I'm a LHP and I will be going to the Headfirst Showcase for the first time in Richmond, Virginia. I do not have many substantial scores as of yet (only 1 SAT subject score) because I have not started junior year yet. I have a few questions regarding both Headfirst in addition to some general recruiting questions:

1) Will schools be uninterested in me simply because I don't have many scores to show as of yet?

2) Do coaches pay attention to where I attend high school? I have a 3.95 GPA at a very competitive high school where maintaining a 3.7 GPA is more difficult than maintaining a 4.0 at most other high schools, perhaps knowing where I attend school will show coaches that I am a dedicated student?

3) Do they care at all about subject test scores?

4) How academically qualified must I be in order to be qualified at a school like Harvard or MIT? Additionally, I read in a NYTimes article that most people at Headfirst are quickly crossed off coaches' lists because they do not meet academic qualifications. Is this true? I read in the same article that the average Headfirst player has a 1300 SAT out of 1600.

5) Will being very highly academically-qualified help a lot in the recruiting process? I have been taking practice tests this summer and I've been consistently scoring around 2350 out of 2400. Given a few more months for preparation, I can probably earn a perfect SAT score, as well as earn a total of 3 perfect subject test scores (I already have an 800 in 1 subject). When I go to Headfirst in 2010, I will have scores to show. Will coaches more actively pursue me and do I need to be as athletically capable as a typical recruit? I am mostly looking at Ivy League schools and MIT.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

E-mail Coach Sullivan at HeadFirst directly and run all of this thru him. He'll help you.

You are doing all the right things at this point to get noticed and things will become more clear the further along you go. Not having your scores yet should not be a problem. If programs are interested they will follow you. If you haven't read the recruiting time line on this site do so now as it is a good guide to follow for your next steps.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Monstor:

Somehow, I doubt you will have any difficulties -- at least academically. If you can play at all, it is a bonus.

I am amazed at your academic qualifications and I have no doubt they will open many, many doors. If you are crossed off the list of any school, it won't be because of your measurable intelligence or classroom accomplishments.