A top prospect from the state of Texas is leaving high school early to enroll at UT. This is the third player that has done this in the last few weeks. What are the advantages? Miss your Senior year of HS for what? Thoughts?
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It's a tough call to make. As a high school coach it would be a bitter pill to swallow because I would be losing one of my best (if not the best) players on my team. Overall it's hard to tell a kid no if it's the right situation and the right school because he will be bettering himself.
Prepster can do a better job of explaining this or correct what I get wrong but UNC had a player who came in during the spring that should have been a high school senior. He ended up starting and played in the CWS at third I believe. In situations like this I can't hold it against the kid because that's a special situation. But if he's going to the local JUCO or small school then I would say he needs to stay in high school.
The pros to doing this is getting a head start on being in their program and doing things their way. Also, it allows you to be draft eligible a year earlier than normal freshmen.
If the player is on a horrible high school team with a joke for a coach then I can see it happening. But if he's going to the college and never see the field except for when he's raking it then he needs to stay in high school.
I think the better solution would be to play high school in the spring and enroll for the summer at the college. Get in the program that way and get some much needed credits out of the way so you can take an easier course load the next spring during the season.
Prepster can do a better job of explaining this or correct what I get wrong but UNC had a player who came in during the spring that should have been a high school senior. He ended up starting and played in the CWS at third I believe. In situations like this I can't hold it against the kid because that's a special situation. But if he's going to the local JUCO or small school then I would say he needs to stay in high school.
The pros to doing this is getting a head start on being in their program and doing things their way. Also, it allows you to be draft eligible a year earlier than normal freshmen.
If the player is on a horrible high school team with a joke for a coach then I can see it happening. But if he's going to the college and never see the field except for when he's raking it then he needs to stay in high school.
I think the better solution would be to play high school in the spring and enroll for the summer at the college. Get in the program that way and get some much needed credits out of the way so you can take an easier course load the next spring during the season.
quote:A top prospect from the state of Texas is leaving high school early to enroll at UT.
Who are you referring to, warningtrack?
CJ Hinijosa according to Kendall Rogers.
Had not heard that, but he could clearly make the jump and get playing time at Texas in the spring. He is that good. It would be a huge loss to Klein Collins. My personal view is ... what's the rush ... enjoy your senior season.
It makes sense only for a few very special kids. Trevor Bauer was the last I am aware of, and of course Bryce Harper.
Didnt Levi Michael from North carolina do this as well?
There was a good thread about this very topic on either this board or the recruiting board not too long ago; so, you might also do a search and read that one, as well..
In any case, the instance that coach2709 recalls is that of Levi Michael. He had enough credits to graduate in December; so, he enrolled at UNC for the Spring semester. He started as a Freshman and played 3 seasons. This past June, he was draft eligible and was the number one pick of the Minnesota Twins.
Obviously, Levi was sufficiently talented to contribute from the very outset, he got 3 years of education under his belt, participated in two College World Series, and didn't hurt his draft status one bit. Not to be overlooked is the fact that he entered professional baseball a year earlier than he otherwise would have if he had passed up the draft coming out of high school and had started college in the Fall semester following his graduation.
Several other high profile, high draft picks like the 2 mentioned by BOF have also taken this route over the last several years. In my opinion, it works for those players who are similarly talented, highly motivated to attend college for three years, and are mature enough to cope with the competing demands and attendant rigors of college baseball.
In any case, the instance that coach2709 recalls is that of Levi Michael. He had enough credits to graduate in December; so, he enrolled at UNC for the Spring semester. He started as a Freshman and played 3 seasons. This past June, he was draft eligible and was the number one pick of the Minnesota Twins.
Obviously, Levi was sufficiently talented to contribute from the very outset, he got 3 years of education under his belt, participated in two College World Series, and didn't hurt his draft status one bit. Not to be overlooked is the fact that he entered professional baseball a year earlier than he otherwise would have if he had passed up the draft coming out of high school and had started college in the Fall semester following his graduation.
Several other high profile, high draft picks like the 2 mentioned by BOF have also taken this route over the last several years. In my opinion, it works for those players who are similarly talented, highly motivated to attend college for three years, and are mature enough to cope with the competing demands and attendant rigors of college baseball.
warningtrack, looks like PG picked up on your story. 
http://www.perfectgame.org/Art...ew.aspx?article=6188
http://www.perfectgame.org/Art...ew.aspx?article=6188
Harper did it to get into the draft early. In this situation the player will be going to college for at least 3 years. He will be ready for the draft in 2014. If he stayed in HS and went to three years of college he would be ready for the draft in 2015. I am not sure I see the advantage in this situation.
My senior is also skipping his senior year to enroll at college and play this spring. There is nothing but positive in my opinion to this approach. We went into every recruiting opportunity with this on the table and have had this as a goal from day one. Being from a traditionally horrible high school program made this an easy option. What is the worst thing that can happen? Red-shirt? A year as a college red-shirt is better than playing a senior year at my son's high school. You get two quarters toward your degree and play the summer in a quality wood bat college league.
But for football he would be at college already.
But for football he would be at college already.
how do kids do this? how do they,leave hs and enter college? This was proposed to my son but we have yet to figure out a way to do it?
quote:how do kids do this? how do they,leave hs and enter college? This was proposed to my son but we have yet to figure out a way to do it?
