NCSA College Athletic Scholarships Blog

Here are some of our latest college baseball commitments for the 2010 class:

Brian Monette to the University of Southern Illinois – Carbondale

Brian Essig commits to the University of the Pacific

And David Johannessen decides on Florida Atlantic University

In the summer of 2003 I made a pilgrimage to the place that every high-school baseball player looking to play in college should go. I had always wanted to go to this place and I still look forward to the time when I will return. The place I speak of is Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, home of the College World Series. My summer travel team was competing in a tournament in Omaha and by design, we purchased tickets to go watch a weekend’s worth of college baseball at the highest level of competition. I remember everything about that trip from stealing 2nd base during a game of my own and, in the process, tearing open my chin (I still have the scar) to standing next to ESPN’s Kenny Mayne at a urinal in one of the bathrooms at Rosenblatt. The College World Series is college baseball and from then on I knew that not playing baseball in college was not an option.

 At the time, and partly due to my amazing experience in Omaha, my expectations were unrealistic. My summer coach asked me for a list of schools I’d like him to send my information to and I quickly scribbled down a list of top Division I programs I had seen playing at Rosenblatt. For me to think that I had an opportunity to play at some of these top schools was very unrealistic for me in terms of my recruiting process and my abilities as a baseball player. In other words, I was a DIII player looking to play baseball at the Division I level, except I wasn’t aware of this. When I soon realized that I would be playing baseball in college at the DIII level, I was slightly disappointed. But looking back, I understand why I was a DIII player and I don’t regret the decision I made to play baseball in college at that level. Not only had I not gotten enough exposure at an early enough age or been aware of such services such as the National Collegiate Scouting Association, but plain and simple, I just wasn’t good enough. Looking back on this I can’t help but smile at my own naivety and the fact that I am 100% satisfied with the decision I made to play baseball at John Carroll University. I may have never gotten the chance to play in Omaha or get interviewed by Erin Andrews after a big win, but I did get to play the game I love at the collegiate level. I did get to forge bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime and I did become a better all-around person by learning the values of hard work, dedication and teamwork.

We all tune in to watch big time college football programs compete on Saturdays during football season, and everyone loves the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament come March, but for those of us who won’t ever compete at that nationally acclaimed level, take pride in the following facts:

1. You train just as hard as anyone to compete at your full potential in the sport that you love.

2. You attend class just like every other student in every other college, except you have made sacrifices to prepare for games and practice as well.

3. You will form life-lasting bonds with teammates that are just as strong as those bonds that are formed at higher levels of competition.

4. You will become a better all-around person for the hard work you dedicate to your team and to your school work.

So, in my situation, while playing baseball in college was very different than someone playing baseball at a big time DI program, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The memories I have of the experiences I went through during my playing days in college will last forever and no one can take that away from me. What I want to stress to all student-athletes is to be realistic about their expectations when it comes to playing their sport at the collegiate level. The sooner that you do this, the sooner you can embrace your future experiences as a collegiate athlete, whether it’s playing for a top tier DI program or competing for DIII school. Please believe me when I say it’s not about the recognition, or the television highlights, or the contracts with Nike and Adidas. It’s about putting on the same uniform as your teammates and competing in the sport you all love to achieve one common goal…winning. A win is the same at the DI level as it is at the DIII level and for a serious student-athlete looking to compete in college, winning is all that should matter.

The quest to find the right college for a student-athlete is a challenge that we here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association readily accept with open arms. We understand not only what it means to families to have their student-athlete comfortable and excited to be attending the university of their choice, but we also understand the passion and desire that our student-athletes have to find that particular university. We also understand how important it is for college coaches to be matched up with qualified student-athletes who will help their universities grow both academically and athletically. With this being said, we here at NCSA will do everything we can to match student-athletes with universities that we feel would be a good fit. But when it’s all said and done, it’s up to the student-athletes to visit these schools, meet these coaches and decide for themselves if they truly see themselves being members of that university for the next four years of their lives. So how does a student-athlete go about doing this? How do they put themselves in the best situation possible to meet coaches and visit schools? They should be utilizing a somewhat untapped resource and with this I would like to introduce the unofficial visit.

