What year would be best to send son to PG showcase

Are you aware that they moved the date up for contacts with D1 colleges to Sep 1 of a HS player's junior year?  In other words, colleges can contact a HS junior on that date.

And understand that colleges cannot directly contact you or your son.  You can contact them directly via phone now.  Also, they can and frequently do get word through high school coaches and travel coaches if they would like for you to call them.  It's entirely up to you to follow through if you want to contact them, but your son can directly speak with colleges now.

 

There are a lot of specific rules about contact, for example, until Sep 1 of Jr year (as NYdad mentioned) they cannot return your calls or texts.  If your son does call any RC's at schools of interest, and they don't pick up, it's best to leave a vm letting them know that you know they can't return call, and leave a date and time that you'll call back.  Ditto with texts.  Once you've established a relationship with an RC or head coach, it's always a good idea to text in advance of calling to let them know you'll be giving a call.

 

As for the timing, I do agree that you're likely best served by waiting until after his Soph. season to do showcases.  Especially if he's playing in PG events this summer.  He can get some name recognition and exposure this summer, then showcase next summer.  If he can get an invite to the Jr. National in Ft. Myers next summer, that's definitely one to make a priority, even if he has to miss some games with his summer team.  It won't be minimized because he's not yet a Jr.  My son (2017) received an offer while at the Jr. National and has gotten three additional offers since.  Prior to the event he had two offers.  One of those was increased after the showcase.  My point is that, if he's a good prospect, showcasing after Soph. year is perfect timing.

 

Good luck.

What year would be best to send son to PG showcase

 

When he is confident he will perform like a player worth recruiting.

My philosophy was kind of like above...when he has something to showcase...other than experience, I didn't see the use in going to a showcase and being among 30 other kids throwing 86-87...we didn't attend our first showcase of ANY kind until the summer after 10th grade...and he was sitting at 89-90...he got attention and didn't just blend in with the crowd. We did not attend out first PG showcase until summer after 11th grade (National Showcase) where he was up to 93.

 

Showcases are expensive, make sure they make good business sense so you get the most bang for your buck

I appreciate the comment "go to a showcase when you have something to showcase", but I'd like to know better exactly what that means.  Starting off with PG, scdigger mentioned not going until his kid was throwing 93.  I presume if everyone waited until the reached 93 then it would be a pretty small crowd (you still gotta have a bunch of kids throwing in the mid-80's so you can stand out at 93).  Sticking with PG, I assumed the depth of scouting was such that a kid throwing 85 might get a look from lower level D1 schools and did not get the impression that PG was limited to just major D1 scouts.  Sort of goes back to figure out where you fit and then try and get in front of the right teams.

 

I will say that I think the summer between 10th and 11th is probably a good time to get on folks radar (pun intended) and any earlier you sort of have to be the freak and be ready to avoid peaking too early.  Summer after 11th seems a little late unless you are getting your exposure elsewhere.  Going to PG for the first time throwing 93 I guess could be used to flush out the highest and best offer but certainly does not sound like the normal solid prospect looking for a home.

Another twist on this question: 2017 attending Stanford Future Stars this week, Phil Singer tournament in late July, Az Fall Classic, and applying for Az fall classic Jr. Academic game.

 

Should he still try to squeeze in PG showcase this year? Or, is his current schedule enough until he can do PG next year?

 

Thanks!