College Baseball Recruiting - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Tuesday (Sept. 23, 2008)
ARIZONA STATE WINS NCAA DIVISION I RECRUITING TITLE
TUCSON, Ariz. — For the third time in history, Arizona State University has landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation according to Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s annual evaluation of NCAA Division I baseball classes.
This marks the 26th consecutive year that Collegiate Baseball has ranked baseball recruiting classes.
The Sun Devils, which captured recruiting titles in 1995 and 1983, feature a stunning class led by 13 players who were drafted among the 20-player haul. It includes 15 freshmen and 5 junior college transfers.
"This is a special recruiting class," said ASU Recruiting Coordinator Josh Holliday.
"We feel we have a deep and talented group of players who will contribute immediately. We like the combination of high school and junior college talent. We really like the athleticism of our freshmen class and feel like we have the type of kids who are tough and want to be great. This group represents what our program stands for."
The drafted players include:
3B Zach Wilson (Long Beach Wilson H.S., CA), 26th round pick of the Pirates
SS Riccio Torrez, (Brophy Prep, Phoenix, AZ), 32nd round pick of Diamondbacks
LHP Josh Spence (Central Arizona J.C.), 25th round pick of Diamondbacks
C/RHP Jordan Swagerty (Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, TX), 44th round pick of Rockies
CF John Ruettiger (Joliet Catholic Academy, Chicago, IL), 35th round pick of Rangers
INF Jared McDonald (Pima C.C., AZ), 40th round pick of Cubs
1B Johnny Coy (Benton H.S., St. Joseph, MO), 7th round pick of Phillies
1B Abe Ruiz (Pacific Grove H.S., CA), 47th round pick of Giants
RHP Calvin Drummond (Huntington Beach H.S., CA), 34th round pick of Brewers
INF Drew Maggi (Brophy Prep), 47th round pick of Diamondbacks
INF/CF Zach MacPhee (Sandra Day O’Connor H.S., Phoenix, AZ), 22nd round pick of Tigers
C Carlos Ramirez (Chandler-Gilbert J.C., AZ), 34th round pick of Angels in 2007
OF Brandon Magee (Centennial H.S., Corona, CA), 29th round pick by Rays in 2008.
The class features three junior college All-Americans in LHP Josh Spence (Central Arizona J.C.), INF Jared McDonald (Pima C.C.), and OF Kole Calhoun (Yavapai J.C.).
Other quality players in the class include:
RHP Ray Hanson (Long Beach Wilson H.S., CA), injured his senior year but one of the top 100 players in the nation going into the year
C Jake Saylor (Hamilton H.S., Chandler, AZ), lst team All-State
OF Jeff Lusardi (Blue Spring South H.S., MO), lst team All-State
LHP Mitchell Lambson (Tualatin H.S., OR), lst team All-State
RHP Jeeter Ishida (Punahou School, Honolulu, HI), 2007 Northwoods’ League MVP
UT Trask Switzenberg (Chandler Gilbert J.C., AZ).
The following are the top 40 rankings of NCAA Division I recruiting classes for 2008 as determined by the staff of Collegiate Baseball newspaper. A complete rundown of the top 10 classes is in the Oct. 1, 2008 edition of Collegiate Baseball.
Other Top Recruiting Classes: California, Wake Forest, Marshall, Georgia Southern, Gonzaga, Troy, Kansas, Auburn, Miami (Ohio), East Carolina, U.C. Santa Barbara, St. John's, Alabama, North Carolina, Liberty, Central Michigan, Iowa, San Diego, Washington, Missouri, James Madison, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Texas Tech., U.C. Riverside, Connecticut, Baylor, Mississippi St., Houston, Nevada, Northern Illinois, Santa Clara, Ball St., Manhattan, Siena, Virginia Military Institute, Villanova, San Francisco, Stetson, Maine, Cal Poly SLO, Florida International, Michigan, Tulane, Ohio St., Illinois, Memphis, New Orleans, Nebraska, Creighton, Oral Roberts, Nevada-Las Vegas, Richmond, Rutgers, Florida Atlantic, New Mexico, Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, N.C. Charlotte, South Alabama, College of Charleston, West Virginia, Dallas Baptist, The Citadel.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Navigating College Recruiting: Confidence is Half the Battle
As prospects navigate the college athletics recruiting process, the level of their “command of confidence” will not only assist them in developing a positive and effective approach to recruiting, it will be “picked up” by the college coaches and assist the prospect in standing out above the rest of the pack. Self confidence doesn’t just “appear" it is a skill that is developed naturally and with experience and can offer student-athletes with an effective tool that can be skillfully used in navigating the college recruiting process.
