Sick of Showcase!

Here's a few Louisiana players who have attended PG Showcases, just in the past two years. You should notice some Bill Hood players among these names.

Xavier Paul, Jordan Mayer, Brandon Belcher, Wade Lablanc, Justin Breshear, Cain Byrd, Josh Rainwater, Blake Johnson, Michael Hollander, David Steele, PJ Treadway, Casey Kebodeaux, and many others. I'm sure they all made their high school team. I believe they are all DI or pro players.

We tend to get our names from the Louisiana All Stars and Bill Hood, more than American Legion or any other organization. We also talk to LSU, Tulane, and others who might know who the top players are in Louisiana. We also know most of the MLB Scouts that have Louisiana in their territory.

I can't speak for all showcases because I don't know how they all operate. If your brothers kid is getting a lot of invites, I would guess he's pretty good. I don't think anyone will force him to attend their showcase.

I hear a lot, I believe from pichers and infielders at these showcases, but what about outfielders? My son bats #3 on most teams he's been on and does well but is not a home run hitter. Will he benefit at one of these showcases?

Showcases work on different angles, too. My brother played in College Select, Top96, and Perfect Game showcases. He was a borderline Div. I, high level Div II/III pitcher. He was hoping that an Ivy would take him. He had ok grades and ok SAT scores, no way near top school levels. He definitely needed baseball to get in. None of the Ivies made too much of an attempt in recruiting him, but several Div I's did. He ended up with offers from several Northeast schools, but he ended up applying early and getting in to Tufts.
He would have never been accepted to Tufts without baseball and he would have never been found by the coaches at Tufts without these showcases. More importantly, he would have never had much info on Tufts without people like Bob Rizzi from College Select and Rick Peterson from Top96. The big time players definitely benefit from the showcases. However, a good showcase can help many different types of players.

JohnnieM,

Top Gun is probably not the showcase for a player from Florida. The coverage is primarily left coast.

My son attended three showcases, and the D-2 that signed him saw him at the Blue-Grey at William and Mary. He did get contacted by schools that saw him at Perfect Game and by schools that saw him at the Best in Virginia Camp. PG was the first and was invaluable in opening his eyes (and mine) as to where he stood talent-wise; it was a good experience, as a kid needs to get away from home and see high level players to get a feel of where he stands. Showcases are expensive, but what we spent on them is roughly equal to half of one semester's tuition at his school, and he'll be there, with a nice scholarship for 4 more years (currently red-shirting). And yes, we know they're all one year renewable but the school's track record is it always renews. A great experience for my son-good exposure, met lots of ballplayers, talked a heck of a lot of baseball with them, and I got to spend 3 weekends with my son, give or take a day or two, where our focus was nothing but baseball, a bargain anytime.

I may be naive but are these showcases by invitation or if you sho up with the money they are happy to see you?

Will

At least for us it is impossible for a kid to just "show up"--- profiles and rosters are on line prior to showcase date for college caoches and scouts--- programs are already printed-- a nomination/acceptance/invitation process has already taken place--

Hope this helps you

Tom Rizzi
www.collegeselect.org

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