For those student-athletes who have seen movies like The Program, He Got Game and Blue Chips, the recruiting process might seem like a dream come true. In The Program, Darnell Jefferson is welcomed to Eastern State University by a charter bus filled with cheerleaders. NBA superstar Ray Allen plays the main character in He Got Game and is whisked away from campus to campus for weekends of fun and spoil. Several “blue chip” prospects in Blue Chips receive gifts and frequent visits from the coaching staff. One thing each and every parent, coach and student-athlete needs to know is that these are movies attempting to depict a very long and difficult process. For the majority of high-school athletes, the best way to get a feel for a school and a coach is to take advantage of the unlimited amounts of unofficial visits a recruit can take during their four years of high school.

One might ask, “What is an unofficial visit and what other kinds of visits are there?” Great question. An official visit is one where the cost of part of the visit is incurred by the school. For example, a recruit is invited to visit the campus and during their visit the school will pay for their flight, hotel room and meals. These are less common than unofficial visits and are heavily regulated in terms of how many a school is allowed to give out and how many a student-athlete can attend. The alternative is the unofficial visit, where a student athlete visits the campus on their own and pays for it themselves. Although it may be less glorious than the official visits depicted in films, it is just as effective in terms of finding a school that you would be comfortable and eager to attend. Did I mention that you can take an unlimited amount of unofficial visits? Read on…

So let’s say you are a student-athlete and this blog has inspired you to take some unofficial visits…but you don’t know how to go about it. Here is your crash course to the unofficial visit.

First, come up with a list of schools and programs that you are interested in learning more about. Basically, you want to narrow down your list to schools you would realistically like to attend and compete for. Next, pick a weekend where you know the coach of your respective sport will be on campus. Football and basketball games are very popular events for coaches to entertain recruits, so pick a weekend where there is a game such as football or basketball. Next, you want to contact the coach to let him or her know that you will be visiting that weekend. Ask if they can give you a few minutes of their time to meet and possibly answer some questions that you may have (hint, hint…come prepared with academic and athletic questions for the coach). Next, contact admissions and also make them aware of your visit. Campuses are constantly giving tours and you want to make sure you see the campus in its entirety because it will be your home for the next four years. You also want to have a main contact in the admissions department to answer any questions you may have before, during and after your unofficial visit.

So now you’ve got your game plan to schedule some unofficial visits, but what is it that coaches are looking for when a recruit comes to campus. Marc Thibeault, head coach of John Carroll University’s baseball team, explains what he is not looking for.

“I can’t tell you how many times a recruit shows up with holes in his jeans, hat backwards, earring in and really has no questions when they visit. “

Coach Thibeault looks for potential student-athletes who can carry themselves well both on and off the field. Making a good first impression when meeting coaches is essential, and your appearance is key. A great point Coach makes is the ability of the recruit to ask meaningful questions during their visit. Think of it as a job interview; when your potential employer asks if you have any questions and you say “Nope, I think we’re all good here,” they are going to take that as a lack of preparation and excitement on your part when it comes to becoming a member of their team. College coaches will view this the same way.

When asked about some good questions for recruits to ask on their visit, Coach Thibeault had a few in mind.

-What did your graduating class end up doing upon diploma?

-How many freshmen ended up playing 4 years?

-What are the years of players playing my position?

-What were the credentials of last years recruiting class?

The above questions are great things to ask coaches and by asking these questions, a recruit shows the coach that they are interested, committed and eager to contribute to the program.

The bottom line is that no one buys a car without test driving it. No one gets married without dating first and no recruit should commit to a school without visiting campus. So instead of waiting by the phone or the computer for a coach to invite you for an official visit, maximize the unlimited amount of unofficial visits you can take and put yourself out there. The recruiting process may seem less glorious than depicted in the movies, but the end result of choosing the right school is all the glory a recruit needs.