Contacts/Return Contacts
I believe many prospects are under the assumption that the college coaches will routinely contact them by phone or by e-mail in an attempt to recruit them. This may be true for some prospects, but for the majority of athletes who are waiting for the phone to ring, it could be a long and frustrating wait. Coaches are recruiting hundreds of prospects and need to utilize a filtering system to organize their list into a manageable and functional grouping. Coaches are bound by very strict contact rules and it is in the best interest of the prospects to initiate contact with the college coaches and with persistence!
If you feel a particular college coach has sincere interest in you as a prospect, you want to develop consistent communication with him and I suggest taking the lead in making future contacts. For instance, you may be discussing a future campus visit and trying to nail down a specific date. Don’t feel nervous in taking the initiative and letting the coach know you will be contacting him in the near future to confirm the visit. This approach is respectful and all you are trying to do is assist the coach, who will appreciate your effort.
Initiating phone calls to the coach
I think one of the toughest challenges prospects face in the recruiting process is initiating that first phone call to the college coach and for good reason. They are scared! Somehow, many young athletes envision an unapproachable coach on the other end of the line and view the task of calling the coach with fear. Coaches are former athletes who went through the same process. More importantly, they are educators who “know the stakes” and the importance of the 4 year college experience. Sure, they are competitive and want to attract the best and the brightest, but for the most part, they want prospects in general, to arrive at a comfortable college choice and one that is the right match. They typically see their role as being a “resource,” with a sincere obligation to provide family’s with valuable information and to answers their questions. They want to assist the prospect reach his “comfort level” in an effort to begin developing a collaborative relationship.
I would not encourage a prospect to pick up the phone and make a “cold call” without preparation. Calls not only give you the opportunity to exchange information with the coaches, it provides you with a vehicle to begin opening up your personality to them and provide the college coach with a “look under the hood.” A lot can be learned about a person in a 5 minute phone call, so make it count! Put together a general list of items you would like to discuss and then trim it down to a bullet list of specific questions you need answers to. Keep your list informative, but short. There is a good chance the coach will cover a lot of ground with his specific questions!
Presenting yourself (visits and by phone)
You can present yourself in a number of different ways to college coaches and the manner in which you display your personality will directly reflect the level of investment you have made in the college recruiting process.
Whether your communication is by phone, email or face to face, “preparation” is the operative word. When you are well prepared to communicate with the college coaches, your level of self confidence increases and the coaches sense this. Remember, coaches are certainly looking to attract the best student-athletes, but just as important, they are looking for self aware individuals who bring potential leadership skills to the table.
Here’s a quick tip: Say you are preparing to make that initial phone call to the coach. Instead of just picking up the phone, take time to go through mock phone conversations with your mom, dad or high school coach in an effort to develop skills in communication. Just like the effort you place in improving yourself as an athlete, your commitment to training your communication skills will pay big dividends down the road.
When you are face to face with a coach, dress sharp for the occasion and create a pleasing outward appearance. Your appearance will be the first thing the college coach sees before he shakes your hand and first impressions are important and long remembered. Additionally, maintain consistent eye contact with the coach. The eyes are the “windows to your soul” and speaks volumes about your level of self-confidence.
Dealing with rejection
Not every college coach will roll out the red carpet for you and it is important to prepare yourself for the possibility of rejection. It is going to happen and you should not take it personally. Whether rejection is a result of not meeting admissions standards or not having the “stuff” to be considered as an impact player for a particular team, do not waiver from “reaching” toward select academic and athletic programs. One of many quotes I used with my teams was “Far better to reach for excellence and fall, than to settle for mediocrity.” The same holds true in the college search, but prepare mentally and emotionally for potential negative news. You might not appreciate the initial “shock” but by keeping your head held high and accepting the hand you are dealt, will only make you stronger and more persistent in the future.
