JUCO Recruiting

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Can anyone out there with JUCO experience help answer this one?

No personal experience, but when my son was considering JUCO we did some extensive searching of DI rosters. What we found out was that there are some coaches who do not bring in JUCO players. Maybe they want to start a freshman in "their" system with "their" philosophies. Most have no problem with bringing in a JUCO player to fill a specific need (starter right away). Some will bring in all the JUCO players they can handle.

If there are specific college's you are targeting, do your homework. It's not always easy to do and there are no absolutes, but at least you won't be totally defenseless.

Also check the JUCO BEFORE you sign the NLI. A school's track record in placing players at the next level should be a must. Certain DI's use certain JUCO's as a feeding ground for their players.

As far as marketing yourself, I would imagine it's like HS all over again. I would think the JUCO coach will make every attempt at getting their players placed at the highest level of ability.

JMHO which usually isn't worth much.
Frank

Sideliner,

A lot of what Frank says is true, but whether or not your son is being marketed depends on the JuCo program he is in. Some coaching staff's make it their job to move their players on to 4 year schools and others do not.

If he is in a program that does not place players then I would start the marketing not unlike what you may have done when he was coming out of HS.

Try to initiate this through the coach by asking him to help. Provide him with a list of 4 year schools that your son is interested in. Give him the school name, the head coaches and recruiting coaches name and phone number. Give him the schools listed in order of preference based upon your son's interest.

I believe if you do this, it will be very hard for him not to help, if he is not already helping. Do this now.....so the 4 year schools have plenty of time to schedule a visit to watch a practice.

To give you an example; during the next 2 weeks we have 4 Division I schools that will be attending our indoor practices to look at specific sophomores.

I am sorry for rambling a bit, but I hope some of this helped.

Orioles42

Whether and where a JuCo places its players is essential to the initial choice of school --- that question needs to be asked regarding the last few seasons.

Given that a player is already at a JuCo, watching what goes on with the sophs is equally essential. As a freshman, a player might discover that a sophomore (even one not as talented as the freshman) will be getting additional playing time, particularly toward the end of the season. Don't take it wrong, coach may be making sure that he's being seen by the appropriate schools --- it's good news, he's taking care of his players.

It can be a little nerve-racking, as many (arguably most) JuCo players aren't placed until late April or May. The four years need time to determine their needs; who didn't work out, who looks as if they'll be drafted, etc.

Unlike hs, the JuCo coach has two jobs: to win and to get their players placed or drafted. Without success in these two areas, he'll have the devils own time trying to recruit quality players.

Should you not see quality placement of the sophomores (who deserve it) in your freshman year, consider that you may have chosen badly. Then you do need to repeat the hs process and start marketing yourself. By this time, the player should be taking the lead, not so much the parent.

After a player's freshman season, he can start to talk to coach about where the coach thinks the player will fit in a four year. Make him a partner in the effort early --- shows desire. Research the four years you are interested in to establish who might be looking for someone at your position, or who uses or needs pitchers at your talent level. Then you can ask your coach direct questions: will he approach those schools on your behalf? are his contacts there strong? are those target schools appopriate for you --- or are you shooting too high or too low? Note if they have had JuCo transfers the last couple of years; many coaches say they don't take many JuCo transfers as the ideal is to recruit well and "raise them from pups" in their philosophy. That doesn't mean that's what actually happens. Follow up sporadically to see what efforts are being made --- your player will know how often he can bring the subject up (the parents' job is to talk to their son about progress and advise him about his approach).

The summer in between freshman and sophmore years is another question. Some JuCo coaches are not enthusiastic (and therefore not helpful) with college wood bat leagues; they've lost players early that way. Ask for an assignment or a contact. If none is forthcoming, find one on your own, it's another way to be seen, just as it has always been.

Overall, your JuCo coach should be your best advocate. By this time, the player is 20 years old. Mom and Dad's word (or the unsubstantiated word of a player) is going to be of limited influence on a four year college coach's decision; he wants to hear from another coach.

Guys
Don't forget the academics, in order for a Juco player to transfer to a D1 school, he needs to have 60 credits or an AA. To a D2, 48 credits.
That's the most important thing.
Good luck and study hard, this way your options are greater.

Sideliner, My son and I visited a JUCO yesterday. I think this coach explained exactly the transfer situation as any JUCO coach should be able to do. He told us what schools his kids have gone to, mentioned coaches he has relationships with, and the deliberate steps he takes to get his kids placed including travel to certain places and why, how he does fall ball, etc.

We left there feeling very comfortable about the transfer situation down the road. We've also investigated 4 yr schools and while there are a very few that aren't big on JUCOs, most recruit many of their players from JUCOs. I think it's like being recruited out of high school though, I don't think you can rely on your coach to carry the workload. You'll have to do your fair share as well with letters, calls, and followup.

Good luck with your decision!

Orlando, great post. You are right on the money.

My son is presently a sophomore at a FL JUCO and we did all the research you suggested and it really paid off. He is really enjoying his experience, is getting professional attention as well as 4 year college interest. It is, as was suggested a little hairy as you have to wait to see what the D1 schools are going to do recruiting-wise, but it also gives you a chance to really look and see what might be a good fit.

For us, JUCO was the way to go.

My experience last fall (son's fall semester of soph. year at JUCO) was very much the same as high school recruiting/marketing. Initiate contact with coaches where he would be interested in going to school. And the juco coach carries much more clout than a high school coach with prospective colleges. My kid was injured after Thanksgiving and wont be playing this spring, so none of the initial interest from coaches had any follow through, but it is marketing. I suppose it's this way for most kids that aren't star quality, but could definitly play D2 or NAIA

Then it gets tricky, because by now the kids arent going to school just to play baseball, education is playing a bigger part. You have to look for schools that fit you - close/not close to home, cost, academics, where does he fit in with the current baseball team -- And remember, just because the juco coach can get him placed with the next school doesn't mean that it's the best school for him. Seems to me that baseball schollys after junior college seem to add up to much of nothing.

Orlando was very eloquent on this subject. I feel like I am rambling.