Son is undecided whether to attend the PG World Open event in January or a College evaluation camp being held the same day at a college he has sent his resume.
Any thoughts on which would be more beneficial?
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These are two different types of events ---keep in mind that D-I coaches cannot be at showcases in this time period but can work camps
If this is a school your son is highly interested in, I would advise him to attend the camp.
I think it depends on where you are at in your recruiting process.
If you are looking for instruction, you can go to a school that offers development camps.
If you are starting out and looking for mass exposure and evaluation, then go to a well known showcase that offers college coaches and scouts but more importantly a database where they evaluate you and store the information that coaches and scouts can access (which PG Showcases have).
If you have narrowed down to a few schools and you want more exposure to that one school, because you want to play there and you think you are good enough, by all means attend a college's camp after you have their attention and want to solidify their interest.
Good Luck and enjoy the ride!
If you are looking for instruction, you can go to a school that offers development camps.
If you are starting out and looking for mass exposure and evaluation, then go to a well known showcase that offers college coaches and scouts but more importantly a database where they evaluate you and store the information that coaches and scouts can access (which PG Showcases have).
If you have narrowed down to a few schools and you want more exposure to that one school, because you want to play there and you think you are good enough, by all means attend a college's camp after you have their attention and want to solidify their interest.
Good Luck and enjoy the ride!
New2This,
TR is correct, these are two completely different events.
I can't advise you either way.
Is your son is a top level player? Are you interested in the draft? If your son is very interested in this college, the camp might work out best for him. You didn't mention the level of this college.
The showcase is during a period where DI college coaches can't attend. However, there are typically a 100 or more scouts in Ft Myers for the World Showcase each year. This includes 6 to 12 of the 30 MLB Scouting Directors. There are only a few events in the country each year that have more highest level professional scouts in attendance. For the right player it's a great place to be and a good opportunity. The news from this event travels to most all the higher level colleges. They may not be there, but that doesn't mean they ignore what happens there. Many of them have eyes there.
So IMO it depends on your son and his desires. If he needs or wants the college evaluation camp to help get him get interest from a college he is interested in, I would think seriously about attending that camp.
Think about this... If he doesn't create serious interest with this college, will it still help him? Then again, if he isn't capable of creating interest with this college can the Showcase help him? The answer to both questions might be... No!
These type questions I usually stay away from. Even an honest answer could come out sounding like some kind of sales pitch.
I will only say this... For some individuals the college camp might be better... For some individuals the Showcase might be better. Problem is, we don't know that ahead of time in most cases.
TR is correct, these are two completely different events.
I can't advise you either way.
Is your son is a top level player? Are you interested in the draft? If your son is very interested in this college, the camp might work out best for him. You didn't mention the level of this college.
The showcase is during a period where DI college coaches can't attend. However, there are typically a 100 or more scouts in Ft Myers for the World Showcase each year. This includes 6 to 12 of the 30 MLB Scouting Directors. There are only a few events in the country each year that have more highest level professional scouts in attendance. For the right player it's a great place to be and a good opportunity. The news from this event travels to most all the higher level colleges. They may not be there, but that doesn't mean they ignore what happens there. Many of them have eyes there.
So IMO it depends on your son and his desires. If he needs or wants the college evaluation camp to help get him get interest from a college he is interested in, I would think seriously about attending that camp.
Think about this... If he doesn't create serious interest with this college, will it still help him? Then again, if he isn't capable of creating interest with this college can the Showcase help him? The answer to both questions might be... No!
These type questions I usually stay away from. Even an honest answer could come out sounding like some kind of sales pitch.
I will only say this... For some individuals the college camp might be better... For some individuals the Showcase might be better. Problem is, we don't know that ahead of time in most cases.
Thanks everyone for your input. In a way it's an unfair question to make, and I thought about it quite a bit before posting it, but in the end I figured that there are so many people in this forum that have so much more experience than me that it was worth a try. At the end of the day he will have to decide what he thinks is best for his particular situation but each one of your comments are very good and touch on the aspects he needs to consider.
TRhit - D1 coaches can't attend. Can D2, D3, Juco, NAIA attend?
Infield08 - Its not a college he's highly interested in but its on his list of colleges he's contacted and sent his resume and video to.
Homerun04 - He's a 2010 player who has started the recruiting process late (since May) and sent out letters this Fall. The events he's attended so far, and the ones he plans to attend, are aimed at evaluation/exposure rather than development. He's been to one PG event but feels he can improve his evaluation rating and he believes it's important to improve his evaluation to get more attention. He really hasn't narrowed down to any schools in particular, but the school is on his list that he has contacted. I can't really say he has their attention yet other than they wrote back to tell him about the camp (which is probably standard).
