What is your opinion? Please advise.

I’m asking for the opinion of some of the gurus that frequent this forum. The sons of a couple of friends of mine are ‘06s that have college potential. Because of where their birthdays fall, they are currently playing with a 16u travel team that will be hitting some showcases this fall and next summer. The parents of the boys asked me my opinion on whether they should stick with the 16U or move to a 18U team that would play showcase ball this fall and next summer. Most likely the boys would get a little more playing time and should show a little better with the 16U team as they would be playing mainly with and against ‘07s. However the question is, would they get more looks from scouts playing with the 18U team? Would the scouts come and watch the 18U games more frequently and put more weight into a good performance if it came against the older players?

 

It really depends on playing time. There will be more scouts at the older level but if one has to sit the bench and defer to an older player....it does not help

There are some really great Underclassman Showcases that I would target...Impact has several great ones as does Perfect Games and Blue/Gray.

 

MVaughn ....

I'm going to send you a PM .... I know the area you are in very well. Need to know some more particulars before I can give you my opinion.

But ... for everyone else ... here is the skinny.

Play on the best travel team you can. If the team you are on isn't competitive against the top travel teams, the scouts will only see you when you play against the top travel teams.

 

I agree with NCBBallFan. Pick the best showcase team you can find and make sure that your son will get playing time. My son played with the Diamond Devils U18 team this summer, which had 10 2004 players (8 D1 players) and 11 2005 players that were heavily recruited throughout the summer by various D1 programs (9 D1 commitments to date). I saw the same scout and recruiter activity at all tournaments that we played in - D1 recruiters and MLB scouts arrived at our games at game time and left afterwards. I'm sure the On Deck O's and other top showcase teams, who have similar rosters loaded with talent, saw the same recruiter activity. Recruiters and scouts will spend the bulk of their time watching teams with numerous quality players. Pick the right team, but make sure that your son will play and be seen rather than watching as a substitute.

 

:xyzthumbs ..great advice hitman. Oh and I am sending you a PM?

 

Where ever.....

YOUR son and no one else will be content and HAPPY given allll the variables IMHO :xyzthumbs

 

I ain't a guru but...

Regardless of age, an 06 is a junior. From what I've read, the junior year is the most important year for players with next level talent.
Now that we have hit the rollover date, an 06 is really playing up only one grade level against an age pure 18u team of seniors.
I think that you will find most 18u fall teams are a combination of juniors, seniors and even sophmores due to football.
A 16u showcase tournament schedule will have better competition and exposure than a normal 18u fall tournament, so you are ahead of the game either way.

 

Let..

the decision be up to the kid..period! JMHO :huh: :applause: :huh: :applause: :huh:

 

Lots of good advice here already.

One other option -- if the 16U team is very good, encourage the coaches to enter the team in the 18U bracket of the tournaments you attend, and to attend the best tournaments possible . That way you can get the best of both worlds -- stay with their team and get exposure. The top travel programs have been playing up that way for quite a while with good success.

If the team isn't good enough to play up and be competitive, the players have to evaluate their priorities and either (a) stay with their current teammates -- a fine choice, but if playing in college is their desire, then you should make sure they hit some of the key showcass (Perfect Game Underclass in January is a good start, Blue Grey, Impact, etc.) to get the exposure they are not getting with their team, or (b) move to a stronger team that will get the exposure they desire.

Another new option that has come about as a result of the "dead" period for recruiting is the fall camps on college campuses run by the school's coaching staff. These are generally for any age high school age player and are limited to 60 or so players. If a player really likes a particular school, this ca be a great way to be seen by that staff. And the ones I have seen info on this fall are not that expensive (about $100-$150).

I agree with O that they should do what makes them happy because that is where they will be most productive, but sometimes you have to challenge them to get outside of their comfort zone if they have the dreams you describe.

 

Advice

All of the above is good advice. In addition to the Impact Underclass fall Showcase and Perfect game showcase, UNCC put on a fall Showcase in November that is a great value for what it provides. Exposure, On feild instruction from college coaches and written evaluations so your kids know where thay are and what they need to work on!