There are very, very few players who will have the physical gifts to play D1 with out great effort. Most of the high level players listed on this site have taken specific steps to be noticed. What would you advocate to a parent or player to swing the tide in his favor?

1) play for a good travel team for summer baseball. He needs to tryout and make the team. Midland (Cincy), KBC (Lexington) and Ironmen (Louisville) are three of the better ones. The coaches in these programs are well-connected to college coaches.

 

2) Attend showcases. I would attend a couple of PBR and Perfect Game showcases after freshman year. Be careful, some of the showcases are rip-offs, but PBR and PG are good.

 

3) Attend camp at the colleges. If he doesn't know where he wants to go, then start with camps in the region (UK, UL, WKU, etc). My son attended a Vandy camp after soph year and made great connections.

 

It's a lot like an aspiring country singer getting discovered by an agent. It takes talent, hard work, connections and good luck to get a D1 scholarship.

Work hard not only on the hardwood but in the class room as well. More kids get more money to attend college via Academics, than ever get money for playing sports!

 

You want a sure thing? Academics! As was mentioned, takes hard work and luck sometime to get a D1 sports scholarship but if have the grades, it pretty much a such thing to get the scholarships!

Genetics.

 

Any Division 1 or "freakishly" gifted athletes down the line? If not. Pretty good chance junior will be the same (and, that's ok).

 

As TOG said, academics. I was fortunate enough to be on a full ride at two schools, two different levels...the first stop, although I had the grades, I received my 'paycheck' more for athletic reasons. When I transferred, though, I was about 1/2 academic and 1/2 athletic.

 

I don't meant to sound brash, or arrogant, but going back to the first one I mentioned in Genetics.

 

My great grandfather, my grandfather, my dad, my uncle, another cousin on that side and myself. Six of us males on one side of the family played all 4 years (or 5 because some of us were red shirted) and on full rides for football (D1, 1-AA and NAIA respectfully).

 

Teammates of mine, close friends of mine in college had parents and/or other relatives that had family members who were 4 year college athletes (football, baseball, golf, basketball, track, etc)...or they had dad's who, quite honestly, none of us would ever want to mess with even in their age due to the fact they they 50 years old and we all knew they could kick our tail.

 

I don's say this to sound rude, but at the same time, I see so many mom's and dad's out there in the Youth Leagues who are just average looking guys...ones that you can tell or know were either average, below average or didn't play anything in HS, let alone college. Their mothers, the same...short, squatty bodied..you can just tell there is and never has been any athletic genes going through there at all; yet they TRULY believe their son will be what UK is after.

 

 

And...it's not happening. Which, as I said, there are worse things...Lord knows.

 

 

This is kind of one of those questions where, if you give the honest answer, people are going to look at you like you're arrogant. Whereas, if you aren't honest, and just go along to agree with the run of the mill-sound good answers, and then things DON'T pan out (which they likely don't)..then it becomes a "Well, you didn't know what you were talking about" or "The coach didn't do enough for my son/daugther",

 

Be weary of camps, especially at a young age.

 

I hear so many parents come back from basketball and football camps at UK/UL, and they come back and RAVE about how Coach Pitino/Stoops/Cal said that "So and So (son/daughter of said parents) has so much potential and the best shot/arm of any 9 year old I've seen."

 

....to which I of course say, "That's great!", when I'm really thinking..."Well, of course they are. You just spent $250 on a one day camp for a T-Shirt and a picture with your son/daughter with so and so coach; you think they are going to tell you that your son/daughter is average?" No. They want that money again, so they are going to make you feel like he is the next John Wall or Peyton Manning.

Going back to my genetics comment. And, I know I'm using some of the elite, here, but for the sake of argument:

 

Archie Manning...record setting D1 college QB and long tenured NFL career.

Sons, Petyon and Eli who were and have don the same (and, better winning 3 Super Bowls). Cooper was a standout WR who would have made a name (and, signed with Ole Miss) for himself if not for a narrowing of the spinal cord that they found out his freshman year of college.

 

Chuck Smith.....D1 Linebacker at UK.

-Son Brandon. Standout QB in HS and D1 QB at WKU who started for a season or two in his own right.

 

Jacob Tamme.....star SEC TE and NFL TE

-Brother Seth Tamme, who had a great career at WKU as a WR in his own right.