Actually, there are a lot of public school systems looking at the possiblity of eliminating the 12th grade to save money in this time of budget crunches. Many states graduation requirements are fulfilled after 11th grade, or 11th plus the first half of 12th grade. You would just have to check with your schools administration.
That is interesting about CJ. My son played with him some this summer. He is the real deal.
How old are these boys, in general? Are they 17 or were they held back such that they should have already graduated anyway?
I would like to know how old there are too... My son just started college he's 17.
What's the point in announcing in August your intent to hopefully enroll early in a D1 program?
Would it change how MLB clubs assess, pursue and hopefully eventually sign a high school draft prospect?
Would it change, focus or accelerate the feedback a prospect may get from prospective teams?
Are there any MLB business/financial changes occurring in in a few years that might make a prospect want to manage when he becomes draft eligible?
Would it change how MLB clubs assess, pursue and hopefully eventually sign a high school draft prospect?
Would it change, focus or accelerate the feedback a prospect may get from prospective teams?
Are there any MLB business/financial changes occurring in in a few years that might make a prospect want to manage when he becomes draft eligible?
There's a player from our area who got his GED and moved on to college rather than proceed with his senior year of high school. When he transferred to a private school they held him back. He verballed the summer after his soph year. Another year of high school ball wouldn't have done anything for him. By skipping his senior year it got him back to entering college at age eighteen.
Actually, there are a lot of public school systems looking at the possiblity of eliminating the 12th grade to save money in this time of budget crunches. Many states graduation requirements are fulfilled after 11th grade, or 11th plus the first half of 12th grade. You would just have to check with your schools administration.[/QUOTE]
My older son (not a baseball player) only lack a class or two going into 12th grade. There was alot of wasted time in the first half of 12th grade and the second half was a total waste. He would have been much better off, getting out early and going to college.
By the way he did take all the dual credit classes he could in high school. He ended up with 18 college hours at graduation.
My older son (not a baseball player) only lack a class or two going into 12th grade. There was alot of wasted time in the first half of 12th grade and the second half was a total waste. He would have been much better off, getting out early and going to college.
By the way he did take all the dual credit classes he could in high school. He ended up with 18 college hours at graduation.
Well mine turns 18 in December. He had everything he needed to graduate except for English and Phys Ed. Was an Honors student.
As far as pro baseball, the only action we have taken is to turn down invitations to East Coast Pro and Area Code. Hopefully those spots got used by someone who was still looking for a school or who wished to be drafted. As scouts have contacted us for the next season I have called them and let them know individually that son would not be available for the draft and that I would not be returning their questionnaires.
Maybe the possibility of a new slotting system with the draft has made this more relevant for some. Not us son wants to play at a quality program for a great coach and get an education. To avoid another year of bad baseball with another new coach (fourth in four years) and high school in general is just a bonus.
As far as pro baseball, the only action we have taken is to turn down invitations to East Coast Pro and Area Code. Hopefully those spots got used by someone who was still looking for a school or who wished to be drafted. As scouts have contacted us for the next season I have called them and let them know individually that son would not be available for the draft and that I would not be returning their questionnaires.
Maybe the possibility of a new slotting system with the draft has made this more relevant for some. Not us son wants to play at a quality program for a great coach and get an education. To avoid another year of bad baseball with another new coach (fourth in four years) and high school in general is just a bonus.
Its done in football every year. No reason it shouldnt happen in baseball.
In football they are playing their senior season then leaving. In baseball you're talking about abandoning your senior season. It's not the same thing.
So do kids who get drafted out of college "abandon" their senior year for professional baseball?
If a young man realizes his senior year of high school won't do much for his development as an athlete or a student, and his college coach agrees he's ready, skipping the senior year seems like a reasonable plan.
Realistically, most players who have played up an age group or two their whole lives and are major-college bound won't get a lot out of their senior year baseball season. They might need to continue playing up just to sustain their development and keep challenging themselves.
Never stops surprising me how uncomfortable people are with the idea that people who have created options for themselves should have the freedom to choose among them.
Realistically, most players who have played up an age group or two their whole lives and are major-college bound won't get a lot out of their senior year baseball season. They might need to continue playing up just to sustain their development and keep challenging themselves.
Never stops surprising me how uncomfortable people are with the idea that people who have created options for themselves should have the freedom to choose among them.
I'm not uncomfortable with it, it's just not the same thing as when a footballer does it.
You're right. Baseball and football are different.
Most high school football players play very few, if any, actual games other than for their high school team. If you're only going to play 30 or 40 games between youth football and college, skipping 10 of them is a big deal. Also, senior year performance is essential to recruiting as evidenced by the fact that football's NCAA signing date is after the senior season.
Most college-bound baseball players play two or three times as many travel games as high school games, and the travel team plays against better competition. The high school season is often a step down in competition, and it starts three or more months after players have signed their NLI's. Giving up 20 or 25 high school games isn't a loss in that context.
Sorry if I misconstrued your attitude.
Most high school football players play very few, if any, actual games other than for their high school team. If you're only going to play 30 or 40 games between youth football and college, skipping 10 of them is a big deal. Also, senior year performance is essential to recruiting as evidenced by the fact that football's NCAA signing date is after the senior season.
Most college-bound baseball players play two or three times as many travel games as high school games, and the travel team plays against better competition. The high school season is often a step down in competition, and it starts three or more months after players have signed their NLI's. Giving up 20 or 25 high school games isn't a loss in that context.
Sorry if I misconstrued your attitude.