Recruiting ??'s Specific to JC Transfers

Based on what I know, yes, out-of-state tuition rates will apply for an out-of-state recruited player.  The JuCo my son attended didn't have "scholarships" but did offer "sponsorships" to help offset the higher tuition out-of-state students are charged.  We were in-state, but I know of one out-of-state player attending the school now that received a sponsorship.

This was a school located in Region X on the east coast.  I can't advise on west coast exposure.

Tuition rates depend on whether the school is private or public. Rates at my son's school are the same for in/out but it is private. Until recently there were not a lot of transfers but I am seeing a few more now. It used to be that transfers had a hard time getting credit for transfers due to the academic requirements. My son is living with a JC transfer this year so when I get up to see him I will ask him how it worked out. My son also had a number of friends play at a local JC and who have moved on to 4 year schools, and I think most where found because of the coaches contacts, but I am not sure. I know one went to a major SEC program just because of his Cal JC stats, believe it or not he was recruited sight unseen, just on stats and a call to the head coach. 

A number of them played in Cal Collegiate league while at the JC, and got additional exposure because of summer ball.

cabbagedad, if you search a few university websites and look for a listing of academic scholarships that are available in the Admissions or Financial Aid section, I believe that you'll find many more for HS enrollees than for transfer students (regardless of whether 2-4 or 4-4).  I'm not saying there aren't academic dollars available for transfers, but many scholarships are aimed at the HS kids.

CA JCs provide a lot of other exposure: fall games,  preseasnon tournaments, summer league, practice and coach referrals.  

At my son's JC in SoCal there were always a few pro scouts at weekday games, these pro scouts had college contacts/buddies they always referred players to.  Additionally, the opposition coaches would also refer players to their contacts.buddies.  If a kid can play, he'll be spotted in a good CA JC league.  Every starter on my son's below 500 JC team played at the next level.    The JC schedule at my son's school was purposely set to have weekday games that did not coincide with D1/D2 schedules, so in season D1/D2 coaches could usually attend games if they were interested as did the scouts that also covered D1/D2 schools.  Additionally the JC leagues started before D1 official practices began, allowing D1 coaches to see a lot of games/preseason tournaments.  Coaches from out of town D1s would come to SoCal a day earlier then their team to scout JC players.  My son saw a lot of D1 coaches at his practices. There is no shortage of people looking.

As an aside my son's D1 team never saw him play due to circumstances beyond everyone's control.  He was offered based upon the D1 coaches pro scout friends recommendation.

Thanks guys... all great info.  CPM, just out of curiousity, do you mind saying which JC your son attended?

Moorepark, they no longer  have a baseball program. 

Actually CPNM they reinstated it a couple of year's ago after cancelling the program. 

OK, a new set of questions based on current circumstances...

So far, sophomore son is playing regularly and having a fairly solid JC season in competitive SoCal league, which has reached the half-way point.  He is, I think, the prototypical "scrapper" - small OF, proven he can hit good college pitching, good average, very high OBP, solid defender, smart base runner, etc., but no 5-star measurable tools.  Based on what we see happen with other JC kids, I suspect he is a likely candidate for one of the out-of-state D2 or NAIA schools that look at Calif JC kids.  He is totally on board with that (although, would also love opportunity to stay in Calif.) and doesn't have a major that limits his school choices.  He wants an opportunity to keep playing competitive college ball.  He is certainly a 4-yr school candidate but not a top prospect getting lots of attention.  

About a month or so ago, coaching staff asked all team soph's for 4-yr target school list and basically told the players to leave contacting schools up to the coaches and focus on the season at hand.  When son recently inquired for an update, he was told it was too early.  I understand the JC coach perspective is to keep them focused on the team.  But do they wait until after the college season is over?  Son has always been supportive and respectful of coaches and he doesn't want to upset the apple crate but he is getting nervous that he will be left out.  With the seemingly very narrow window of time, I'm not sure how to advise him.

Any advice, shared experiences welcome.

Cabbagedad - my son garnered a lot of interest from several D3's and a few D2's in the last month or so of his sophomore year while at a D2 JC.  It helped he was ranked 2nd nationally in number of doubles hit.  The coach did not actively try to place the players, but would put the coaches in contact with the players they expressed interest in.

My son was contacted by yet another D2 the day after we moved him home.  About a week later we visited the campus and he interviewed with the coach.  Within a week they made an offer which my son accepted.

Do the Coaches at his school have a good history of placing players?

A couple of points:

It is early for JC recruiting.

