Next move?

Does your kid have college level metrics? I told my kid he can do pre-HS showcase events or invest the time and $$ on training. He had fringy metrics so chose the latter and now has solid numbers across the board. His summer travel program has set up his showcasing this summer and has made contact with the local college programs. 

Hey 2022NYC.   Thanks for responding.   Right now his metrics for his age all show in the upper 90% nationwide for his age according to PG.   He's been told by one D1 that he's well on his way with his numbers and he still has more growing to do.   After his evaluation I was told that he shouldn't need anymore "individual" showcasing for a while and to use that money towards other areas to continue building his resume.   His showcase organization does an excellent job of getting kids seen but they are also a big organization so there are a ton of kids that are often evaluated.  We just try to stay proactive in addition to the opportunities his showcase organization provides.   

Make sure he puts as much effort into academics. This means, at the least, meeting with a guidance counselor to lay out the academic tiers of colleges, the requirements of each (i.e., most rigorous), future course loads, testing, etc.

No one - especially a ninth grader - knows the intracacies of the recruiting path; colleges rejected today become desired next year; colleges never heard of emerge. The object is to have as many potential paths open as he gets to a position to make a decision. 

(The better the combination of grades, scores, baseball skills, the easier it is to be recruited. And, as you can read on several ongoing threads, you never know when the moment that baseball becomes too hard arrives - all you know for certain is that day will come. Cover all bases: but academics gets most further.)

I would make sure he's on the best travel team he can play on this summer, and play the highest level competition possible.  Get to Team USA, PG WWBA, etc.  You'll get a better feel for how he stacks up against others in his age group nationally.  If he's truly a high-level D1 caliber player he'll get noticed this summer.  If he's not quite at that level he'll still gain tons of experience and get better, and his time will come.

Based on your first two posts, I think you are doing all the right things and generating interest at a young age.  I would do exactly as the coaches request.  I would focus on continued development and high level tournament play...this will keep him sharp and in front of college coaches.   Continue to leverage the travel coach to run interference for you.   Possibly the next step is to sit down with your son to figure out what all of this activity and interest means to your son and family.   The big question is....are any of these schools the right schools for him and what he wants to do for his  4 years of college and after?   Once you determine his goals and the right schools, then you can focus your activity towards them in different ways.  Whether it is a team showcase, individual showcase or prospect camp to continue to demonstrate his skills.  It may be that he has already started a dialogue with one of the schools, and it is just a matter of updating the coach on various high school or travel ball milestones.  He needs to stay on top of that activity and it is a lot of responsibility for a 14 year old.

Through the recruiting process, your 14 year old son is going to learn a lot about the adult world.   My personal opinion is I would stay close to him at this time, and explain everything so he is comfortable in 2-3 years when it comes time to make life decisions about college baseball and his education.  I agree 100% with Goosegg that his education is front and center...don't let up on the gas there.   If he is doing well in school then just let him keep on chugging.   If he needs help, make sure he gets it

So, in summary there is good news and challenges.   The good news is your son has generated a lot of interest so far.  The challenge is maintain that momentum, build off of it, and make decisions about his long term goals.  Finding schools & programs that fit is not easy.  You'll find it is hard work.  Your son has a head start, so I would take advantage of that and visit some schools (together) whenever your schedule permits.   He is allowed to visit/tour any school he wants.  It never hurts to schedule a college tour and let the coaches know you are making an academic visit to campus.   Some will roll out the red carpet and make time for you outside of the college tour schedule.   Rinse and repeat.  You do this a few times and you'll get a better sense of the recruiting process and the schools that are genuinely interested.

Good luck!

One showcase next year to show continued growth.  Update the coaches once each season with new metrics.  I would go to "dream" school camp sophomore year or summer before.

4arms posted:

Hey 2022NYC.   Thanks for responding.   Right now his metrics for his age all show in the upper 90% nationwide for his age according to PG.   He's been told by one D1 that he's well on his way with his numbers and he still has more growing to do.   After his evaluation I was told that he shouldn't need anymore "individual" showcasing for a while and to use that money towards other areas to continue building his resume.   

I think you got great advice here, let him just continue to develop for now. Just to show you how tough it is, that 90% is only for 8th graders that have done PG events. As more kids join that pool in the next 2-3 years it will get even harder to crack that 90%. 

I agree specifically with the bolded. No showcase for another year will suddenly make him a D1 prospect. Sounds like he's a good player who is on his way to becoming one, just not right now. You can spend $650 on a showcases every other month, if the time isn't right, it isn't right. 

What I would be doing is playing and having him learn another position. Put him on the highest level of travel as possible for his age group or have him play up at 16u so he's playing with/against better competition. See where he is at next year after his first HS season and go from there. Have a conversation with his travel coach about his development and see if he's ready to get in front of the SEC and other top flight schools or put that on the back burner and hold off for a little. No need to rush into anything yet. Even next year, asking a 14 year old what he wants from a college is a lot to ask for.