pass on D1 to go Juco (?)

As I tell all of our kids you do not commit until you are sure---you don't want to be looking over your shoulder asking should I or shouldn't I have done it


That being said I have seen kids walk from the D-1 committment and go JUCO

I'll admit, I'm basically ignorant about the thought-processes of a Major League Scout, but it would seem to me a player who so easily backs out of such an important commitment would have a higher likelihood of quitting his minor league team when the going got rough, or perhaps not having the mental fortitude to prepare and succeed in this toughest of all games.

Maybe I'd draft him, but in a lower round.

Hi Noreast!
Baseball recruiting is very different than any other sport in that kids don't have all of their options on the table at the same time. IMHO its fair to change your mind as the year progresses and different opportunities present themselves.

With that being said, signing with a JUCO at this time will probably not help his draft position since MLB eliminated the draft to follow process for JUCO players last fall. If your son is interested in going pro, just tell that to the scouts and have him indicate that on his questionaires. Pro scouts will focus on signability more than ever this year.

You can easily revisit his college decision after the draft, when he knows where he stands with MLB and has had a little more time to process everything. JUCOs sign players all summer long and that opportunity will still be there if he's a pro prospect.

This is a dificult time for a kid. They are growing and changing quickly. New doors are constantly opening. Their skill and tool levels are improving. If he becomes a mid-level pick out of high scool, and if that is the end goal, then he may not want to wait three years for another shot.

I am not so sure I see it as backing out of an important commitment. If he goes to a 4 year school, that is the one he will go to. I'm also not sure I see it as an indication of quitting minor league. In fact, he is seeking to place a higher importance on baseball.

TxMom, thanks for the input. That does make alot of sense.

Every kid is different as are the priorities they place on baseball versus education. My son is going through some of the same issues as yours and following some pretty bizarre recruiting practices by D 1 schools, I am no longer pressing for a 4 year school.

We will make it known that my son is serious about the draft and, depending on what happens there, will make a final decision later about JUCO versu D 1.

Incidently, I am not one of those parents who believes D 1 is necessarily the right place for kids (no matter their talent level) and have tried to encourage my son to think about D II and D III. But having said that, the JUCO option makes a lot of sense if baseball is the real priority and your son is not drafted as high as you think he should be or he needs some development.

Good luck with a tough decision.

Using your son's 4 year commitment as leverage is more valuable than using a 2 year commitment to a JUCO. If you think that switching that commitment will help in the draft process, it will not.

Have your son do as Txmom suggests, put down on the questionaire that he is very interested in going pro (if he really is). If he gets drafted and decides not to sign, he can decide what to do, though I am not really sure of the odds of drafted HS player who decides to go JUCO (no more DF)for one year will get drafted the following year.

noreast,

No, of course if he's drafted it is his choice to leave the DI opportunity behind and pursue a pro career. I was just thinking it didn't seem wise to drop down to Juco solely for that purpose.

Noreast - it sounds like our son was in a similar position. He did sign with a small D1. Had some Pro interest, but did not get drafted. Then he decided in June that he did not want the committment of 4 years and wanted to keep the possibility of Pro ball open. In July he committed to a JUCO and has gone there. For him it was the right choice.

Backing out of the D1 committment was the right thing to do. We felt bad about it for the D1 coach, but he (son) had to do what he felt was right for him. With the interest he had, even though he did not get drafted, he still felt that there was a possiblity in the near future and did not want to have to wait the 3 years.

In addition, the JUCO has covered all of his tuition and books, so the costs are reduced. While it is not a major D1 education - it is an education. At least he's in school learning, playing ball to his hearts content and can always transfer after his 2 years there.

Feel free to PM if you want any other info.
-Hoovmom15

Going JUCO will certainly let him go pro earlier, but be careful with his selection of classes, etc. Make sure he takes the right courses so he stays eligible to transfer after two years in case he does not get drafted. If he just "majors" in baseball, he's got a good chance of being left behind in 2 years.

The other thing to look at is which JUCO to transfer to. Lots of times, freshman don't play a bunch, so what advantage is it going to give him for the draft if he sits the bench most of the time? At least at a D-1, they could redhsirt him if he is not going to start and then he will at least get an extra year of eligibility.

If you go to a Juco are you still limited to 4 years of eligibility? Say you started at Juco for the basics and then transfer to a 4 year program, what is left in eligibility?

It is still the same 4 years---you cannot do two years at a JUCO and then 4 at a NCAA program

TRhit- Thanks

I have seen players in the past dual sign with a JUCO and a D1... they wait to see where they will go in the draft... due to the lack of the draft and follow... is this still commonplace?

quote:

they wait to see where they will go in the draft... due to the lack of the draft and follow... is this still commonplace?

I don't know if it's "commonplace", but it is done. I always have an issue with it except in very rare circumstances. To me, make up your mind what you want and don't leave two coaches out there hanging based on the draft results. JMO though!

We are new to all this. We have an offer from a naia school that my son really likes but they havent offered a very big package. We have a few days til we need to make a decision. If you sign a letter of intent then have a chance to go to a nice juco can you change your mind? I dont usually condone this but what are the consequensces.

tbird--


I told my guys to find the school that they wanted and we will go from there---you can always find a way to make the dollars work---the key is for the player to be at a school where he wants to be, like the coach and players and be comfortable going in---it isnt always about the money

Thanks TRhit

While it is probably true that you can almost always find a way to make the money work, doing so may come with a steep price. If the student and/or parents are burdened with massive loans after four years of school, that can be tough.

There is a balance, and all factors (short and long term) must be weighed.

tbird,

The NLI has it's own set of rules and maintains a web-site to explain them. However, going strictly by memory, I think a player can sign a NLI with a D1 or D2, but decide to go to a D3/NAIA/Juco and still play that same first year. I believe the problem arises when a player signs a NLI with a D1 or D2 and, then, decides he wants to go to a different D1 or D2...then he must sit out a year. I don't remember whether that year of sitting out counts against his 4-yrs. of eligiblity, but I don't think so.

Generally, it's the D1/D2 schools that are members of the NLI "network," so to speak, and "honor" the NLI...the D3, NAIA and Jucos aren't members of the NLI network and don't.

quote:

Generally, it's the D1/D2 schools that are members of the NLI "network," so to speak, and "honor" the NLI...the D3, NAIA and Jucos aren't members of the NLI network and don't.

kb - JUCOs (most of JUCOs) belong to the NJCAA which has it's own NLI which is binding for them just as the NLI is within NCAA schools. One can switch back and forth between a NJCAA JUCO and a NCAA school without repercussions, but not within. NAIA doesn't have a NLI persay, but do have agreements within conferences which are binding with the same consequences for transferring within as NCAA and NJCAA schools have. A kid can cross the lines between all these different divisions, but doing so inside is an issue for all.

lafmom,

Many thanks for clarifying...my memory is obviously not to be trusted.