 

The Brohm Family....Dad played at UL.

-Sons all played/starred at UL w/ NFL careers.

 

Jim Bunning....Hall of Fame NFL pitcher

-Grandson is Patrick Towles who is a QB at UK and could likely start next year, not to mention his accolades at Highlands.

 

Barry Sanders....OK State and arguably one of the best RB's in the history of the NFL

-Son is a freshman at Stanford playing football and played a great role as a freshman.

 

Ken Griffey, Jr...arguably one of the best baseball players, pure HR hitters of All Time in the MLB.

-His son Trey, a Freshman at Arizona this year in Football. One of the best HS WR in 2012. His dad and grandpa are/will be MLB HOF'ers.

 

Jack Nicklaus....best Golfer EVER. Most Majors won, EVER (Jack was a heck of a football player back in his Ohio HS days in his own right).

-Grandson was starting TE on FSU's National Title team..Nick O'Leary I think is his name?

 

 

I could go on and on an on, but Genetics play more of a role than we want to admit. I've never understood why we deny genetics when it comes to Acadmics/Intelligence and Athletic ability. I mean, I know why....hard thing to admit. We can attribute size, eye color, mannerisms, the way we talk, walk, hair color, etc; but nope, athletic and intelligence have nothing to do with it. Those are irrelevant. lol

Genetics.

 

Bingo. This is probably the one thing that is overlooked more than anything else. Like it or not, most sports have certain body type requirements, even baseball. Just go to a Reds game, sit near the field, and just look at how big those guys are. Not a lot of 5' 8" guys on D1 or pro rosters. That with the fact that many of the characteristics that coaches look for (notably speed and arm strength come to mind) cannot be taught. There's a reason why scouts always have stopwatches. Sure those skills can be refined and improved, but no amount of work can make a -arm a +arm. The best thing to do is if you recognize that your kid has talent, is to get him with some high level trainers that can work on mechanics and refine them. Also, work with your kid on attitude. They always have to play hard, show enthusiasm and respect. College coaches look at everything. They watch how kids work during warm ups and in between innings at games. They watch how they wear the uniform and wear their hats. They are looking for quality people in addition to quality players.

 

But honestly, I tell every parent that asks me, "how do I get my kid a scholarship?" one thing. Make sure they read and do well in school. Full athletic scholarships are rare and hard to come by.

^^ Yep. My mom and dad told me and my sisters this when we were all about 13-14. MS, right before HS.

 

They said, we have X amount of dollars for you when it comes to college. The rest is on you. You can either not play anything and be great academically, be good/great at both. Either way, this is how much we are giving you...the rest is on you.

 

I knew they weren't playing and was fortunate to have all of mine taken care of.

 

My oldest sister found out the hard way, while doing well for herself now, about her 3rd year of college on...she had to take out loans.

 

My youngest sister was/is like me and she'll be fortunate enough to be academic/athletic.

 

Best thing about that philosophy, my wife was told the same. Her parents, while coming from quite possibly the most loving parents I've ever known, were NOT going into debt for her and her siblings college education. They had X amount for each, but quite honestly (while some will consider this them being selfish, but THEY wanted to retire themselves) they weren't going to pay thousands. They put a lot of the weight on their children....my wife had everything (3/4 of it anyway) paid for because of academics.

 

We'll very likely take the same approach with little girls.

Genetics.

 

Bingo. This is probably the one thing that is overlooked more than anything else. Like it or not, most sports have certain body type requirements, even baseball. Just go to a Reds game, sit near the field, and just look at how big those guys are. Not a lot of 5' 8" guys on D1 or pro rosters. That with the fact that many of the characteristics that coaches look for (notably speed and arm strength come to mind) cannot be taught. There's a reason why scouts always have stopwatches. Sure those skills can be refined and improved, but no amount of work can make a -arm a +arm. The best thing to do is if you recognize that your kid has talent, is to get him with some high level trainers that can work on mechanics and refine them. Also, work with your kid on attitude. They always have to play hard, show enthusiasm and respect. College coaches look at everything. They watch how kids work during warm ups and in between innings at games. They watch how they wear the uniform and wear their hats. They are looking for quality people in addition to quality players.

 

But honestly, I tell every parent that asks me, "how do I get my kid a scholarship?" one thing. Make sure they read and do well in school. Full athletic scholarships are rare and hard to come by.

