While speaking with a staffer at the NCAA Clearinghouse I was told that players in every sport, including baseball, are graduating early to enroll in the spring. I knew this was relatively common in football (mostly QB's). Does anyone out there know of any baseball players doing this?

I don’t know about graduating early but I do know athletes are asked to enroll in summer school so they can be eligible to use the athletic facilities. I would guess this is done to comply with NCAA rules. A couple of things come to my mind on this subject. I don’t think a high school diploma a pre-requisite for enrolling in college classes because I know some local high school students are taking some classes at local colleges. Could this pass the litmus test for being enrolled in the college and negate the immediate requirement for a high school diploma? I would assume that using athletic facilities is a lot different than practicing or competing in the eyes of the NCAA.

Not sure this makes a lot of sense. Playing baseball and WORKING at baseball - gotta believe that playing has to be a better choice in the present and for the future. What do the rest of you think?

Did Landon Powell (South Carolina) not take his GED after his Junior year of high school so that he could enter the draft early but ended up at South Carolina?

Since my son was done with most of his graduation requirements early we discussed this possibility with CU, beginning January 04. He would have come in as a regular student, finished up his one last required class at college but his NLI was not good until this year. It was just a matter of him to geting adjusted to college life a little sooner and maybe getting in some experience and being eligible for the next draft sooner missing 04 draft (he wasn't drafted anyway). Anyone can use the facilities. It was a possibility considered, he actually missed the cutoff years ago and technically should have been an 03 graduate as far as maturity. However, in the long run he felt that his HS team was counting on him and he could not do it.
So yes, it is possible.

My son had enough credits to graduate after his Junior year, and we discussed it.

The conclusion was what's the rush! After 4 -6 years of college, you have 43 years or so to work.

Plus You have 4 years HS baseball and 4 years college baseball eligibility. If he graduated after his junior year he wold have given up 1 full year of HS baseball. Again, what's the rush.

Let them be kids as long as they can. 45 years is a long time to work.

BigWI- Couldn't agree with you more. We all know what the work world is like, and we all know how great it can be to be a kid. Let them enjoy it as long as they can.

Thanks to all for your response. I'm still looking for another baseball player other than Landon Powell that has done this. Pros and cons aside I'm wondering if this really does "happen all the time" which is what I was told by the Clearinghouse! Thanks again.

Soxnole,
I'll see if I can get some more examples for you, but the clearinghouse is correct, it does happen all the time.

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Originally posted by soxnole:
Thanks to all for your response. I'm still looking for another baseball player other than Landon Powell that has done this. Pros and cons aside I'm wondering if this really does "happen all the time" which is what I was told by the Clearinghouse! Thanks again.

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soxnole, Two come to mind.....Powell, who went to college after becoming a free agent after he took his GED and was not drafted. The other was Jeremy Bonderman who took his GED and was drafted in the first round by the A's. He was already 18 and had lots of talent.

As far as "scholarship" baseball players, I don't know of any that graduated early and headed off to college in the spring. Maybe some regular students. Bonderman is the only guy I can think of on the West Coast that left early, and as I mentioned, it was for the draft and he was older too.

bbscout, thanks for the info. Anyone else know of this happening?