Actually a couple UVA's top recruits and early commits are among the very top guys. One from PA and one from GA. That said I'm sure UVA knows that and is prepared for the possibility of losing one if not both. And they also have a good read on signability for those players.
Yes, but where were they ranked at the time they verballed?
I see you have the PA kid ranked #17 now, and the GA kid ranked # 31 now, but both are highlighted in yellow, indicating they both recently moved up significantly.
I see you have the PA kid ranked #17 now, and the GA kid ranked # 31 now, but both are highlighted in yellow, indicating they both recently moved up significantly.
Yes, They were both very impressive in Jupiter at the PG WWBA Championship.
I actually talked to the Virginia coaches there and it was no surprise to them. We had seen both before, but they (UVA) evaluated those two better than we did at the time. One coach (Kind of kidding,or maybe not) please don't be ranking him too high now. Of course, he knew we were going to do just that.
I actually talked to the Virginia coaches there and it was no surprise to them. We had seen both before, but they (UVA) evaluated those two better than we did at the time. One coach (Kind of kidding,or maybe not) please don't be ranking him too high now. Of course, he knew we were going to do just that.
That's kind of my point.
Had you had them that highly ranked a year ago, I'd bet there would have been that much more care taken with respect to feeling out the kids on their signability.
But the sequence was, they committed first, then you shot them up the rankings later. Same kind of thing that happened in the past with Hissey, Hultzen, etc. They managed to keep Hultzen in the fold, but lost Hissey to a pro signing. The same pattern will likely repeat after this year, too, because I know of one early UVA commit in the 2011 class who is likely to be a pretty hot commodity in the pro draft by June 2011, given his current upward arc.
I know that UVA shied away from certain players in the past due to fear of their being too likely to sign with the pros. I could name names but some of them are actually HSBBW families and even with others who aren't, that info is a bit too personal to post publicly.
Had you had them that highly ranked a year ago, I'd bet there would have been that much more care taken with respect to feeling out the kids on their signability.
But the sequence was, they committed first, then you shot them up the rankings later. Same kind of thing that happened in the past with Hissey, Hultzen, etc. They managed to keep Hultzen in the fold, but lost Hissey to a pro signing. The same pattern will likely repeat after this year, too, because I know of one early UVA commit in the 2011 class who is likely to be a pretty hot commodity in the pro draft by June 2011, given his current upward arc.
I know that UVA shied away from certain players in the past due to fear of their being too likely to sign with the pros. I could name names but some of them are actually HSBBW families and even with others who aren't, that info is a bit too personal to post publicly.
And that is a good point.
17 was 61
31 was 140
The 3rd player stayed about the same in the 80s.
However, it's not just UVA, there are many schools that shy away from the so called cinch first round types. Of course, some colleges go ahead and recruit these top guys knowing they will never play college baseball.
Sometimes, next to those that lack talent, the group that gets the least amount of recruiting action are these sure first round types. Lucky for UCLA and TCU that they went that route.
17 was 61
31 was 140
The 3rd player stayed about the same in the 80s.
However, it's not just UVA, there are many schools that shy away from the so called cinch first round types. Of course, some colleges go ahead and recruit these top guys knowing they will never play college baseball.
Sometimes, next to those that lack talent, the group that gets the least amount of recruiting action are these sure first round types. Lucky for UCLA and TCU that they went that route.