Is a 22U team too old for college recruiting?

Unless your son is an absolute stud colleges are not going to go see him play on a 22U team, it will likely be out of their way. He needs to go where the recruiters go and also needs to be communicating with the programs he is interested in. (and has a realistic chance of being recruited by them) 

Get a list together of target programs and go see where they are going to scout kids and get on a team that goes to them. 

Appreciate the insight BOF; this is what I was concerned about. He's  not a first round draft pick, but he's quite good, and very coachable. So I guess we'll spend today looking further for another good local team to get onto, before the rosters are all locked up. He's looking at high academic schools, where his baseball may be the difference that will get him in, but whether he will chase the dream or find a new one in his studies is anyone's guess. Back to the search for a travel team!

If he is high academic then Headfirst would be an ideal option for you, I know they do one or two in the Va area. Some others can give you some suggestions for the NE region. Tons of high academic D3's in your area, plus Ivy's and Patriot league teams. 

It is really important for you and your son to make a list of prospective schools that fits him academically as well as baseball. Have safe and stretch combinations for athletic and academic and start researching where they go. 

Look at this thread and search the site for more like it, it will help you.

http://community.hsbaseballweb...68#13401269630922768

Good luck!

Momof2015- Where do you live in NY? There are many travel team options throughout the state that fit the age level your son is playing. PM me if you don't wish to share publicly.

He's got a list of about 15-20 colleges now, sent in the recruiting forms to them from their web sites, trying to focus on those that show a thin roster for his position, etc. but of course they ask for schedule of his team, and he has none yet since he doesnt have a team. We are looking at doing 1-3 well selected showcases, but recruiters will still want to see him play in a regular setting also.

   Neither parent is from a baseball background, and we were unaware of the importance of travel leagues and the role they play in recruiting, so that by the time he started looking last winter, rosters were all locked up already. And it's hard to get onto a top team, because many of the players have been there for some years already and progressed up. But the window of opportunity to be seen and evaluated is very narrow, as you know, for college. We don't want to look at signing him up for showcases (all pricey) until we know what a summer playing schedule would look like, which goes back to getting onto a team...

Getting on a top team, while important and helpful, at this point is not as important as getting on a team that may play these "Top Teams" at tournaments. Being rostered on a top team and not playing is obviously pointless. Being on any team that plays the top tournaments will provide the recruiters that are interested in him with the opportunity they need to see your son in action. 

Good Luck. And don't overlook the PG teams that play at PG events.

There's a similar thread entitled "Best summer events for 2015?" where the parent is asking about exposure at tournaments vs. showcases for their 2015.  The responses you've gotten here are similar to what's been said there, but I'll repeat a few things from that thread...

A kid who is strong academically and athletically can have some great college baseball options.  As noted here, you need to be seen by the schools of interest to you (and where the player can be admitted and play on the team). 

Not sure what you mean by "recruiters will still want to see him play in a regular setting also".  It is unlikely a recruiter will ever see your son (or others) play in a regular high school game.  My son was never "seen" by his schools in a travel team tournament either.  Coaches want to see a player live, and playing at showcases or college camps will suffice for that.

We liked the following showcases / camps:

- PG National Academic

- Stanford All Star Camp

- Headfirst Honor Roll Camp (several dates on Long Island again this Summer)

Other showcase companies do "academic" events including Showball and Top 96.

Some college camps will have other top colleges attending.  For example, Harvard, Brown, and Princeton camps will all have additional coaches from strong D1 and D3 academic schools.

This Summer of 2014 is the critical time for a 2015 player to be seen.  We focused on playing where our desired colleges would be watching.  That was overwhelmingly at the events I noted above.

Good Luck!

Floridafan - are these teams assembled by PG from applicants, to play at the events? Or standing teams brought in on invite? Not familiar with this, but all info helps.

JH - sent you a PM, thx.

If your son can't find a roster spot on a decent travel team he can do individual showcases and look to get added to a travel team for a specific tournament. I think in the past Perfect Game even made a team comprised of individuals looking to play for a team (Am I right about this being PG a few years ago?)

As for being quite good and coachable, you just described about 1,000 high school all conference players. Getting to college baseball is a challenge. But its very doable with the right business plan and execution of it.

My son played for a PG team one year when the PG National first started and his travel team did not go. It was a great experience, he was playing up a division and he ended up facing Taijuan Walker with about 60 scouts in the stands. He played with kids from all over the country and it had good coaches. Worth a look IMO.

YES! That is correct! You contact PG and indicate that you would like to play at a PG Events, ones that we saw PG teams playing at when our son was going through HS were the Jupiter Event, East Cobb, and the BCS Event.

I am not sure if there are other events that may be closer to your home or not, but these teams are scouted at the events. I would reach out to Perfect Game in Iowa and ask what is available for your son.

Best of luck to your son!

Before following through on all this PG advice talk to some knowledgeable people who have seen your son play. Ask them to what level of college ball his talent and potential lends itself. You don't want to be spending money on the wrong showcases.