WWBA 16u vs Private Showcase

DLOCK15,

I noticed you have the same question posted in another thread. I'm not sure why.

First, it is really difficult to give you very specific advice with just that level of info. So age and situation are critical to understanding the big picture. Position player or Pitcher? Atheltic goals? Academic goals? Location? Major? How good of a baseball player are you? I know you've posted before. Any updates would be a tremendous help, so we can better help you.

I'm going to assume you are 15/16. WWBA 16U is a fantastic experience. More college coaches per square inch than anywhere I've ever been. It can be even more fantatic if you have previously reached out to coaches, and you know they will be there to see you play. Recruiting is a numbers game, and the more exposure you get the better your chances to find the right program. WWBA will give you "exposure quantity" for sure if you have people that you know are there to see you. It is also a great way to gain new interest from other colleges not currently on your radar. I'm kind of surprised that the Private Showcase college coach will not be in East Cobb, or could he be sending other coaches to WWBA? Also, if your college search is more National or East Coast, then WWBA is the place to be. If your college search is local or specific to one state then maybe you may be better served with the Private Showcase.

Again, it is difficult to guess with such little info. Have you met or discussed anything with the Private Showcase college coach...does he know who you are? What makes them so intriguing/appealing to you? Is this a school you genuinely feel is the perfect atheltic/academic fit? I guess I would consider going to the Private Showcase if (and only if) all of these things are in play....relationship with coach, on their radar, good atheltic and academic fit. In a perfect world, what is the best possible outcome from the Private Showcase? WWBA? These are questions only you can answer, but I strongly suggest you think them through logicially. If you have further info, please share. I'm sure others will chime in.

If you were a rising senior or current senior then I would absolutely suggest going to the Private Showcase.

Please let us know additional info, and good luck!

I am a 2013 Outfielder. My goal is to play baseball at the highest level I possibly can in college. The school that is doing the private showcase is an SEC school so that would satisfy that goal. I am completely indifferent about the location of the school as long as it has a good baseball program and good academics. I am undecided on a major for college as of now. The thing that makes this school so intriguing to me is that it is an SEC school, which is the conference I want to play in. It is also a top 100 school academically so that is good as well.

DLOCK15,

It is a risk vs reward proposition. You are a rising junior headed into probably the most important year of your life so far. The SEC recruits elite athletes & baseball players, and when I write elite...I mean elite. I know a few playing in the SEC right now, and all are extremely talented. It is very hard to get SEC recruited and even harder to find playing time. If you are that kind of athlete, and this is your dream school.....then go for it. The private showcase coaches should already know who you are.

On the flip side, if you are an elite athlete & baseball player (SEC caliber noted above) you will get a lot of attention in front of many hundreds of college coaches and pro scouts at PG WWBA. This has the potential of setting the table for your junior year and getting the recruiting process jump started in a big way. Again, I like the idea of exposure to many is better than exposure to one. More college programs will be under more pressure to recruit you because more programs will want you. I have seen this recruiting dynamic before, and it is very true. The college coaches want to know who is recruiting you, and they try to determine how far down the path you are with other competing programs. It is usually one of the first questions they ask....they want to know who they are competing against for your committment. If no other college is actively recruiting you, the college coacch is under no time pressure to do anything.

I understand you feel like this is a tough decision. It really isn't for me as I look at this objectively based on the facts you've presented. I look at it like a job interveiw. Do you want to interview for 1 job or 100 jobs? Selecting the right baseball program and college is a very important decision, no question. Typically folks get exposure at a number or larger showcase events, and then work their way to the smaller more intimate events or camps....then select a college. You haven't given me a great reason yet to turn down the PG WWBA in favor of the Private Showcase....just my two cents. Reduce the risk, and optimize the reward.

Ultimately, the decisions is yours and your parents. Best of luck.

Fenway South (and anyone else who knows/cares to comment)- will there really be "many hundreds" of college and pro scouts at the 16U/2013 WWB event??? Seems like a lot for kids a year or so away from being able to even talked to by coaches or much less offer anything...thanks in advance for any comments from those in the know.

There were hundreds last year.

A lot of young 2012's will be there as well....

johnj314,

Yes, many hundreds were there in 2008 as a 16U, and still many hundreds in 2009 as a 17U. Incidently, son's 16U WWBA team won won it all in 2008!

To clarify, this is about exposure, initiating interest to a coach, getting on a coaches shopping list, and developing a dialogue with coaches for schools your son may be interested. This is done on a large scale at this event. Your son may be best served by initiating contact with coaches prior to the event to introduce yourself, and share schedule. Typically teams that recruit nationally are coming to this event.