As I awoke to the blaring of my alarm clock, I rolled over and checked the time to make sure that I was indeed waking up at the right hour. It read 4:30 AM, and yes, this was the correct time for me to be waking up today, even though the sun was still an hour away from rising. I rolled out of my temporary bed for the week which was a pull-out couch in the condo that my family had rented. We were in Knoxville, Tennessee for the 17 & Under AAU National Olympics and my traveling baseball team, the Redshirts of Chicago, Illinois had the misfortune of being slated for a 9 AM game this morning. Pregame for us started at 7:30 AM, which meant getting to the field at 7 AM, after an hour drive to the field. As I gradually awoke from my sleep I began to pull on my uniform and quickly noticed that I was not the only one up. My mom had heard my alarm go off and was in the kitchen putting a cooler together for me as the temperature would undoubtedly reach into the 90’s that day. As I munched on a bowl of cereal and a banana, she wished me luck for the game and went back to bed for another hour or so.

The above situation was something that occurred often in my house ever since I started playing baseball at the age of 5. My dad coached me from my first t-ball game until I joined my traveling team at age 14 and both of my parents made every attempt possible to attend every game that they could. Family road trips were common and the sacrifices my entire family made, including my younger sister, should not go unnoticed. Summers basically revolved around my baseball schedule and for this I am grateful for everything that my family has done for me over the years to encourage my growth both athletically and as a person. This is why I urge all student-athletes, especially those who are involved with the National Collegiate Scouting Association, to be appreciative and thankful when it comes to their families, especially their parents. Without our parents and guardians, we as student-athletes would not have the means to play the sports we love and attend the school of our choosing. Uniforms, equipment, rides and time are just a few of the things that parents contribute to us and we should work hard everyday to make their sacrifices well worth it.

Emily Simpson attended Saint Louis University and played four years for the Women’s Club Soccer team. The time she spent at SLU was truly memorable both for soccer and academics, but when asked about the role her parents played in her development as an athlete, she voiced the true appreciation she has for them.

“My mom went to every soccer game she possibly could, even to a few in college, while my dad made it to the games he could due to his heavy work schedule. My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life, even when it comes to my activities like soccer.”

As young people growing up, we sometimes lose sight of the sacrifices and hard work our parents commit in order to help us become better athletes and better people. Now a 22 year-old college graduate, Emily spoke about her parents during her youth playing soccer.

“When I was younger, they would either take turns taking me to every soccer practice and game or found a way to get me there.”

Again, to us as student-athletes, it seems common and assumed that our parents help us in any way possible. At the very least, as high-school athletes, collegiate-athletes and perhaps beyond, we should act in accordance with the values and commitments of our parents. When it’s all said and done, we are given the means to succeed athletically and academically because of the opportunities they have provided for us.

For those student-athletes that are enrolled with NCSA, take the time to thank your parents for giving you the opportunity to utilize our services and maximize your college recruiting experience. Time and time again we here at NCSA see parents and guardians going above and beyond to provide our services for their children, services that will undoubtedly help these student-athletes achieve their goals on the playing fields and in the classrooms. Not only should these student-athletes thank their parents, but they should also make decisions that will be a reflection of the commitment their parents have made.

Luke Powers, a former basketball player at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, spoke fondly of his parents and all of the work they did to provide him the means to play basketball in high school at Loyola Academy in Chicago and beyond.

“My parents were always there to support me and my basketball career. Every time I needed a ride to practice or a game they were always there to be counted on. When I got to John Carroll to start playing, their support continued and it felt great to make them proud of my achievements. I owe it all to them.”

Emily and Luke are just two student-athletes who understand the true commitment and sacrifice that their parents have made over the years. I strongly urge the hundreds of thousands of other student-athletes across the country to do the same, especially those who are involved with NCSA. I personally know that I would not be anywhere close to the person I am today without the support and dedication of my parents.

