Top Juco's

Most of the Jucos in the Midwest are very competitve to say the least. I would go to the Juco website and look up the Iowa schools, visit the web sites and read up on the programs.
My son is attending a Juco in IA because it was a good fit for him. He is now looking onward to the next two years with some D1 schools knocking after he is done. I think is is a great way to go.

There are 2 that pop out in Oklahoma(depends on how far from home you want to go)

1.Connors State and 2.Seminole JC
Combined,they have produced guys like Eric Gagne,Julio Lugo,Ryan Franklin,Etc

Connor State is an excellent program and Indian Hills in Iowa is as well.

In terms of beating good opponents, I'd rate Kaskaskia College in Centralia Illinois among the very best JUCOs.

Elgin Community College in Elgin, IL is a top notch program. They have gone to the NJCAA Division II World Series the past 3 years finishing 5th in 2004, 3rd in 2005, and 5th in 2006. Coach Angelo and his staff have done a tremendous job over the years and they pride themselves on getting their players on to the next level, whether it is getting them on to the professional level or to a four year school. They have one of the best facilities in the state (Brand new in 2005)and a place that I would highly recommend.

John A. Logan College in Carterville IL came within one out of the World Series last year and have been there in the past. They have great facilities and it is a very good school. Kaskaskia is also very nice. Coach Tuttle has built a high quality program there. Both schools are Division I juco's.

Any info on Iowa Western CC in Council Bluffs? My son got an offer, and I've heard it's a decent-very good program.

My son visited Iowa Western last year and was impressed with the coaches and the school.He said that the dorm was nice and that the campus was well kept and clean.

He was offered some scholarship money but he didn't feel that he fit in. Everything we read and heard about Iowa Western was positive. I hope this helps and good luck.

South Suburban College Bulldogs. A NJCAA Region IV Division 1 Junior College. This year they advanced to the NJCAA DI JUCO WS in Grand Junction, CO. To get there they beat Iowa Western, and John Logan twice in the Midwest District Tournament. Their 2007 recruiting class is probably one of their best. The good, just got really, really, really better.

Athletic Director & Head Baseball Coach, Steve Ruzich
South Suburban College Bulldogs Baseball

Thanks Sunbkd - good info.

In Missouri there are several decent JUCO for baseball from the reports I have heard: Meramac (St. Louis), JeffCo (St. Louis) and Three Rivers (Popular Bluff) and Crowder(Neosho). I can not vouch for any of them but these are the schools that I have heard recommended for baseball.

Being from Iowa I can tell you that Indian Hills and Iowa Western are probably the cream of the crop in Iowa if you are a player looking to play DI or Pro baseball. They are both NCJAA Div 1 programs.

If you are a player looking to play for a quality program, but might not have the DI or Pro caliber talent, then Iowa Central, Kirkwood, North Iowa Area Community College, and Iowa Lakes are some pretty solid NJCAA Div II programs to take a look at. These programs usually send quite a few players to four-year schools.

All of these programs have quality coaches. It is just a matter of what fits a players needs both athletically and academically.

Albert Pujols' former school - Maple Woods CC in Kansas City. A Div. I NJCAA school.

Vincennes University in southren Indiana new coach, good facilities and good academics.

All - looks like the Midwest is chalf full of good JUCO programs - thanks for all the great info, and Merry Christmas.

I dont think you can leave out Kirkwood Community College in Iowa. To do so would be a crime.

Longview CC from the Kansas City area was this year's national D2 juco champ

Maple Woods JUCO Kansas City. Marty Kilgore is the man.

Anyone know anything about Cowley County CC , down on the border by Oklahoma ?

Very good BB but I don't know anything ab out the school or area. Not much around there though. Usually go far in playoffs.

my son had offers from Seminole and Jeffco
he went with Jeffco both are good programs
coach Carel at Jeffco is doing a great job
Seminole was a lot closer,but the fit was at
jeffco.

I go to iowa western right now. We went to the world series last year and it was amazing. I ended up signing with a great program which is creighton and its a great experience. i wouldnt change it.

The new kid on the block is Heartland Comunity College in Normal, Illinois. A NJCAA Div 2 program that plays its first officil game on March 1st. Look for coach Nate Metzger to have this program competing with the best almost immediately. They will begin construction on their new on campus field this spring. There is a possibility, if investors come thru, that a private stadium will be built around the new field for use by a new, independent, minor league team. The Normal town council has hired a consultant recently and plans to have a decision by April 1st on minor league possibilities. In any event, Coach Metzger has a top-notch program and has always been a first class guy.

Are you saying that Heartland would be playing at the MiLB stadium?

I hadn't heard about this MiLB stadium thing. That would be absolutely amazing.

The plans Coach Metzger showed me for the field looked nice already.

Yes, the town, which says no public money will be involved, has said the consultant will determine by April 1st if the private investors are really ready to go ahead with minor league ball in Normal. My info is mainly from the local press, and they are saying that Heartland needs to know by April 1st so they can either go ahead with their original plan or if the stadium will be built.

Previous reports have said if the minor league stadium is built, the field would be artificial turf, grass if no stadium.

My personal assumption is that we are not talking about a stadium that could hold 6000 or 7000 people. I think something that would hold 2000 to 3000 comfortably would be all that this area could support realistically. I can't imagine even 10 million being spent to build the stadium. We'll see I guess. But would be pretty **** nice for a JC.