It means PG knows who you are. You are in the PG database. It does not mean the player is automatically a top prospect. It does mean that the possibility exists because your name appears on the PG follow list in the database. The request an invite is for people we are not familiar with.
The follow list contains players who have been to past PG events or tournaments. It contains players that PG scouts have seen at various other events. It contains players turned in by reliable sources. But anyone can get in the database by sending us information about themselves. That allows us to check out that player. With lots of people in pretty much every area of the country, it’s not very difficult to get opinions.
If a player doesn’t receive an invite, it doesn’t mean he is or he isn’t a prospect. It just means he is not yet in the PG follow database. It won’t hurt him a bit, but it won’t help him either. Every year there are some players who end up at DI’s or even a couple who are drafted that we never heard of.
So is it a mass mailing. Yes, to an extent, but it is mass mailed to those on the PG list. Can a player ask for an invitation? Yes, but we will do some research. Sometimes this can take longer than other times. Sometimes one phone call is all we need. Sometimes, we suggest a different event.
Some are very “open” and we take it for granted that only serious players would want to attend. A bad player is a bad player both before and after he is seen by PG. Best to be a good player before showing up. Most players we see are next level college players. We see very few that lack that ability.
The strict invite only events are different. Depending on the event, we might invite only a very few players we know are extremely talented. The best example would be the PG National where only the very top draft prospects and highest level DI prospects we know of receive an invitation.
The best way to check out the system is to ask around to other players on your team. Ask if they have received an invite. If they have, then you are playing on a very talented team. There are some teams like that, but not many.
Going to showcases is not always the answer. Going to the right showcase and showing your ability is what counts. I’m very proud of what Perfect Game does, but I’m not proud of being part of the showcase industry. There are still some good people involved, but there are some problem areas.
