Recently, I had a parent ask for an evaluation. In the past, I have given my personal opinion, some times with great success, but I also have missed the mark.
So I say all that to say this, my answer is to encourage the player to do a a self-evaluation.
Here is some criteria:
Honesty
This is very difficult. It involves taking a critical look at your physical size, strength, skillset(s), coachability and projectability! In addition, depending on your school of choice, academic standing and core course completion is an important consideration. But, for argument sake, we'll assume the player is academically eligible and can be certified thru the Eligibility Center.
The absolute key to this assessment is honesty. If you are unsure of your value, ask your coaches and your peers. Parents can help with other parts of the recruiting process, but this exercise is best completed without their assistance.
Where Do I Fit On My High School Team?
The exercise begins with your high school team. Whatever position you play, where you fit on your team is a valuable indicator of where you might fit in another program. This assessment includes defensive ability, offensive ability, your mental approach and other baseball related intangibles. Basically, you must determine where you rank among your peers, as an eligible recruit:
Are you the best player on your team, regardless of classification or position?
Are you the #1 starter at your position? Do multiple players play your position?
Are you a situational starter, do you start when another player sits or pitches?
If you are not the #1 starter, where do you rank among other teammates that share playing time at your position?
Where Do I Fit In My District, Area, and Region?
Once you determine where you fit on your team, expand that comparison to the other teams in your district. Once you have compared the other district teams, do the same process for your area and regional teams. Do this for both defensive categories (fielding percentage) and offensive categories (hitting percentages) specifically comparing your values to other players that compete at your same position. Don’t forget to evaluate your mental toughness. Are you a leader, do your teammates look to you in critical situations, on the FIELD?
Compare Values And Intangibles
Once completed, compare values and other intangibles, i.e. pre-season rankings and teams, post season awards, district/region/state recognition(s). Are other players on your team, in your district/area/region garnering awards? Also, where were your teammates, district/region/state peers recruited? All of this information can help you determine if you are a good fit for a paticular college program and what the coaches are looking for. You should also compare your values with rostered players on your school(s) of choice.
Rankings And Other Resources
Lastly, utilize outside sources of information for evaluation. Individualized player rankings and written evaluations from college camps, travel team events, and hi-profile showcases are invaluable when making these assessments. Also, attending a Perfect Game event is a good source of information, including a detailed evaluation and player state/national rankings.
GED10DaD
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