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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