College Recruiting
2021 Grad 8th Grade School Year and Fall/Winter/Summer Recruiting Timeline
(Begin Sept 1st 8th grade- End Oct 31st 12th grade)
50 Months Out
(Don’t be afraid to begin the process)
Academic
- Work on developing good study and time management habits.
- Take the hardest classes you can manage.
- Work hard at school and strive for good grades.
- Visit any college campus you can. The best choices are your parents’ alma maters and the schools of relatives, siblings and friends currently in college.
Baseball
- Build a college list with the following guidelines.
- Academics
- Geographic’s
- Size of school
- Baseball aspirations/opportunity
- Get on campus! Attend at least two local college baseball games and/or practices.
- Attend at least one college instructional camp from your college list during the off season.
- Attend at least one showcase or showcase camp during the summer that will host schools from your college list.
- Continue to be evaluated. Talk to your travel coaches and ask for things you need to improve on.
- Play for a fall baseball team if you do not play a fall sport.
- Off season training. Stay in shape year round; work with a trainer to maximize your efforts.
- Follow an off season throwing and hitting schedule organized by a coach or instructor you trust.
- Play on a competitive travel program that stresses development not just winning.
2019 Grad Sophomore School Year and Fall/Winter/Summer Recruiting Timeline
26 Months Out
(Stay the course)
Academic
- Take the most challenging courses you can handle
- Work hard at school and strive for a 4.0 GPA
- Continue to manage your time and develop good study habits. Continue to balance school work and athletics.
- Study for the P.S.A.T’s-Look to take a S.A.T prep course.
Baseball
- Your list should be more solidified with “target” range schools. Schools that you have the ability to get into academically as well as are in your athletic range.
- Complete and return any college questionnaires that you receive.
- Create a video (in a controlled environment) if you have not done so.
- Send letters of interest and your player profile to coaches on your Target List, preferably before your high school season starts.
- Make “unofficial” visits to as many schools on your Target List as possible. Try and meet a coach of any school you visit.
- Attend at least two local college baseball games and/or practices.
- Attend at least two “target range” college camp.
- Attend at least one showcase or showcase camp that will host schools on your college list.
- Continue to be evaluated. Talk to your travel or HS coaches and ask for things you need to improve on.
- Play for a fall baseball team if you do not play a fall sport.
- Stay in shape year round; work with a trainer to maximize your efforts.
- Follow an off season throwing and hitting schedule organized by a coach or instructor you trust.
2018 Grad Junior School Year and Fall/Winter/Summer Recruiting Timeline
14 Months Out
(Crunch time)
Academic
- Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
- Make a commitment to improve your grades and take challenging courses.
- Enroll in a SAT prep course like Kaplan or Princeton Review to help you achieve the highest possible score.
- Take P.S.A.T’s in October.
- Take the S.A.T’s twice if possible before the end of your junior year. A poor SAT score is one of the main reason players do not receive an offer from a school when their ability is good enough to make the team.
Baseball
- Colleges can begin calling you as of Sept 1st
- Entering your junior season you should have 10-15 “target range” schools that you have the ability to get into academically as well as athletically. This is extremely important. Targeting the wrong schools can leave you without a school come October.
- Complete and return any college questionnaires that you receive.
- Make “unofficial” visits to as many schools on your Target List as possible. Try and meet a coach of any school you visit.
- Attend as many baseball games from your Target List that you can.
- Attend at least one instructional camp during the off season.
- Attend at least one showcase during the summer as well as any camps or clinics that schools on your Target List are hosting.
- Create a short video in a controlled environment. At Diamond Nation we provide all of our Diamond Jacks with recruiting videos during their junior year.
- Send letters of interest and your player profile to coaches on your Target List, preferably before your high school season starts.
- Ask your high school coach and/or travel coach for a letter of recommendation to schools on your Target List.
Congratulations!
2017 Grad Senior Year Fall Season
2 Months Out
For more information on the College Recruiting Process or to set up a one on one meeting, please contact Steve DiTrolio.
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