PGStaff - Thank you. I know its particularly hard for you to handle this kind of question. If its any consolation he liked your answer. He's not a top level player. His target schools are probably D2, D3 and Juco's and attending the camp would give the coaches a chance to see him first hand. It's a JUCO with a top level baseball program. I think for both your questions the answer for me would be a Yes to both. Even if he doesn't create serious interest with this college, they will know about him and he will get valuable feedback from his evaluation on how he measures up with players from the area. The Showcase should also help him because he will have a chance to improve his rating and again, see how he measures up to the level of play at the event. Since he has started so late all the these variables are important. So the problem is deciding which of the Yes's is better, and like you say there's no way to know the future!
Thanks again everyone.
TRhit - D1 coaches can't attend. Can D2, D3, Juco, NAIA attend?
Infield08 - Its not a college he's highly interested in but its on his list of colleges he's contacted and sent his resume and video to.
Homerun04 - He's a 2010 player who has started the recruiting process late (since May) and sent out letters this Fall. The events he's attended so far, and the ones he plans to attend, are aimed at evaluation/exposure rather than development. He's been to one PG event but feels he can improve his evaluation rating and he believes it's important to improve his evaluation to get more attention. He really hasn't narrowed down to any schools in particular, but the school is on his list that he has contacted. I can't really say he has their attention yet other than they wrote back to tell him about the camp (which is probably standard).
PGStaff - Thank you. I know its particularly hard for you to handle this kind of question. If its any consolation he liked your answer. He's not a top level player. His target schools are probably D2, D3 and Juco's and attending the camp would give the coaches a chance to see him first hand. It's a JUCO with a top level baseball program. I think for both your questions the answer for me would be a Yes to both. Even if he doesn't create serious interest with this college, they will know about him and he will get valuable feedback from his evaluation on how he measures up with players from the area. The Showcase should also help him because he will have a chance to improve his rating and again, see how he measures up to the level of play at the event. Since he has started so late all the these variables are important. So the problem is deciding which of the Yes's is better, and like you say there's no way to know the future!
Thanks again everyone.
NEW
yes they can !!!
yes they can !!!
Mr. New2this,
In life we need to take chances..calculated chances. Now that you have given a little bit more of your situation, my suggestion is to go to the World Open. Since PG has the most accesible and prob most complete database available to all coaches it would be my choice. If your son has improved and is prepared he will more than likely get a better rating as a senior. Maybe D1 colleges will notice too. You just don't know. You can then follow up and maybe send some new applications depending on the results. I wish your son well and hopefully will use all these inputs in making your decision.
RR23
In life we need to take chances..calculated chances. Now that you have given a little bit more of your situation, my suggestion is to go to the World Open. Since PG has the most accesible and prob most complete database available to all coaches it would be my choice. If your son has improved and is prepared he will more than likely get a better rating as a senior. Maybe D1 colleges will notice too. You just don't know. You can then follow up and maybe send some new applications depending on the results. I wish your son well and hopefully will use all these inputs in making your decision.
RR23
quote:His target schools are probably D2, D3 and Juco's and attending the camp would give the coaches a chance to see him first hand. It's a JUCO with a top level baseball program.
New2This,
Experience has taught me to never advise when it comes to many things like this. It's kind of like choosing a college or making a decison between college and pro. Any advice could turn out to be terrible advice. Giving information, on the other hand, can help people make their own decision.
While we do events that non-scholarship (DIII) colleges will attend and follow, I should inform you that the World Showcase is geared towards something else. In your situation, as you've described it, it is possible that the Junior College camp could be the most beneficial.
No matter what, I hope things work out well for your son.
Thank you PGStaff. Don't worry, I'm clear on that the ultimate decision is ours to make.
My gut feeling is pretty much the same, that the camp is the more logical choice, while on the other hand it seems that he is more drawn to the event.
Thanks again for the info.
My gut feeling is pretty much the same, that the camp is the more logical choice, while on the other hand it seems that he is more drawn to the event.
Thanks again for the info.
New2,
I think that as long as it isn't a question of finances that you simply need to ask your son which one he would really prefer to do. Based on the descriptions I think he'd get more out of the JC camp but...if he really isn't that interested in the school he'll probably enjoy the showcase more and perform better there. On the other hand there's a chance he'll be overmatched at that particular showcase so he needs to go into it with his eyes open if he decides on that route.
I think that as long as it isn't a question of finances that you simply need to ask your son which one he would really prefer to do. Based on the descriptions I think he'd get more out of the JC camp but...if he really isn't that interested in the school he'll probably enjoy the showcase more and perform better there. On the other hand there's a chance he'll be overmatched at that particular showcase so he needs to go into it with his eyes open if he decides on that route.