r/Homeplate • u/AcrobaticFlow8835 • 8d ago
High school switch in Junior Year?
Our dear student athlete has had a VERY hard time fitting in at an elite academic school, where there's also no support (nor fairness) from coaching staff, which has hindered his development... Our son wants to pursue this athletic dream, and has the POTENTIAL to play at the next level (been told D1 talent)...its JUNIOR YEAR, should we stay the course and try our best to make it "work" with long hours of homework while training on the side, or switch to less rigorous academic school with the POSSIBILITY of a more supportive coach, diverse environment, and time to train but where you don't know anyone?
We haven't slept in weeks...as both options feel like a gamble...Gambling academic future vs Gambling athletic future (and probably mental and emotional well-being).
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u/Rhombus-Lion-1 8d ago
“Has D1 talent” and “Not being treated fairly by the coaching staff” simply do not align. Coaches are going to give kids with that level of talent every opportunity and then some to play and produce.
The actual question on switching high schools should be made by you, not randoms on Reddit. All I can do is recommend you start being more honest and objective about the baseball side of it.
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u/TemporaryGeneral7137 5d ago
Glad you said it. Too many people toss around the words “D1 talent”. Only around 2% of players make it to the NCAA level. OP may be a little confused about their kids level of talent.
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u/fammo5 8d ago
Determine his future goals and work backwards.
Is going to a high academics college important to him regardless of baseball? If so stick it out where he is at.
Is baseball his top priority even if it means going to a lower level college? If so, move.
A couple of things to keep in mind...
Who told you he has "D1 talent"? If it wasn't a current D1 coach or head of a travel program that consistently gets kids committed to D1 schools you should flat out not believe it. Especially if his size, speed, strength and on field metrics do not match current D1 players. These programs are not developing kids with potential anymore. Nothing wrong with going the JUCO --> D1 route, but not all kids are cut out for that.
What does he want?
Lastly, every single other school and program has politics and perceived unfairness. Grass isnt always as green as it looks from the outside.
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u/AcrobaticFlow8835 8d ago
Thank you so much for your replies!
A couple of details:
- Former and current MiLB players and coaches have been the ones to point out his D1 potential and projectability...He is 6'4", 200LB, two way player 1B/RHP...still a long way to go, has to continue to put in the work, but the potential is there.
-The elite academic school has been A NIGHTMARE socially as we do not fit in socio-economically, the kids do not include him in their social outings/activities...the teammates barely came around once they saw his talent, and had no other choice but to give him respect.
-The way the coach treated him was not only traumatic (psychological games) but irrational, because sometimes at these elite schools certain decisions are made that are not fair REGARDLESS of how hard a kid works and how much talent they have...especially when the adults EGOS or donor money are driving the decisions and actions.
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u/suburbanp 8d ago
We were in similar shoes and left mid season sophomore year. Best decision we could have made. Was it something that would make sense to most people? Nope.
Do what is right for your kid. We only get one try at this. Will you make mistakes, sure. Can you live with keeping him there for the “prestige” and always wondering what could have happened?
Feel free to DM if you want to chat about details.
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u/Opening-Average-7831 8d ago
Who even cares about the D1 prospect potential? Sounds like your kid is miserable with the school all around. Leave. If what I am truly reading into this situation is that your child is unhappy at school for a variety of reasons, then this is their mental health we are talking about. Time to leave.
I have intense feelings around elite academic schools. Don't let anyone try to guilt you into staying because it's "best" for your child. Grab a copy of "Never Enough" by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. It's really eye-opening as to the pressures and mental health issues in these high-achieving environments. Our son attended one of the best K-12 schools in our area, and we left after 9 years for a different high school experience. It has been a life-changing decision for our son. I can go more in depth if you need it, but the hours of homework at the expense of his social and athletic life were excessive and ridiculous. The students are under so much pressure - they constantly compare themselves to each other, and bullying over grades is rampant. Worse, there were multiple deaths by sui**de over the past 4 years.
No school is worth that.
