According to the NCAA any student who enters the ninth grade and participates in a sport becomes a prospect for future college consideration to become a student athlete in college. NCAA has put into place rules on prospects when the prospect can receive mail and be actively recruited and sign a NLI. Each NCAA recognized sport has different guidelines and time tables.
Since this site is dedicated to baseball, this is for baseball prospects.
This term, unless an adjective has been placed in front of it (draft, top, D1, JUCO etc.), refers to every player on your sons team.
Now some prospects are more talented and skilled then others and perform better than others on the team, some prospects perform better in the classroom. Some can perform better than others in both.
All HS prospects have coaches, but all coaches are different, some good , some bad. Most coaches if they want to keep their job and are smart,will always play the best 9 prospects, but some of the prospects and their parents feel that they don't because that particular prospect is not playing everyday. They acuse the coach of playing favorites, playing those players of booster club members who work the concession stand and clean the fields. Their prospect is not playing and they are upset, he played every game in 8th grade!
Many of these prospects parents usually volunteer to help because they enjoy helping out their propects team, others do it for favors (playing time). Now some coaches bend to parent pressure and others stand firm hoping that their prospects will work hard in the off season to improve the following year to be able to EARN playing time because they actually have out performed most of the prospects on their team. Surprisingly enough, sometimes the top prospect doesn't get to play eveyday. Sometimes it's because of position, but sometimes he feels because he is so gifted, he doesn't have to do that extra stuff, he will make the team no matter what. Some coaches don't buy into that, some do. Each coach has a different style or philosophy.
Sometimes for some prospects, the HS baseball experience is not enough, so many prospects seek other ways to improve themselves by attending showcases and playing during summer and fall to improve upon their skills. Sometimes the prospect finds himself "bored" with the lower level of HS ball he is used to playing with on his summer travel team. Other prospects just realize that HS baseball is a chance to improve their game and just want to have fun. Some prospects parents feel that the HS experience is the key to their sons future success, usually it is not. They get all bent out of shape if their prospect has no interest from colleges down the road, they blame it on the coaches for not giving more playing to their prospects or making contacts for their prospects.
Sometimes the prospect has to put in some time on the bench when he feels he should be playing. His folks feel the same way to. This results in family discussions about how the coach is a jerk and the prospect begins to beleive so, getting an attitude, talks among other prospects and this disrupts team chemistry. Some of the prospects parents are SO mad, they get the AD involved, call for coaches resignation. It's just not fair how can they not play their son, after all he MADE the team (along with 25 others).
All prospects are not created equal. In 9th grade some are bigger and better than others and have facial hair, some still have baby faces. For the last prospect, it's sometimes very difficult, he is young and immature physically however his type usually works harder to make a difference so the coach will notice, he and his parents usually never say a word because sometimes they are just not good enough for that moment and they know it.
When a prospect enters his junior year, some begin to get all types of stuff from every school in the country. Some prospects parents are elated (the prospect usually couldn't care less). They fill out evey questionaire and shlep their prospect to every school that enjoys better weather. Most visits are to the very biggest and best programs, they have their prospects attend every camp session for 3-4 years hoping that the coach will notice that he REALLY likes the school.
By junior year, many of these prospects now become TOP prospects and are being watched closely by many many coaches. Other prospects, even after entering their senior summer have received very little interest. Their parents are the ones who sit quietly at games and listen to the parents of the TOP prospects tell about how their prospects got 100% offers from every school but for some reason only said yes to the one who gave 20%.
By senior fall, if a prospect has not been signed by a school (usually not his first choice) many parents begin to panic. Meanwhile some TOP prospects that have signed, have now become TOP draft prospects and entertaining in their home scouts and scouting directors and are totally convinced it's gonna be first, second maybe third round come June. Some prospects parents become obsessed with this new process and spend most of their prospects HS season under duress.
Late fall senior year, those physically immature ninth graders are now blossoming into tall, handsome young men. Their power increases at their at bats, their velocity has improved. Many are beginning to get lots of attention and some even end up signing in better schools for better $$ than many TOP prospects.
June draft comes and goes, some HS prospects end up signing to play pro ball, most head off to college. Many are prospects of the parents who were stressed out all season, but their parents now realize that their son is worth much more as a prospect than the team drafting him wants to pay, so off to college. Some don't care, if their prospect wants to forgo college that's ok, after all, its been everyone in the family's dream for that prospect to be a professional ball player.
The once upon a time TOP HS prospect enters the college baseball scene. He is shocked to find that he is physically out of shape (he was the best in shape in HS) and struggles in fall practice. Most of those new once upon a time HS prospects usually won't play often, might even have to take a year off, some do play and have very successful first years, most will not. Most former HS prospects learn that they have a lot to learn.
Sometime for some, in the former HS prospects freshman year, he or his parents think that he made a mistake. Usually, it's because he isn't playing. He might have made a decision too early, or there are too many on the squad (he never realized it) or too many at the position he wants to play or the coach has placed him at another position. He is not used to sitting, but for some reason when he does get a chance, he's just not as good as the other former prospects who are older(many of who have by know turned into prospects again for the draft). Some will stick with their decision, some will transfer to other places. For some prospects it is understandable, they most likely will get a better opportunity and be happier, but for some, they are just not happy at their new program either. Some have to leave because they have no choice, they forgot that going to college meant you actually needed to go to school, they fail their requirements.
As the former HS prospect spends a few years in college baseball, his junior year approaches and he becomes a draft prospect either for the first time or again. Most have grown and matured immensly, most understand the game better most have focused on their position and now think they are ready to begin his professional career. This doesn't happen for everyone, some former HS prospects have not become draft prospects but that's ok, they will remain to finsih out their college baseball career and graduate and go on to other things they wish to pursue.
Come June of their junior year (for some sophmore year) the former HS prospect now college draft prospect's name gets called in a certain round that will most likely dictate how much extra money he will get if he signs. Most are thrilled, some not happy with the $$$, many of those college draft prospects will leave the comfortable surroundings of the last 3 -4 years and venture out to follow the dream.
After the excitement is over ,the former college draft prospect now turned professional is ready to continue his dream. Gone are the memories of the days he sat while others played, it doesn't matter anymore, he's now a professional, they pack his bags he goes off to wherever he is assigned. The former HS prospect ,former college draft prospect is now a new prospect in the organization that has chosen him.
The new organizational prospect shows up in rookie camp or short season and takes one look at the players he has to compete with and realizes that the whole prospect process is about to begin all over again.
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