There was a running joke amongst the baseball parents at John Carroll University that every time my parents came to campus to see a game, I would have the game of my life. Specifically, the mothers all had a theory that it was because my mom was there to watch me, and they very well could have been right. I tried to make my parents proud whether it was performing well in the classroom or committing myself to the team at JCU. So please, take the time to thank your parents, your guardians and even teachers and coaches who have given you the opportunity to play the sport you love so much. Make them proud by the way you carry yourself on and off the field, because someday you will hope that your children follow the same path that you once did. Besides, it really is the least you could do.

The fall sports season is truly one of the most exciting times in all of the sporting world from the high school level, collegiate level and on to the highest ranks of the professional sporting leagues. As Major League Baseball enters their postseason play, the National Football League kicks off their season and the puck drops for the National Hockey League. High school athletes are in mid-season form for their respective sports and the same goes for college athletes across the country. What is so magical about this time of the year is that while so many sports are going on congruently, at so many different levels, one major lesson is to be learned by everyone participating in these sports. Whether you are taking the field as a professional athlete or waking up early for off-season training for your high school or college, one thing is happening to all athletes. They are being taught the values of hard work, commitment and dedication by their parents, coaches, teachers and teammates. To many, sport is merely that; a game that is played by people of all ages and that it is merely a game. However, those who understand sport at a much deeper level know that it is so much more than just a game. The lessons that are learned and the work ethic that is instilled in athletes are truly amazing. Let’s take a look at a few examples of how athletes use what they’ve learned in sport and have applied them to everyday life.

Nothing has changed for Trevor Heffernan in terms of his schedule since he graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During his days at WMU, he would wake up at 4 and 5 AM for early morning skate with the Men’s Ice Hockey Club Team where he played goalie, and then head off to school for a full day of classes. This routine was engrained within Trevor so when it was time for graduation, he was well-practiced in the ability to be a hard worker no matter what he was doing. Whether it was working down at the Chicago Board Options Exchange upon graduation or working on his family’s farm in upstate Illinois, Trevor always put 110% into whatever it was he was doing.

“The bonds I formed with my teammates playing hockey are unbreakable. It was these bonds that taught me the value of counting on the person next to you, whether it’s on the ice or working on my family farm. You need to commit and work towards your goals regardless of what they are.”

Today, Trevor’s main priority is preparing his family farm, Susanna Farms, for the annual harvest, which is a month long celebration of the history and natural beauty of the vast acreage of their farm. To be more specific, Trevor spends countless hours making sure things are prepared for hayrides, pumpkin picking and his pride and joy, the First Annual Haunted Hayride.

“I understand and appreciate the great history that this farm represents. Everything I learned about respect and dedication, I put towards this farm and getting it ready for other people to enjoy it as I have.”

Trevor is a true example of how playing college athletics can not only mold you physically to perform at a high level on the fields, courts and rinks, but more importantly, mold you mentally to be an all-around better person.

Kellen Kmiecik began his collegiate career playing baseball at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. He soon found opportunity elsewhere at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. During his college years, Kellen competed in several prestigious summer leagues including invite-only leagues in Alaska and South Carolina. In January, Kellen will head to Arizona to compete in an invite-only league so professional teams can evaluate his talent. However, Kellen brings the same passion and determination to the baseball diamond that he brings when he helps his father run the local Recreational Center in Elmwood Park, Illinois.

“I enjoy my time at the recreational center because it is a great way to give back to the surrounding area and it’s so enjoyable to see all the kids come in here and play the sports they love to play.”

When I asked Kellen if playing baseball, especially at the collegiate level, had anything to do with this, his response was precise.

“I learned everything I know about respect, focus, hard work and dedication from playing baseball. I was always taught from an early age that playing baseball is about ability and respect. There is a right way and a wrong way to play the game, and I play the game the right way. I try and live my life the way I play the game.”