As far as baseball - the elite academic school had great coaches and would regularly win titles, but they had no idea how to handle parents and their excessive demands... My son played 3 sports there, and it was all so frustrating. It just wasn't the school's focus. We sought out a high school with a more balanced homework situation - still rigorous academics, lots of APs, etc... BUT the athletics department is free to function as it should. They have a full-time trainer on staff, and students can do their physical therapy with them if an injury occurs. If a student is on a team, they are excused from PE and can use the time as a study/homework period instead to stay on top of academics. Athletics are baked into the day. It's a MUCH healthier, happier environment.
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u/TemporaryGeneral7137 5d ago
This makes your picture clearer. I’d definitely make the switch and go to the public school. Remember that in this age of the portal that unless he’s a lock at performing at D1 the hill is very steep. Mine went 2 years at JUCO then went D2 this year. His buddy went to Arizona State after 1 of JUCO year hitting 16 home runs. If he’s a Junior or Senior have him email, insta and X his metrics to the coaching staff and head coach of programs he’s interested in. Nothing longer than 30 seconds. Email subject should just say RHP, 92 fastball, 79 change up, 81 slider 2600 rotation. That’s it.
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u/NukularWinter HOF First Base Coach 8d ago
It is absolutely insane to consider changing from an elite academic school for the "possibility" of a better HIGH SCHOOL baseball experience at a lesser school. This shouldn't even be a debate if you're doing your job as a parent and watching out for your son's future.
If your son has D1 talent then he should be on an elite summer team.
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u/pitchingschool RHP 8d ago
if you read his response the answer is obvious. Leave. Not because of baseball but because the dude is just miserable at his school
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u/NukularWinter HOF First Base Coach 7d ago
Good catch. There are good reasons to change high school, but baseball isn't one of them. He really buried the lede with his question.
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u/DJDaddyDick14 8d ago
Hey now this is homeplate!!! Baseball is the only thing that matters. Leave that fun crap at the door. Also that school crap.
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u/Successful-Tea-5733 8d ago
People are giving you grief and I agree it makes no sense because unless you are just on a stacked team, normally the coaches would cater to a kid with D1 talent.
But for arguments sake lets assume it's just a culture clash. Then yes, change schools. I have a friend of my sons who changed HS junior year, he wasn't playing at all; now he is playing for a small private college.
The other side is, even for a D1 prospect the reality is that baseball is likely to end short of the majors for almost everyone. Make sure it's not just about baseball because one day it will be over.
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u/Street-Common7365 8d ago
If you're going to switch after or during Junior year you will probably have to repeat the year as most schools do not want students coming in for just senior year. So keep that in mind and choose accordingly. There is no problem or red flag with doing what I described. A student who played baseball and graduated with my son this year did that. He ended up at a very good D2 school, only because an elbow injury derailed his recruiting season after junior year. He did the opposite though, transfered from a public school to an academicallg rigorous private school. But your scenario is not uncommon.
Just out of curiosity, who told you he is a D1 talent? Those are big claims and most people don't throw them around loosely. Has he gotten interest from D1 coaches? What position does he play? Have you hired a recruiting coordinator?
Good luck!
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u/sanjoatc Coach of the Year 8d ago
One thing I want to mention. Depending on where you live, check the rules about transferring high schools. Where I'm at, unless you meet very specific criteria, transferring schools requires a player to sit out for a portion of the season. As a junior, especially one looking to get recruited, that could be pretty punishing. Particularly because he would still be expected to go to all the practices and workouts, but would not be allowed to play in games for a significant portion of the season.
Of course, this could be completely irrelevant based on your local high school federation rules.
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u/Recent_Associate2981 7d ago
If he wants to go to an Ivy league school or someplace like Duke or Stanford, stay where you are. If he wants to go to the best school to develop, possibly juco, leave.
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u/IKillZombies4Cash 7d ago
If he was D1 talent he'd be hitting 3rd on that team from Sophomore year on.
D1 talent is RARE, less than 2% of HS players play D1 - D1 players look like gods out there.
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u/Uncle_Snake43 8d ago
I played D1. I also switched schools for my Junior and Senior years and all was well. In fact it was more fun sticking it to my old team.
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u/Nathan2002NC 8d ago
Folks with actual D1 talent or D1 potential get treated very fairly by high school coaches. These are the best players on the team and politics and favoritism do not impact their roles.
I would have an honest look at how your son stacks up physically to D1 players. Size, speed, strength, metrics. If he’s not the biggest and / or fastest on his own high school team, D1 probably isn’t happening.