Low to mid D1 vs D2 Choice

Great question.  Of course, it ultimately is your son's choice, but assuming he were on the same page - option B hands down.  I believe floridafan can shed some nice light on this topic.

Darin Mastroianni who is now in the big leagues started his career at a D1 and ended up transferring to a D2.  He became an All-American, led his team to the NCAA championships, and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.  floridafan's son was drafted out of the Univerity of Tampa which is a perennial national power.  I've always said this and some disagree, but I would rather win at the D2 or D3 level than be on a loser at the D1 level. 

We chose D1 strong academic school; in fact his back up was D3 strong academic. The opportunity to obtain a degree from a great school outweighed the other in our house.

2014...I get you on the Academic side.  I am really interested to see responses on the baseball side.  

I agree with CD. Only other thing I would take into consideration is playing time. If the D2 is recruiting your son they probably believe he can start there. Not sure where you are in the journey but try and watch some games of both teams. Honestly ask your self if your son can compete. It is no good going to the competitive team if you are on the bench.

All else being equal go with the winning tradition.

Actually, my son committed and will sign in November with a top level D2.  I was just curious where others fell on this.   It has been a big topic of conversation at son's high school over last 2 years.....and more kids fell on the low D1 side.

JB

We have had that discussion over the years at our school. But most of the time it is a walk on for a D1 or go to a D3. Far and away more kids from son's alma mater almost always take the D1 opportunity.

Many of the players who go D1 never see the filed. Many of the D3 players flourish and have a great experience.

Glad your son took the D2.

Enjoy.

Based solely upon baseball considerations and assuming that the player would get equal playing time either place, I'd choose the winning D2 in a heartbeat.

Congratulations to your son!

My son chose the D2.  The argument you gave in your original post was the exact argument his D2 coaches gave to convince him to go there.  Chances are much better to go to the World Series with the D2 team.  From watching D1 & D2, the biggest difference I see is the depth of the pitching in D1.  Top D2 teams can field and they can definitely hit.  Most have a very good starting rotation, but things drop after that.  So you wind up having higher scoring games.  I might not be totally accurate, but it is my observation.

Renegades5, if you don't mind my asking, where did your son commit to?  We may windup running into each other.

Low D1 or D2? It depends which one is showing the love versus interest. I'd also be looking at the roster to see my chances of cracking the lineup. I'd rather win at a D2 than lose at a D1. Tampa could beat a lot of D1's. They get D1 transfers who don't want to sit out a year.

bballman.....son committed to St. Cloud State.  Last year, they came 1 game short of World Series.  They beat Central Missouri and Southern Arkansas (twice) in the regional....but lost to Minnesota State (Mankato) who came in 2nd in World series.

JB

Awesome!!  My son plays for Columbus State University.  We contend every year, but didn't go last year.  Hoping for better things over the next few years.  I'll be following you guys - Good Luck and congratulations on the commit!!

We sent some stuff to Columbus State.  Tough to get down south from Chicago enough to get a lot of exposure.   If I had to do it over again, I would have spent way more time on the D2 schools much earlier.   Looked at Lee U in Tennessee....and UNC Pembroke and Delta State expressed some interest but by that time son was ready to be done.

Hope to see you in Cary in 2015!

JB

Ditto, what RJM said. 

In addition, I would want to see them play games/practice in the flesh rather than rely on a roster, or a coaches promise or guess before making a decision.  I'd want to know how I stack up, and my chances to make the lineup/get in games.  Recruiting coaches will tell you what you want to hear.   I want to see it.

Based on what bballman said (above) and a business partner told me a couple nights ago over cocktails (former D2 World Series position player), the pitching situation is not deep in D2.   So, there may be a huge opportunity there if he is a pitcher. 

In my case, not only is he a Pitcher.....but St. Cloud has 7 Senior pitchers graduating after this season.  So...he has a real chance to compete for innings as a Freshman.

JB

My guy had opportunities at several D-1's and D-2's. One of the D-1's was (is) a top contender each year in the ACC. It came down to who showed the most love. One out of state D-1 offered what amounted to a 60% scholarship and the other was as a recruited walk on. The D-2's were closer to 100% when all aid was was calculated and they were very aggressive in their recruiting. The out of state D-1 was pretty aggressive as well, but the costs were still out of our budget. My son eventually settled on the D-2 and had post season play for the years he was there. He played virtually every inning of every game and we were able to attend every collegiate game he played.

The only thing that causes me any look back was a statement by the recruiter of the ACC D-1 who is no longer at this program. He stated that if my son went the D-2 route he would probably not be drafted until his senior year, and that if he was at their D-1 he might go after his Junior year and either way would receive more money out of his D-1. In hindsight he may have been correct on those counts. However, looking back we are all thrilled with the experience he had while playing in college.

I am a believer in go where they love you, and he did chose University of Tampa due to the number of players drafted out of their program and their winning record. Funny thing that one of the D-2's that recruited him wanted him for their Short Stop (he primarily played 3rd) and that program went on to win the World Series that year,lol. Barry University.

Playing on a winning team is a heck of a lot more fun than playing on a losing one. It is also a lot more fun playing than sitting on the bench. Go where you are loved is huge. Do not underestimate the coaching situation also, Go where there is a solid reputation(s) and while I do know this for a fact but it would seem to me that there would be a higher level of coaching at a winning lower level program than a middle to lower level loosing D1. At least there would be more stability . 

I know my that my son has more fun in conference tournaments and the NCAA World Series tournaments than the do during their regular season.High intensity close scoring games that mean something are to be cherished. 

There is a lot of D1 talent on D2 teams. Especially in the south. Many D1 guys transfer after a year if they don't play as much as they think they should. Also many juco guys who originally go juco due to grades don't earn enough credits at the juco for D1 enrollment. They wind up at D2's also.

I also believe it's pitching depth that is a big difference. A lot of D2's have one or two pitchers at 90-92. Where as big D1's will have a more than that.

If your son is interested in playing professionally you probebely go with the D1 program. D2, JUCO position players will get "discounted" for not playing alot of games against higher level pitching.  I suppose that could also happen with a D1 team with a poor schedule/weak league.

I will come at you from the other direction then most who have responded so far. My son is at a school who's conference is most definitely not in the top 15 in the country and some years not even in the top 20 (similar to what the OP posted). In any given year only the tournament winner is going to the regionals, and typically that team is 2 and done. My son was also recruited by some of the powers in the NE-10 and the Sunshine State Conference.

For him it came down to the fact that the academics where better at the school he is currently at, he was not a "blue chip" player coming out of HS, and it appeared at the time (and has come true) that he would be given an opportunity to play as a two-way player right away. Had he developed into a blue chip college player (he has not) he still could have still had an opportunity on the pro level. This is what went into his thought process when deciding where to go, and what schools look at.

Four years later, he will graduate with a great college degree at a school with a fine academic reputation and most of it paid for by an athletic scholarship, while having the chance to "play" all 4 years of D1 baseball . There was certainly nothing wrong with that.