 

You nailed it right here.

 

I saw the Yankees (who I despise, Boston fan here, but they were in the area we were vacationing) at spring practice one year. Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Jeter, A-Rod...the works.

 

Good grief they were big guys. Every one of them looked like they could suit up in tonights Super Bowl @ LB/TE/Strong Safety spots.

 

Just absolutely PUT TOGETHER.

 

Bryce Harper, anybody seen up close pics of that cat? Good grief...specimen.

Genetics is an absolute. I will say the travel teams mentioned have extensive off season training programs by elite coaches which gives the players for these teams an advantage. The Florence Freedom pro team had several pitchers follow the velocity throwing program(they offer the program to the public) and had a couple of pitchers go from 88mph to 95+ and sign MLB contracts. One pitched in the All-Star game last year. I also believe a disadvantage baseball only guys have is the 60 time. They need to be running sprints under supervision year round. You need to run 6.7's or better to be considered D1. If your going to play OF batting left handed will greatly increases your marketability. Tee exit velocity is also important and should be practiced. Long toss programs are critical. Of course genetics will be the determining factor but don't slight the young player by not having him prepared on how they are going to be evaluated. How many college football players have a personal trainers getting them ready for the combine? The ones who get drafted do.

lol!!!!........you guy's,what the.......you got to be.......are you frigg'in kidding......never mind!!! i just can't believe you put THAT much thought into this subject. your talking about FRESHMEN!!! the whole look at what their parents look like thing.......wtf!!! but,if that's what you think works,good for you. lets not take this TO seriously gentlemen. it's high school!!!! i hope all the college scouts are checking out the HOT moms though. ...lol!!

later gators!!!

p.s. i will give you this,you are right about the parents and spending good money to send their kids to camps.same thing with paying for lessons. some of it is worth it. but, i'd say 75% are wasting there money!!! it's a free country though.

lol!!!!........you guy's,what the.......you got to be.......are you frigg'in kidding......never mind!!! i just can't believe you put THAT much thought into this subject. your talking about FRESHMEN!!! the whole look at what their parents look like thing.......wtf!!! but,if that's what you think works,good for you. lets not take this TO seriously gentlemen. it's high school!!!! i hope all the college scouts are checking out the HOT moms though. ...lol!!

later gators!!!

 

So because they are freshmen they shouldn't be thinking about college? You realize most high caliber players are committing now in their sophomore years, right? If a kid has a dream to play at the next level, it's never too soon to start preparing. If a kid waits until their junior or senior years to start preparing, they won't go anywhere. And the looking at parents idea has some validity to it.

 

Sounds like you have an axe to grind with the process. That's your problem not the kids' who have hopes of playing college ball. This is a good thread for those kids and their parents to read but your post devalues the good information that's been posted by others.

 

And it may be high school as you point out, but do you know what comes after high school? College. So preparing for that isn't a dumb idea like you'd want us to believe.

lol!!!!........you guy's,what the.......you got to be.......are you frigg'in kidding......never mind!!! i just can't believe you put THAT much thought into this subject. your talking about FRESHMEN!!! the whole look at what their parents look like thing.......wtf!!! but,if that's what you think works,good for you. lets not take this TO seriously gentlemen. it's high school!!!! i hope all the college scouts are checking out the HOT moms though. ...lol!!

later gators!!!

 

Athletics are no different than academics in terms of getting prepared for college. Do you think its silly to start preparing for college academics as freshman? In order to be successful at the next level, whether it's baseball, academics, or even tiddly winks, is to work hard, work early and often.

 

And as a former college coach, and recruiter, I can tell you, everything mentioned is pretty spot on.

Spot on on the genetics. I always tell my players that i was genetically inferior. I have a big league mind and a little league body.

lol!!!!........you guy's,what the.......you got to be.......are you frigg'in kidding......never mind!!! i just can't believe you put THAT much thought into this subject. your talking about FRESHMEN!!! the whole look at what their parents look like thing.......wtf!!! but,if that's what you think works,good for you. lets not take this TO seriously gentlemen. it's high school!!!! i hope all the college scouts are checking out the HOT moms though. ...lol!!

later gators!!!

 

So, sounds like we found someone who didnt hit the genetic lottery, and has no clue what big time recruiting has become. This is a legit topic. Do you wait until your Junior year to start taking your grades serious?