Pratt CC in Kansas

THE COACHES ARE FROM ARKANSAS AND THE MORE OUT OF STATE PLAYERS THE GET THE MORE MONEY THE SCHOOL GETS.FIRST SEMESTER THEY BRING IN 70-80 PLAYERS TO FILL THE DORMS UP.

Thanks for the info. Sounds strange to me, but then we have our own problems here is Mississippi.

Don't close the door so quick on Pratt CC or any other juco so quick. Last fall I was in attendance for several fall scrimmages at Allie P Reynolds Stadium on the Oklahoma State U campus that involved several Oklahoma and Kansas juco's. I came away very impressed with Pratt, especially their coaching staff. This particular scrimmage was against Cowley County of Kansas. Cowley has become a pretty good club over recent years but their coaching staff was reminded that they had better take care of business. Pratt was not as accomplished as Cowley. Pratt's coaches were continually working on the small details with their players and teaching the kids to play the game the way it should be played. Cowley's head coach seemed to be more interested in talking with a coach from ORU that was also in attendance that night. The difference between Pratt and Cowley was Pratt's coaches being positive or using the Sandwich method to talk with their kids about mistakes where Cowley had their kids almost afraid to make a mistake because that player would be removed from the playing field for an error.
I am familiar with Terry Ballards approach at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. It is not just about filling rooms in the dorms. Coach Ballard is a very reputable coach and an even better individual. He took a player on my suggestion a few years ago that had some potential but not a lot of skill and gave him a chance. Coach Ballard saw something in the young man, not so much as a player but as a stabilizing force for his ballclub in the dorms and on the practice field. The young man kept several players out of trouble by convincing them not to break team rules and go visit a nearby drinking establishment. Coach Ballard has his set of rules and will not deviate from them. Last year I knew he had to release 17 players because of team rule violations .So the numbers can also become also become survival just to field a squad. Just a little something more to think about.

My oldest son played at Pratt and another played at Seward in Kansas. The Pratt program is first class and the coaches are outstanding individuals. A player couldn't go wrong playing there.

As far as the number of out of state kids, most Kansas JUCOs are that way. The level of play in Kansas especially the western part is not top level at the high school level. If a program wants to be competitive they must go out of state. Most rosters are full of out of staters.

The number of players has nothing to do with being dorm fillers. Most JUCO programs do the same.