I need all the help I can get!

Welcome to the HSBBW!
Lets clarify your question just a bit.
You need help with his progress as a player now ( development ) or progress towards preparing to try and play in college? ( recruiting )
Both ?
Neither?
Other?

Your post is the first of what should be an important part of the next few years. Ask questions, ask more questions and then ask even more questions. Listen to what other have said, ask more question and you will learn.

Spend as much time with your son as you can. Learn what makes him tick, what makes him special and guide him towards activities which teach him to be a good person.

Learn about your son's passions, strengths and weaknesses. Help him learn, work with him on his weaknesses, encourage his strengths.

Open his (and your eyes) to new things. Use baseball as a tool to expose him to things that are new to him. Challenge him, whether it is baseball, school or working in his community. Help him differentiate himself in the eyes of those that will be in a position to open doors to new opportunities.

As to baseball, you can get all kinds of insight from the HSBBW and its members. However, when I reflect back to the time when my son was 15, I believe that the father/son time was the most valuable and will pay the greatest dividends whether in baseball or in life.

Dad and Mom (if she's into it) need to be your kids #1 advocate. There will be good coaches, terrible coaches, expensive experiences that are a mistake and cheap ones that might open the right door. Mine just started college, 5 hours away and I miss all the extra B.P., long tossing, and time spent with the boy. I gave him every minute I could without shortchanging his siblings, and am so glad I did. College is the time he is on his own to earn his way in the sport, high school he needs support, constructive advice (especially how to deal with bad advice that may damage him in some way) and most importantly someone who believes in him without reservation.

I've been researching options for about a year now. The most common answer I get from everyone including high school coaches,is in the state of Georgia if you want your son to be seen by college scouts, playing high school ball isn't the ticket. You need to play on a good summer team, and playing at East Cobb would be a huge plus. A lot of high school programs in my area do not allow their players to play for a travel team. They can only play for the H.S. summer team and they do not see much competition and do not play any showcase tournaments. I have 2 boys in my subdivision that play baseball and are the same age. One made the high school team, and one didn't. No one can figure out why the one didn't as he is just as good as if not better than the other, and has a better attitude and work ethic. The one who plays for the H.S. team has done just that. The one who did not make the team played for a summer team and fall team which played in showcase tournaments, some in East Cobb. The H.S. player has not heard from any colleges nor received any PG invites. The boy who did not make the H.S. team, has been invited to a couple PG games.

Next point. We were the no. 1 team in the state and only 2 players received offers from D1 schools. Why? Because the scouts did not see them until their varsity year.

The Georgia Dugout Club runs showcases throughout the state the first part of June. It is a highly touted event and attended by numerous college and pro scouts. I would get my son to the one closest to me, especially if he didn't make the high school team. Being seen by scouts helps tremedously if they want to play at next levels. You can check out the info at their website georgiadugoutclub.com. The exact specifics on the showcases may not show up until later in the spring.

Second, grades are extremely important, and I would encourage my son to keep those grades up. They are considered in the total package and can also help with financial aid offers. Besides, most of the colleges consider them student-athletes and they do have to maintian their academic eligibility in order to play come spring.

I would also get my son to college camps, especially if the college coaches are working and running the camps. Good way for them to evaluate talent and keep tabs on upcoming players.

Again, be sure to check out articles and posts here on the high school baseball web ~ a wealth of information, and probably reason most of us arrived here.

Also, check out some college, at different divisions, and minor league teams to see the difference in talent levels.

If you have specific questions, ask. PM me if you want, and I can tell you about our experiences.

Good luck!