Perfect Game USA Question

Hopperhop,

Perfect Game showcases and tournaments are pretty much recognized as the cream of the crop - their major events attract the very best high school players including high draft picks, and their scouting reports and ratings are taken very seriously by college coaches and MLB teams. They do also conduct smaller events and regional showcases where the non-blue chip but very good college prospect player would fit in. Many of the parents and players who participate here in the HSBBWeb forums have attended several Perfect Game events. (My son attended one in HS and we were very impressed by the experience.)

Professional scouts and college coaches definitely do attend Perfect Game events. But one thing that PG is just starting that is going to be - I'd have to call it revolutionary - is that they are videoing everything at their events, and then making the video available at a new website, BaseballWebTV.com. So even those coaches and scouts who don't attend the showcase or tourney can see the player videos later. I know there are other organizations who are putting player videos on the Web, but PG is ... well, they are PG. Simply the best in my opinion.

If Horace Greely would have been a baseball fan, he'd be famous for pointing the way to a PG Showcase and uttering the immortal words, "Go Showcase, young man!"

If you KNOW for certain that you've got a high calibre ballplayer (and he's an '06 or '07, possibly '08 if he's real good), you may consider jumping right into one of the mid-level showcases - one of their regional events (as opposed to the State-level offerings) or their Academic or Sunshine venues. The competition will be much better and the interest from recruiters/scouts, of course, will follow the better competition.

My '08 has attended 3 PG showcases. SE Underclass in '04, Sunshine East and National Underclass in '05.

All of the things mentioned by MN-MOM and Krakatoa are spot on. PG runs their events professionally.

Their events are not cheap. BUT, I still think they are definitely worth it. If I had to do it over again, we probably would not have sent him to the SE Underclass in '04 as he was a rising freshman. Two key positive from that experience was that he learned quickly:
1) While he may be very good locally, he saw MANY OUTSTANDING players from the SE Region. Good wake up call.
2) Got the "jitters" out. Was much more confident in the two showcases he participated in during 2005.

Hopperhop-If you have more specific questions, please send me a PM.

I thought that you HAD to start with the State Showcase. Is there a way to bypass them to get to the mid-level showcase?

Not necessarily. You can go to the PG website and request an invite.

They MAY have changed their policy, but in 2004 (June) I contacted PG and received the invite for the SE Underclass held at Duke back in August, 2004.

I spoke with Jim Arp live at PG and discussed with him what made the most sense for my son (discussed ability, travel teams he had played, as well as dates/logistics of events that worked for our family).

ALL of my dealings with PG have been very positive. I have found them to be candid, honest and helpful every time I have had to contact them.

Feel free to send me a PM if you would like further details.

PG...Simply the best.

Go early and often. Expensive to some, but well worth it.