Parents often worry about their student-athlete as they head off to college for their freshman year in terms of academics and athletics. Will they play enough? Will they get a good education? Will they make the right decisions? Both Trevor and Kellen are great examples of student-athletes becoming upstanding, respectful citizens upon graduation. So much goes into being a collegiate athlete that is behind the scenes, and those who can’t handle the responsibility of hard work, dedication, commitment and respect will quickly make the adjustment or fade away.

The first step towards finding the right school for your son or daughter is through an aggressive and meaningful recruiting process. We here at the National Collegiate Scouting Association understand what it takes to not only be a student-athlete, but also be a well-rounded citizen. We understand the process and the requirements better than anyone in the business and we urge you to take that first step towards starting that recruiting process. The road may seem long and harrowing, but what lies beyond it for your future student-athlete is truly amazing and will make you proud.

For the 20th consecutive year participation has risen in high school sports.  The National Federation of State High School Associations.  Despite the poor economy the percentage of high-schoolers playing a sport rose to 55.2% from 54.8%. Football remains the top sport with 1,112,303 participants nationwide, while track and field passed basketball as the second most popular sport with 558,007 participants.  Swimming and Lacrosse showed the biggest percentage increases with 11.6% and 6.7%, respectively.

What does this mean for recruits?  Its pretty simple.  There is more competition than ever before for athletic scholarships.  Despite having an incredible amount of tools to aid their recruitment, athletes that aren’t proactive in the recruiting process face the danger of being left behind.

If you are looking for a recruiting edge, I suggest checking out NCSA’s Recruiting Profile and building your own FREE profile now.  It gives every recruit a tool to proactively reach coaches now.

I speak to student-athletes on a daily basis who are serious students and are unclear on what demands are placed on athletes when they arrive on campus.  Even in each division of the NCAA, demands vary greatly from one institution to the next.  So it’s important that the student-athlete is empowered with the skill set to determine what school will be best for them.  After all, a student-athlete’s college decision will impact them for the next 50-60 years!

With that in mind, here’s a blog post from an NCSA student-athlete who found the perfect fit.  How many NCAA D1 athletic teams would allow a student-athlete to study abroad during their senior year?  Read her blog and let me know if her college choice was the best for her:

She writes:  

Hi all! My name is Melissa and I am a senior in London on Colgate’s Economics Study Group. I am not the blogging type, but I am super excited to be able to take you all on my journey with me. I hope I do not bore you and, in advance, please forgive my many typos. I hope you can make it until December because I promise it will be worth it!

I arrived at my flat in central London about 10 days ago. It was an interesting adventure getting here (about 7 hours on a plane, an hour on a train, half an hour on a bus and half an hour walking aimlessly) but I made it and I love it! London is absolutely beautiful! Words cannot explain it.

I am already into my second week of classes. For the Economics Program, we are required to take The British Economy, The EU, International Economics, and a theatre course. I know the course titles are not creative or intriguing, but I assure you the classes have already far exceeded my expectations. To give you an example, yesterday all of the Colgate London groups attended “As You Like It” in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which is an exact replica of the original minus, of course, the electrics. I had no idea how I was going to enjoy a play standing for three hours and exposed to the elements (it was supposed to rain, thankfully it didn’t). Turns out I ended up dancing, laughing, and meeting new people. I have been to plays before, but never have I enjoyed myself so much. It was a great experience. If you are ever in London go the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

By the way, this SA was a captain and hit .418 for her softball team last season.   She found the right fit, athletically, academically, the right balance between those 2 and an affordable financial aid package for her parents.  Find out how you can do the same here.

Rick McDole did an excellent job last week explaining the importance of September 1st in the recruiting process. This is the time of year when the contacts with college coaches will begin in earnest. However, knowing that this communication is coming with college coaches is only half the battle. We need a strategy to handle these contacts and put our best foot forward to college coaches.