The level of confidence prospects project as he/she navigates college recruiting, will be directly proportional to the potential success of the plan. Like impeccable preparation for a championship game, the best prepared individuals will have the greatest chance at success if their recruiting plans are sound and they execute with confidence and persistence. “Think you can, think you can’t, either way you are right.” Bringing a positive and organized approach to college recruiting will help you navigate a potentially daunting task with confidence and success.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
Contacts/Return Contacts
I believe many prospects are under the assumption that the college coaches will routinely contact them by phone or by e-mail in an attempt to recruit them. This may be true for some prospects, but for the majority of athletes who are waiting for the phone to ring, it could be a long and frustrating wait. Coaches are recruiting hundreds of prospects and need to utilize a filtering system to organize their list into a manageable and functional grouping. Coaches are bound by very strict contact rules and it is in the best interest of the prospects to initiate contact with the college coaches and with persistence!
If you feel a particular college coach has sincere interest in you as a prospect, you want to develop consistent communication with him and I suggest taking the lead in making future contacts. For instance, you may be discussing a future campus visit and trying to nail down a specific date. Don’t feel nervous in taking the initiative and letting the coach know you will be contacting him in the near future to confirm the visit. This approach is respectful and all you are trying to do is assist the coach, who will appreciate your effort.
Initiating phone calls to the coach
I think one of the toughest challenges prospects face in the recruiting process is initiating that first phone call to the college coach and for good reason. They are scared! Somehow, many young athletes envision an unapproachable coach on the other end of the line and view the task of calling the coach with fear. Coaches are former athletes who went through the same process. More importantly, they are educators who “know the stakes” and the importance of the 4 year college experience. Sure, they are competitive and want to attract the best and the brightest, but for the most part, they want prospects in general, to arrive at a comfortable college choice and one that is the right match. They typically see their role as being a “resource,” with a sincere obligation to provide family’s with valuable information and to answers their questions. They want to assist the prospect reach his “comfort level” in an effort to begin developing a collaborative relationship.
I would not encourage a prospect to pick up the phone and make a “cold call” without preparation. Calls not only give you the opportunity to exchange information with the coaches, it provides you with a vehicle to begin opening up your personality to them and provide the college coach with a “look under the hood.” A lot can be learned about a person in a 5 minute phone call, so make it count! Put together a general list of items you would like to discuss and then trim it down to a bullet list of specific questions you need answers to. Keep your list informative, but short. There is a good chance the coach will cover a lot of ground with his specific questions!
Presenting yourself (visits and by phone)
You can present yourself in a number of different ways to college coaches and the manner in which you display your personality will directly reflect the level of investment you have made in the college recruiting process.
Whether your communication is by phone, email or face to face, “preparation” is the operative word. When you are well prepared to communicate with the college coaches, your level of self confidence increases and the coaches sense this. Remember, coaches are certainly looking to attract the best student-athletes, but just as important, they are looking for self aware individuals who bring potential leadership skills to the table.
Here’s a quick tip: Say you are preparing to make that initial phone call to the coach. Instead of just picking up the phone, take time to go through mock phone conversations with your mom, dad or high school coach in an effort to develop skills in communication. Just like the effort you place in improving yourself as an athlete, your commitment to training your communication skills will pay big dividends down the road.
When you are face to face with a coach, dress sharp for the occasion and create a pleasing outward appearance. Your appearance will be the first thing the college coach sees before he shakes your hand and first impressions are important and long remembered. Additionally, maintain consistent eye contact with the coach. The eyes are the “windows to your soul” and speaks volumes about your level of self-confidence.
Dealing with rejection
Not every college coach will roll out the red carpet for you and it is important to prepare yourself for the possibility of rejection. It is going to happen and you should not take it personally. Whether rejection is a result of not meeting admissions standards or not having the “stuff” to be considered as an impact player for a particular team, do not waiver from “reaching” toward select academic and athletic programs. One of many quotes I used with my teams was “Far better to reach for excellence and fall, than to settle for mediocrity.” The same holds true in the college search, but prepare mentally and emotionally for potential negative news. You might not appreciate the initial “shock” but by keeping your head held high and accepting the hand you are dealt, will only make you stronger and more persistent in the future.
The level of confidence prospects project as he/she navigates college recruiting, will be directly proportional to the potential success of the plan. Like impeccable preparation for a championship game, the best prepared individuals will have the greatest chance at success if their recruiting plans are sound and they execute with confidence and persistence. “Think you can, think you can’t, either way you are right.” Bringing a positive and organized approach to college recruiting will help you navigate a potentially daunting task with confidence and success.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence”, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
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