Information on Yavapai Community College

My brother played there way back in the late 70s (went from Michigan, didn't know a soul there - walked on as an RHP).....of course the coaching staff is different now, so I can only comment on the area itself - Prescott/Oak Creek Cyn/Tlaqipaqi area has to be one of the most beautiful parts of the country. In addition, Yavapai finds iteself in Grand Junction for the JUCO WS all the time. They get players from all over the country - bro's roommate was the nephew of Andy Etchebarren (remember him?)

(btw, CatcherMom, we play summer ball in Seattle area - son will be playing for the Seattle A's in '07 -- will your son be playing in the area next summer?)

Yavavapai is one of the nation's top 2 year programs. Head Coach Sky Smeltzer is a class act and the assistants are all solid as well.
The competition for playing time at Yavapai and the other top AZ Jucos is pretty fierce. Expect to see a healthy number of draft and follow kids on the roster.
As Krakatoa said, Prescott is a beautiful town.

My son went to Yavapai College and graduated in 2 years in 2005.

Here's a link to their admission requirement page admissions and note if your son is under 18 there are specific reqirements for the SAT and the ACT. If over 18 seems that there aren't any requirements.

As others have said, Prescott is a beautiful area. To me. It wasn't to him. It was too "small town". The weather is quite nice, the winters are pretty mild, some occasional snow that doesn't stick around too long.

Yavapai College (without the Community in the name) from my viewpoint was a good college. From what I know, the curriculum and the teachers were competent. Scholarships can be substantial in Div.1 JUCO. The tuition was covered at the Western Undergraduate Exchange price. There are dorms on campus, baseball players all stayed in the same dorm. It was coed on the same floor. The baseball field is across the street from the dorm.

If your son decides to go there, I would caution you to be aware of his academic progress and stay on top of graduation requirements. A general studies degree is quite transferable and the requirements are easy to follow. I guess what I am trying to say is don't trust the advisors to make the best class choices for your son. I really kept a watch, it was very important for him to get his assoc. degree as he was not a qualifier out of high school. He was the only graduate that spring from the players he had played baseball with. I thought that was remarkable. I will also say that the boys I had particular knowledge of during this time were there only to play baseball, and not so much into school.

Yavapai College was such a positive experience for our son.

Catcher Mom,

I had a long conversation with a parent from Arizona this weekend during a rain Delay in Jupiter. His son had committed to "the" major D-1 in AZ but for personal reasons was definately going JUCO. I asked about Yavapai and he knew alot.

I tell you this so you know this is all second hand info.

Hitters park, Baseball first mentality though that's not necessarily an indictment of the coaches I'm sure they do everything they can for Kids to be academically succesful, and plenty for Kids to do in the local area. Apparently a fair amount of partying going on as current team had some discipline issues.

I live in Prescott and my son, a DNF this year (part of the last class of those!), is attending there as a Freshman.

I have lived here a long time and find some truth in all the prior posts describing our area and Yavapai in particular.

You can only comment on your own child's experiences, but I'll say this: 4 of our kids have attended Yavapai. The first three (who weren't student athletes) got a great start on their college education their, but then that was their focus. They didn't live on campus, so we didn't get the big party picture.

Youngest is living on campus and a fair number of guys had trouble with eligibility and aren't on the roster this spring. That's probably true for freshman in dorms anywhere, though.

Our guy is hanging in there. He decided he WOULD go to class and he WOULD do his homework, so consequently he has a nice B average and is an everyday player.

I love Prescott, but for the kids who move her from urban areas, I think it does seem very hick.