Summer Teams?

If you are able to join a reputable team, that plays top level competition and has a tenured coach (with the proper connections) you will benefit, albeit at a cost.  Welcome to this wonderful board, listen to the old timers & enjoy the journey!

I figured you might be from NE since you referred to AAU. It's not a matter of being on an AAU team. Regardless of the team's affiliation or lack of affiliation what matters is they get you in the right showcase tournaments in front of the right colleges coaches for your level of college potential. Unless you're a potential major conference D1 stud the summer after your junior year is the most important time for exposure. You can also choose the route of attending individual showcases and not having to pay to play for a showcase team. 

 

The first step is a proper assessment of your college potential. From there you match it up with potential conferences you could play college ball. Then you pick the colleges in those conferences that are academic, social and cultural fits. From there you figure out how and where to get in front of those college coaches.

 

Don't be afraid to start with a list of fifty or more colleges. Some won't be interested in you. Some you will eventually discover you're not interested in them.

Thanks RJM and CatsPop for the answers. In regards to RJM, when you talk about getting evaluated to see which level I am a best fit for how do I come about doing that? I feel my time and resources would be better spent focusing on schools I have a shot of getting into!

I have a 2017 who is in the same process as you. He made the switch to an academy team last fall at the start of his u15 season - from a baseball perspective it was the best thing he ever could have done. there is an old saying of a high tide lifts all ships and that is what i have seen. the internal competition at practice, in the cage and on the field has been the biggest single lift to his game...and he found out that he had more game then he was aware of. others on that were on the team have benefited from his joining and helping raise the bar! Competition internally on the team is huge!

in the last year he has been

 

exposed to top level pitching game in and game out (if you are on a known squad most teams throw the best have at you as often as possible)

he has been to a couple of showcases in his local area

he has been invited to fill in for the u18 team several times this fall, what an eyeopener that is!!

he has been introduced to several college coaches who know his program and the staff there.

He will be making the perfect game loop this summer and fall in '15

 

it takes time, it costs money, you may have to humble yourself and work harder then you thought but if you REALLY want to be a player yes it will do wonders for you.

 

PM if you want to talk off line.

Thanks old school for the reply. I did not quite think about the in practice part lifting my game to higher levels but that makes a lot of sense. If it provides more exposure I think it just may be worth it! Thank you very much for your input!

Oldschool gave you some great advice.

 

Good teams attract good players, who attract good colleges. It is pretty simple actually, you just have to do your homework. Affiliation is not all that important as RJM pointed out they just need to be going to the right events. College coaches will also be calling the team coach for referrals for specific needs. I am not sure about the East but at least out West there are lots of options, some very reasonable cost wise. 

 

Good Luck.

My limited observation of CT (live in MA now and kids are beyond recruiting process) is in the New England area there's a transition taking place from Legion to travel in terms of getting to college ball. The D1 prospects are all playing travel/showcase ball. The situation is in the middle of transitioning with D2 and D3 prospects. Many of them still play Legion.