NDR - Son selected college

Blake K

Blake K

Active member
Proud to announce that my son has committed to play baseball for Indiana University which has won the Big Ten conference title the last two seasons with a trip to the college world series two seasons ago . He is very excited to play for his home state university which also has outstanding academics. It has been a exciting process for him to go on baseball visits to numerous universities.(allowed us to sit courtside for Louisville, Ohio State, and Wichita State basketball games last winter as well as on the 50 yd line 5 rows from the field at a University of Michigan football game as colleges have been recruiting him)

The final determining factor for him to select IU was based entirely on academics(3.95 GPA) which makes me and his mom very proud that he may have actually listen to us harping on the academic side of things.

It is does take its toll on a 16yr old. Lots of stress for him to select a college which fits both his athletic and academic needs made even tougher when you factor in how many 16yr olds know what career they want to pursue. Now that the big decision has been made after weighing several baseball scholarship offers and academics against each other, he can now really focus on his last two years of high school and be a kid again.

We are truly living a dream right now!!

Sorry for the dad brag but just so excited for him as he grows into a fine young man.
 
Blake

Wow! Commited his Junior year to a D1 school. That's so impressive I had to google it. Congratulations to your son on his athletic and academic accomplishments. That's no brag, thats something any parent would be proud to share.

Eric
 
Blake

Wow! Commited his Junior year to a D1 school. That's so impressive I had to google it. Congratulations to your son on his athletic and academic accomplishments. That's no brag, thats something any parent would be proud to share.

Eric
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Thanks Eric!!

Unfortunately the college recruitment process is moving to younger and younger ages in most sports which is putting a lot of pressure on these KIDS to either perform at such a high level or have "tools" or both. Even in baseball, what the NCAA considers a minor sport, recruitment is occurring routinely during the summer after their high school freshman year with some even earlier than that believe it or not.
 
I hadn't heard as early as Freshman year. I was under the impression the recruiting didn't really start until after your Sophmore year and before your Senior season a player will have signed with a college program.
 
I hadn't heard as early as Freshman year. I was under the impression the recruiting didn't really start until after your Sophmore year and before your Senior season a player will have signed with a college program.
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IU has a 2017 grad commit already. I have even seen 2018 grads committed but those are players from the southern states to southern universities.
 
Blake - At this point it's just a verbal commitment right? In theory, you could change mind up til "signing day" of his senior year... I know that's the process for NCAA football... and believe me ppl follow that process at a level that's unhealthy here in AL, ha.
 
Blake - At this point it's just a verbal commitment right? In theory, you could change mind up til "signing day" of his senior year... I know that's the process for NCAA football... and believe me ppl follow that process at a level that's unhealthy here in AL, ha.
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You are correct that at this time it is just a verbal commitment. And yes in theory my son could change is mind till signing day of his senior year. Seems like several athletes do change as time nears the signing period, but i notice that in NCAA football and basketball. I have not personally heard of any baseball player doing that. Yes I have heard of some to resend their verbal commitment, but that is normally do to something as a coaching change or the athlete is unable to get admitted to the university they committed to.
 
Blake

If a player becomes injured before signing I take it the school doesn't have to honor the verbal commitment? Also, since baseball scholaships are usually shared among players (e.g. three players each get a third of a scholarship) at the time of the verbal commitment do the players know their share and can it change?

Eric
 
Blake

If a player becomes injured before signing I take it the school doesn't have to honor the verbal commitment? Also, since baseball scholaships are usually shared among players (e.g. three players each get a third of a scholarship) at the time of the verbal commitment do the players know their share and can it change?

Eric
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No the school doesnt have to honor it. However with that being said, I personally know two pitchers who blew their arms out before the signing period and had Tommy John surgery and missed their entire senior HS seasons. One was committed to Louisville and one to Indiana. Both schools honored their commitments. In fact the one committed to Louisville pitched in the CWS this year. Remember a signed letter of intent(LOI) is only valid for one season

Best part of going to a Big Ten school is the LOI is valid under the orginial terms for all 4 years of college per an agreement of Big Ten AD's.

D1 baseball has 11.7 scholorships which are allowed to be divided up in any percentage(25% is minimum per NCAA) up to 27 scholarshiped players and allowed a maximum roster of 35.

Yes verbal players know their share and could it change before the LOI??--Yes, but it but if that happens no players would commit to that college in future years. The one thing college coaches have is there word.

My son had offers from 4 major D1 colleges with additional intereste from numerous other major colleges(Big 10, ACC, MVC). We used the percentage of the offers to help rank each college. However there is much more to consider than simply the percentage of the offer such as returning players, academics, coaching staff, environment, campus life, etc.
 
Blake,
Congrats to your son and the family. It's very tough for a kid to make it to that level without loving parents to put the time and money into what it takes to get to that level of skill. My daughter was an All American/ Academic All American softball player at Michigan State. Things do change once he comes under their control. My daughter was gifted with smarts, but universities (Big Ten) do make sure their student athletes succeed in the classroom. (preferred class selection/tutors etc.) It's a year round sport nowadays with the strength training and conditioning. A kid learns quickly how to balance and make the most of their time. That's one thing high school sports teaches kids. Best of luck.... and it's okay to beat up on those Buckeyes and Wolverines.
Louie
 
Thanks. Sounds like your daughter really excelled!!

My son is really looking forward to the challenge both on the field and in the classroom.
 
Tod - something in a medical related field. Not a doctor per se. As of right now he is leaning towards physical therapy.
 
Blake
Being a retired Physical Therapist I certaintly would encourage that for your son. He can branch off into many areas of physical medicine such as sports medicine, acute care, many avenues of rehab. The job opportunities are endless.
wis boz
 
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The other good thing about being on a team at such a large university are the new friends you have upon entering your freshman year. Our daughter went from a HS graduating class of 52 to a university of 40K.
Although I was a proud Spartan dad, she made me most proud with her academics...Human Biology BS degree with honors at MSU, R.N degree at Johns Hopkins and MS/CRNA at Georgetown in Anesthesia.
To get this back to DUCKS, she flies home every late October to join me in a week of hunting ducks in the U.P of Michigan. Am I blessed or what?! At 2 weeks post total hip replacement, she is monitoring my rehab progress before letting me wade in the marsh this year.
 
He left out that she shoots better than her father-courtesy of all those trips dad paid for to Thundering Aspens!!
 
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