I'm sure this is an very individual thing but my wife and I are a little uneasy at the stage of recruiting my 2012 daughter is at. A little advice from thise that REALLY KNOW will be invaluable.
Situation is 2012 daughter plays in midwest. Infielder, good hitter, lacks the foot speed to just be a dead lock for a big rogram. But is very good for the region, plays on established 18U team, been to the big events, done the emails for two years now.
She has already been on multiple visits, has 6-8 schools of varying size interested. Three of big conference schools, 3 mid level schools, and talking to some good quality academic D3's (Good grades, good ACT). Actually seems to be gaining some momentum with schools, but no verbal's yet.
My assumption has been that the highest level players and programs have probably closed out the recruiting process or are close. The whole process seems to be an uphill battle for the midwest players. So here are my questions:
1) Am I accurate in my assumption that better programs have closed out? Should we just stop communicating with them?
2) When do the "second tier" D1 players start to get picked up? When is it really getting late?
3) It seems the more academic schools both big and small seem to wait longer...Is that true? When do they start committing?
4) How honest can/should communications be when a verbal does come with that team? Can or should you "pressure" other schools that you are communicating with?
Travel ball coach is advising to pick out what you want that is realistic and start hitting 3 or 4 schools hard trying get the commitments rather than waiting for them.
It is a new one time process for us and we are feeling a little over our head.