Did your son give your coach a list of schools and how big was the list.

What has the success been with the program in placing kids.?

Did the list include schools that your son was had been in touch with prior to going to a JC. I would think that a follow up from your son to those programs would be appropriate and not need the coach to be in the middle of the process.

I get nervous in leaving myself in the hands of others unless there is a lot of trust there. What is the relationship between your son and the coach?

Have your son have an honest conversation with the coach. Where do you see me fitting? What other kids with my skills have you placed and where? Where do you see me fitting?

Answering some of these questions will help fill in the blanks.

Thanks guys.  Son did give a list to coach at the meeting a month or so ago and I think the first list was maybe top 5-6?  They did have a discussion and were in agreement that he was targeting the right level (D2 and down).  At that time, coach left the door open to add schools at any time.  The program and coach have had good success at players moving on.  On average, about 7-8 players go on to sign at 4 yr schools per year.  Last year, it was ten.  I don't know how much was coach efforts vs player efforts but I suspect largely coach efforts.  Son has had a good relationship with coaching staff personally but there has been a bit of general team turmoil recently that has everyone a bit on eggshells. So, he doesn't feel comfortable going back and asking again after he was just told it was too early.  Engaging in detailed conversations with coaches is still not an area of strength for him.  It is just hard to think of this being early for the recruiting process but it sure helps to hear that.

I think another concern he has is that a few who signed very late last year ended up at a school in the middle of nowhere that they didn't know much about and they are playing but don't seem to be very happy with the school environments.

Thanks again and keep it coming.  

Cabage, my son's friend who played at a Cal JC and is at a 4 year school this year is playing at an NAIA in Iowa. He ended up getting a better deal there than at my son's D3 program (my son tried to recruit him) and I think it is fairly typical for mid range JC players to end up in smaller D2/NAIA Mid West programs. My son worked out with him over the Christmas break and he said that he was a "big fish in a small pond" but he was getting a good education and playing baseball. (and getting used to playing in the cold ) 

Thanks BOF.  Cabbage is open to that type of scenario - in fact, sort of expects that to be the likely type of destination.  Any detail you can provide for comparison would be appreciated - pm if you'd prefer.  Hoping for maybe info such as what type of offer, what type of program, how you would characterize player, how contact occurred and when, etc.

Cabbage - one additional comment.  If a player had a D1 interest, it was usually during their freshman year and they would commit early - often before their sophomore season even began.  But often this was a student whose grades were on the bubble and they were sent to the JuCo for one year to bring them up.

Otherwise the interest was from D2/D3/NAIA.

I don't know that I would completely trust the coach to place him.  Seems you'd be leaving it all up to him.

thanks again guys...

a bump for any more help from the weekday crowd...

Once the 4 year schools start playing they don't pay as much attention to the JCs for a couple of months for several reasons:

1.  It allows them to identify unexpected problems on their current roster

2.  They have a better idea of who will be drafted

3.  Have more time because their team is out of the playoff running

4.  Have finished up their rainouts etc. and have some time to watch games or practices

5.  Given the JC players a chance to play and see how they are doing via feedback from other coaches/scouts etc.

6.  D2 coaches won't waste their time  scouting guys who might sign D1 and don't know until later in the spring.

7.  If I recall correctly late/mid April and May saw a lot of scouting action in SoCal JC leagues.

Great info, thanks CP!

if I might add,  today I went to watch the JC my 2015 committed to play at next year as they made a 3 hour trip up here to play a local KC JC in a DHeader.  Coach had told us to come out so a few of us future parents took advantage of a rare 75 degree day in March.  To my surprise there were no less than a dozen scouts/recruiters there.  Most to watch a 6'5 RHP.  Familiar with a couple of these guys one of them we had spoke with over this past fall came over to say hello.  There was 1 SEC, 2 Big12, 1 MoValley & 3 Pro scouts and several others I would assume looking at other kids.  Both JC's have good talent FWIW.  My point is if there is talent they will come and find it.  These D1 programs may have had off days and they made the drive.  When the big RHP finished up game 1, several stayed on to watch game 2.  It's not uncommon for a higher level recruiter to throw some bones out to a D2 guy as well,  kid they once had a liking too in HS perhaps didn't grow as projected or simply didn't feel the need anymore. As stated above, feedback from others is often received, doesn't mean it's correct but it's a source.  

The other thing I found with the pro scouts at the JC level they show up in numbers on JC game days that don't conflict with D1 game days (i.e. Thursday or Weds in CA).