How much does it matter to college and pro scouts if your travel team wins aslong as you play against the best competition . Do scouts tend to go to the best teams games? If you good enough does it really matter?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Welcome to HSBBW!
If you are talking about pre-HS teams, scouts don't care or come to those games, so don't worry about it.
I would say that once you get to HS, it is better to get on an established HS level team where the coaches have a long relationship with college coaches so there is some credibility of the talent on the team, and in these cases it makes a difference. Scouts don't care about records, however in some of the big national tournaments the better teams are playing late in the tournamnet and they will get better visibililty.
If you are talking about pre-HS teams, scouts don't care or come to those games, so don't worry about it.
I would say that once you get to HS, it is better to get on an established HS level team where the coaches have a long relationship with college coaches so there is some credibility of the talent on the team, and in these cases it makes a difference. Scouts don't care about records, however in some of the big national tournaments the better teams are playing late in the tournamnet and they will get better visibililty.
Recruiters go to where they think the recruits are. Team records don't matter since the recruiter has no idea of the quality of play of teams the wins are against. But if there is a known stud on the team there is a good chance they will look at others playing around him if you do some advance work and ask them to take a look at your guy.
If the stud isn't on your team, play games against teams with said stud, for the same reason. If they are there then you can ask them to check your guy as well, but in advance, don't bother them at the field.
Pitching arms and consistently strong at-bats, in a large athletic body, will gather the most interest in those not already on the radar. Others will have to work to get there.
And I'm seeing this in the pre-high school forum just now: for that age group just let them play. No recruiter is going to waste their time on that age bracket yet.
If the stud isn't on your team, play games against teams with said stud, for the same reason. If they are there then you can ask them to check your guy as well, but in advance, don't bother them at the field.
Pitching arms and consistently strong at-bats, in a large athletic body, will gather the most interest in those not already on the radar. Others will have to work to get there.
And I'm seeing this in the pre-high school forum just now: for that age group just let them play. No recruiter is going to waste their time on that age bracket yet.
College coaches aren't looking at travel teams below 17/18U. Before then be on a team that provides the best instruction. At 17/18U you want to be on a team with talent. Teams with talent draw college coaches.quote:Originally posted by Trevor:
How much does it matter to college and pro scouts if your travel team wins aslong as you play against the best competition . Do scouts tend to go to the best teams games? If you good enough does it really matter?
When I played Legion (long before travel ball) I was fortunate to play with a future 1st round pick. His play got the entire team exposure and more college options.
quote:College coaches aren't looking at travel teams below 17/18U.
This may have been true awhile back. Over 100 college coaches attended this years 16U WWBA Tournament. That includes many major powers. Truth is the 16U is a bigger draw for colleges than the 18U these days.
The top programs who wait until they are 17 to identify talent are often too late.
PG ... Wouldn't the best 16's being playing 17/18U? It's what my son and several of the better players in the area did.
Some of the best play 17U, many others play 16U. Most of the top programs (Canes, Banditos, NorCal, Scorpions, East Cobb, ect. have extremely talented 16U teams. Often that is where we first see a lot of the nations best prospects in their class. That is why the top colleges are following it so closely these days.
16U Championship
16U Championship
Talent is what matters to the scouts. My son was on a team that played 17u/18u this summer with 13 - 16u kids and 2- 17u kids. Had a winning record and such but that didn't matter much. What did matter was one of the 16u kids has committed to play for a top D1 school team in the country. Scouts came to see this kid and thus has helped others get exposure. Playing top teams like Banditos, Dbat, etc that has top talent also got kids exposure. Those 2 17u kids that wouldn't have gotten much of a look on their old team, is now getting some serious looks and attention because of the talent of that one kid. 2 other 16u kids now have D1 offers.