Recruiting Juco Sophomores ??

The correct answer to your question is ..... it depends.

I know how it is done at the Tennessee and Georgia jucos. In the fall there are tons of college coaches around watching the games.

In Tennessee the jucos hold two tournaments at which all teams from their conference play two games. This gives the college and pro guys one central location to go and watch players, on two different dates.

Of course most schools have a scout day as well.

I have found that the juco signings are about 50/50. Somewhere around 1/2 the players that move on sign early and others sign in the late period.

Many 4 year schools will wait until the spring season to evaluate their own teams. To see if they have a "hole" that needs the quick fix of an experienced juco player. Other schools, especially some DII's and NAIA programs make a living recruiting juco players.

Most juco coaches become very good at finding places for their players, at 4 year schools. It is a lifeblood for a juco program. Almost without fail a juco coach is asked "how many of your players move on to 4 year schools?"

It is fine to write letters to a 4 year school, just like the high school process. Make sure that contact info for the juco coach is included.

As for showcases ... the Tennessee jucos also hold a sophomore showcase each year after the fall games are complete.

Hope this helps some.

We are going through this process at this time. We both did a lot of homework on prospective schools. We sent letters, emails and had the JUCO coach call on coaches. This process started the fall before. Everything posted thus far is correct and what we are seeing.

In watching last years sophomores and going through it this year, many players sign in the late period to fill holes. We have quit a few avenues and are making visits at this time. Some visits are paid official visits, some are not.

My gut feeling is that we are way late in the process. I think this is the feeling because we want to get this over with. We are trying to enjoy the ride though. My son is getting much more recognition and being recruited by more/better schools than he did out of high school. He's a proven, 2-year performer at the college level. He got result for his team.

I hope this helps. PM me if you have further questions and I can get more detailed.

While we're not quite in the same boat you folks are, being as he just signed with a four-year school after one year at a JUCO, these are things we were told along the way:

1 - Be very active. One coach, and not the school he signed with, said, "You have to kind of recruit the school." That certainly was the case. Some school responded to my son's calls and e-mails, some didn't. Don't wait for the JUCO coach to ask. Start the process and let the JUCO coach help seal the deal.

2 - Be patient. My son wasn't, mostly because he got a very generous offer and things seemed to fall into place. But we were being told to send a summer schedule and things would proceed from there.

3 - Be realistic. His JUCO coach told us, "unless you put up significant numbers here, you're going to have about the same options you had coming out of high school." Since Fieldbuilder's son did just that, he's a good authority there. But the coach where my son signed said having gone through a college season, in the classroom and on the field, was a factor in their wanting him.

4 - Be aware. While the new 40-60-80 rule isn't supposed to apply to those having just completed their sophomore seasons, schools are trying to work their way through this. Those with an associate degree should be OK, but do your homework online so you'll be able to ask good questions and provide good answers.

Good luck

You have been given some great info above. I would like to add one thing:

The fact a coach DOES NOT contact you DOES NOT mean he is NOT interested in you (at leaste not always).

From our experience there are coaches who might be very interested in you that NEVER send you any letters, e-mails, phone calls etc. However, once you establish contact and if you are seriously interested in playing for THEM you may just land quickly on the top of their list.

Do NOT be afraid to let them know you are interested in THEM. It never hurts to send a schedule.

Good luck. PM me if you have further questions.