early?

 

The recruiting grounds in Miami, FL, I am sure, is a lot different than from other parts of the country.  If a player commits too early he may lose out on other opportunities when the early commit does not pan out.  I have seen it many of time when the kid commits to the ACC/SEC school only to find out they are one of 3 recruits for that position and now want to go to their second choice but that spot was taken.

 

 

No need to rush people! If the player is that good, then the offer will always be there!

Thanks for the help! I am trying to lift and get stronger the problem is I work and I play during the weekends, so I do not have as much time as I would like to and I do not have that recovery time that is needed for lifting.

Thank you! I will do what you suggest and I will work out and get better. I am hoping to find places or something that can help me accomplish these goals.

I am reluctant to criticize either party in these arrangements, not knowing anything about how they came about or how well considered they were.

 

My limited observation of the truly elite players from my area is that they had good advisors and made good decisions suitable for their circumstances and goals, though some of them seemed surprising to outsiders.

 

What wouldn't be prudent for my family might be fine for someone at the extreme right edge of the talent/potential curve.

 

Time will tell.

 

Don't let this stuff upset anyone!  VERY early commitment doesn't mean that the player will ever attend.

I agree , early commitment means little and can back fire big time . The thought is if you don't commit they will ask another . I will have to ask many questions on the board before -2018 commits at this early age



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 4:16 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

It shocks me when I read of kids committing that early.  Then I remember, these are the lights out players, or they have dreamed of going to this school their whole lives, parents went there, etc.  I just hopped on a local state recruiting site, and I know it's probably missing some kids (but I'm not in the baseball circle, so just going by what is confirmed) but see that the majority of top 200 of 2015's are set, majority of the top 30 of 2016's are committed, and 3 (yes 3) of 2017's are committed.  Of those 3, two mentioned that they had ties to the school.  Again, this is just mom sleuthing/being a nerd, but it reassures me that son's plan for next two years is on track and also that what we've been told, majority of recruiting/offers happen after junior year, is correct.  

PGStaff, do you track percentages, such as what % of players that come thru your system receive early offers?  That would be a fun stat to know.  

 

Wesley, hit those books this semester.  A 3.5 will open a lot more doors than a 3.3.  I can tell you are a smart young man.  If you are taking the time to research on this website, you have the power to ace classes this fall.

Don't forget about the juco guys coming in as well . If you have 2016 he's competing for spots from 2014 jucos



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 4:45 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

We don't track percentages like that, but I think our IT guys could muster them up fairly easily.  2016 is loaded with commitments.  A large number of 2017's top players have committed.   

Committing in 8th to 10th grade is the norm for women's sports. Girls physically mature sooner than boys. My daughter verbal led after soph year. It's really insane to be put in this situation when not mature and possibly not old enough to drive.

 

The NCAA needs to do something about early verbals. There should be no contact until junior year. Then allow a NLI to be signed junior year.

> On Jul 27, 2015, at 5:29 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

bacdorslider has a good point on JUCO transfers.

 

Many kids are unaware of how competitive college ball really is.

 

FYI, a friend has a loose list of (from our state) 2014's that committed fairly early to 'names' in the SEC, ACC, Big South, SoCon, etc. respectively.

roughly 12 were cut by Thanksgiving of 2014 (1st semester freshman year) or told they will not see the field or be renewed.

They are at other schools now or not playing baseball anymore. 

It's important to have a plan B & C. Look if your a pitcher throwing 92 you can likely play D1 ball ACC SEC. If a potion player as a freshman you better be a stud I would rather be the 1 pitcher on really good team than the 4-5 on a great team



> On Jul 27, 2015, at 5:35 PM, HS Baseball Web <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I've been informally following local kids for a few years. For commitments in general more so than early commits. Very "small sample", but after their freshman year of college about 1/3 of the kids are not at the school they first committed to. Of those, about half never got there or left school before spring, and the other half left after one season. So about 2/3 of the kids made the roster for at least 2 years, which all things considered isn't bad.

       
       


Yup. 8th grade verbal commits are quite common in women's gymnastics. With very few high level programs left in the country, a lot of girls are hoping to get one of those coveted, full ride spots. My 2016 daughter saw the writing on the wall and decided to retire after her sophomore season. 12 years of grueling work and not a chance at even a walk-on role at one of the handful of D3 colleges that still have a program. College sports is a tough, big business.

Just another thought for you, Wesley - I asked my son as a freshman to make a list of 50 schools where he would like to play.  Since then, I've had him looking at rosters - what's the size of the players in his positions at those various schools?  I want him to start getting ideas of where he physically "fits" with the kind of players (ie weight and height, etc) where he matches what they tend to look for in players.  If a particular program tends to have 6'2" outfielders that may not be a good fit for my son, if you know what I mean?  He'll have no problem running a sub 7 second 60 - and he has a great arm - but if he doesn't hit 6'2", maybe it's not a good fit and he should tweak that list of 50 schools?  That's just something we've been doing as a family - but thought I would mention it to you while I was on my mind! 

Thank you! I have done that for some colleges that I've looked at. I do physically fit some of their catchers profiles, but right now I am not at the skill level yet (pop time, arm strngth, etc.)

If your committing early so are others your age probably to the same school. If you were a Sr would u comitt to a school who is taking several same yr guys in your position?  

Imo just because it's a favorite school of yours doesn't mean it will be best baseball fit. They may make you feel special to commit early but what happens when u get there and Really good soph/jr are starting in your spot(s)?  You could have gone somewhere else and played quicker/sooner.   It may work out better for pitchers, because they need so many. No way you'll  know as a Freshman where you'll  fit in in 4 yrs later. Keep options open.

There was a girl who committed to play softball at Tennessee this spring.... she's in 8th grade. As you can imagine, Tennessee couldn't say a word about it...

Agree.  The D2 university my son transferred from had at least 4-5 JuCo transfers (including himself) on a 28 man roster.  There were 4-5 that transferred in from the year before.  That didn't include some D1 transfers.  This coach brought in a mix of freshman and JuCo transfers.  JuCo's for the experience they bring and freshman to build for the future.

 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around a 8th grader or freshman "committing" at that age.  I think the NCAA needs to put limits on how early colleges can make an offer.

From what I understand, NCAA rules are that the school can not formally announce incoming players until after the NLIs are signed.  For baseball's early signing period that is Nov of the Senior year.  

The type of programs these players commit to dont bring in JUCO transfers unless to fill an immediate need.

These are not binding anyway, just for show.