Once They Get There-- Can They Take Being Equal

Scholarship $$

I really don't think that the scholarship $$ is an incentive for many players. Most parents have planned to pay for their DD's education. The scholarship is a bonus not for the girl but rather the parent. Essentially, the girl on a "full ride" is working her way thru college. Probably most of the economic benefit falls to the parents. The girl may benefit also if the parents take the dollars that would have gone to tuition and award that to their DD (possibly subtracting TB expenses) upon graduation. Somehow I doubt this often happens.

No girl can know if she's going to like or even be able to play college ball until she gets there. HS success is a weak indicator of college success on the field. Most D1 prospects are HS superstars who will need to adjust to "everyday player" status in college. Some can't do it.

As for following your favorite HS players in college, the internet makes it possible to follow any kid at virtually any school. No room for Dad to exagerate little Susie's stats as they are there for the world to see. Although, I will say that even those stats should be taken with a grain of salt as scoring in college softball is notoriously bad. Often done by sports information interns who have never seen a college softball game before scoring their first one (but that's another thread).