There are so many A level athletes not playing hs ball in my area for a variety of reasons. The level of hs ball vs A/Gold ball is dramatically different. Many teams don't even have a real pitcher. Politics. 6 days a week times 3-5 hours a day practice/games (that's insane when you add lessons, in school gym and weights etc). There are tournies every weekend within an hr drive featuring dozens of true A level teams from many states.
The biggest reason is what they are being told by the college coaches. I met with a Top 25 D 1 coach recently. They said (paraphrase) " I don't recruit out of hs ball because the level of competition is so inferior to select ball. How can I even come watch hs games when Im in season myself playing games. Its dead season for recruiting to boot. I want to know what select team you play for and I want to watch you play the best competition."
If that's the mentality of the majority of the coaches out there in top programs then what are the top athletes going to do? Ive spoken with hundreds of college programs and they almost all say the same thing.
I understand there may be exceptions to BIG areas in CA or TX.
The biggest reason is what they are being told by the college coaches. I met with a Top 25 D 1 coach recently. They said (paraphrase) " I don't recruit out of hs ball because the level of competition is so inferior to select ball. How can I even come watch hs games when Im in season myself playing games. Its dead season for recruiting to boot. I want to know what select team you play for and I want to watch you play the best competition."
If that's the mentality of the majority of the coaches out there in top programs then what are the top athletes going to do? Ive spoken with hundreds of college programs and they almost all say the same thing.
I understand there may be exceptions to BIG areas in CA or TX.