If you have already had contact (through letters, emails, met the coach at camp) with the college coach and the coach said they would call once they were able to, you should be prepared as a recruit. The most important thing when communicating with a college coach is to do your research on the school. We really want to make the communication as personal and as specific as possible. College coaches are not only calling you because they are interested in you as a student-athlete, but also to gauge your interest in the college they are calling from. The other way to impress is through thorough research on a school and asking questions that can’t be found on the schools website. Be specific! Why do you like the school? Do they have a great program for your major of choice? Have they had a chance to evaluate your video yet? Are their scholarships available for your position? These are all specific questions that will show a school you are truly interested in their program as opposed to asking questions that could be found through simple research on their site.

What we are saying is to make sure you are specific as possible when communicating with a college coach and tell them why you are REALLY interested in their school. Despite what some may think, saying something like “I really respect your strong academic and athletic programs” does NOT communicate interest to a college coach. Sure it is nice, and may even be true, but you could make that statement to any school in the country if you wanted to. This type of communication will not really impress the college coach who hears this from every recruit they talk to. Instead of using general terms, mention how you were impressed with their, for example, 8-3 record last year, how two players at your position were all-conference, or how they graduate 85% of their players. These are all examples, but the important thing to take away from this is to be specific in your reasons why you are interested in a school. Using specific examples like these will show coaches that you have done the work to research their school and you are truly interested in their program. This will make a much bigger impact on the coach than a general letter would. Coaches get thousands of general letters throughout the recruiting season expressing interest in their program, so anything that is specific will make you stand out in a good way to college coaches.

If this concept still seems difficult to grasp, imagine the positions flipped. Say you were a RB prospect who had letters coming in from two different schools. One of them reads…

“Dear recruit, Congratulations on your high school career and being named a top prospect at our school. We have a rich tradition here at School X and would like you to be a part of it. Best of luck.”

Pretty good right? Now compare that to this letter from a school who has done their research; School Y

“Dear John, I just saw your highlight video available on your scouting report on NCSA’s website. I thought you did an awesome job breaking tackles as a RB and fighting for the extra yard. That run you has against (opponent) was great, you must have dragged 5 guys into the endzone! I saw you had a big game last week running for over 150 yards with 3 TD’s. You are exactly the type of player we think can make an impact on our college program. We have a starting senior runningback right now who is graduating with a junior behind him. We want you to come in and make an impact immediately on our program. We really think your strength and versatility that you have shown us on the field will be able to help you excel at the college level. I am really looking forward to your game against (next opponent) to see what kind of numbers you can put up this week. I would love the opportunity to get a chance to tell you more about our program over the phone. Let me know when you are available and I would be more than happy to set up a time. Good luck against (next opponent) and have a great week.”

Now, which one was more impressive? X or Y? See how specific information makes the letter much more personal?

The college coach sees these details the same way. Keep these examples in mind the next time you are writing a letter/email to a college coach or preparing for a phone call. Take the opportunity with each contact that you have with a coach to make a positive impression on them. Be specific and do your research. College coaches will notice if you have put the research and it will make you stand out from the thousands (that’s right, thousands) of other recruits out there every year.

We are proud to announce our August Student-Athlete of the Month in Baseball, Matt Felvey. He is from the Chicago area, is a left-handed shortstop, has a big frame (6’4” 170 lbs), and will graduate in 2010. This summer he hit around .310 and in the spring he hit .331.

Felvey is a great student with a 3.6 GPA and a 3.92 weighted GPA. He also scored a 27 on his ACT and is looking to study business management, physical therapy, or sports management. Again, we are happy to name Matt Felvey as our August Student-Athlete of the Month.

Congratulations to our latest commitments for baseball in the 2010 class:

Cody Smith to San Diego State University

Christopher Divarco to Northern Illinois University

Ryan Mas to University of North Carolina – Charlotte

We wish you the best of luck and we look forward to hearing about your success in the future!