Prep Baseball Report July 2008 issue lists Robert Kennedy, Northside Prep within it's listing of the Top 120 Class of 2009 Seniors. It is not easy to get noticed playing in the CPS League as it is not one of the stronger leagues in the state.

Other CPS Players listed by PBR in the July issue are:

Christian Hickman, Simeon
Jon Dorsey, Simeon
Adrian Perez, Clemente

CPS Players listed by PBR as "On The Cusp"

Richard Inman, Northside College Prep
Jason Ormond, Whitney Young
Noel Pagan, Lane
William Feliciano, Lane (Class of 2010)
Marcus White, Jones College Prep

= Edited by moderator =

can this last post be deleted? what purpose does it serve?

A moderator already took it down once tonight. Dacoach1, what are you doing re-posting it?

Pretty slick ..trying to sneak it in this thread

Thank you to those who alerted me.

dacoach1, you will need to contact me at hsbaseballweb@comcast.net if you would like to request reinstatement of your posting privileges.

Thanks,

Julie

Now he's done it. DaCoach gets DaHook.

Ive heard that Robert Kennedy is seriously considering attending Heartland .

Thought you all said he was a D1 type of player? Heartland is a great school, they go after a ton of guys from the area, they probably will be a powerhouse for awhile. Their definitely a team that I think can compete with D1 programs, relating back to a previous thread that tried to say juco's are greatly inferior to D1 programs.

Who says a D1 type of player cant attend a juco for couple of years and then go D1 . Its not where you start ...its where you end up that counts .

Nails, I didn't understand your post. The first line seems to indicate that going JUCO means he is not a D1 talent. Then you say Heartland can compete with D1 schools. Not taking issue with you, just trying to understand your point.

I have seen most of the players in the area multiple times. I was at Stevenson, my son plays in the CSL and he has played travel ball. We have also gone to a couple of D1 college camps. Robert Kennedy has D1 talent. He stands out among all the players I have seen.

I think it is a good move if he does choose Heartland. The coaches are good and will help him continue to develope. He'll play right away in spring and fall. They have a brand new facility. He'll get good grades and be able to transfer to a big D1 if he does continue to develop. If baseball is over, he can transfer to a Big Ten school and get a good degree then. And he'll have saved a lot of money. I think JUCO makes sense for a lot of reasons.

Yes I agree 100% there are many D1 players at JUCO's in fact 4 players down here this year have rejected D1 offers and choose to play JUCO for one reason or another. Heartland is a GREAT OPTION. So are the other schools in that conference. SCI, Springfield College has won the conference the last couple years along with Parkland and Lincoln Land, the conference has outstanding talent. All you have to do is look over the years at how many players have been drafted out of Lincoln Land or how many players in this conference have moved on and then been drafted to know JUCO is a fine option.

The Kennedy boy in my opinion could choose from any D1 around and they would be getting a fine player.

quote:

Originally posted by bballdad1954:

I think it is a great move if he does choose Heartland. The coaches are great and will help him continue to develope.

Sorry, minor change.

I always defended juco's. Too many parents look down their noses at them and act like they aren't good and their kids need to go D1 or nothing. I defended Illinois juco's especially on other threads stating that I think they can compete with the Illinois D1 schools.

My only point is everyone seems to think this kid is a D1 guy, he's been at all the events like Stevenson. Why aren't the D1 schools on this kid if in fact he throws 88 mph. What's holding them back from giving him an offer? There has to be something, grades, size, attitude, what?

I wonder if he is proactve or just waiting for people to find him. I noticed the original post repeating the biggest fallicy "If you are good they will find you". To me that is one of the worst statements that you could ever rely on.
JC can be a good way to go. However there are JC and there are JCs. Many pro teams place their draft picks including top one on certain JC until they hammer out a deal. Obviously the main reason is they don't have to waite for 3 years to sign the player. I have seen top icks go to JCs and not be dominant so there must be some very talented players competeing at them.
I have also seen a high school age team beat a top D1 JC and a D1 college. So if antone can figure that out let me know.

putting draft picks on JC programs to hammer out a deal is gone. That was the draft and follow process and they don't do that anymore. JC is a great option for anyone in my opinion and there's alot of reasons to go. There are some schools though that don't like taking juco transfers for whatever reason. As for someone beating someone else, that's baseball and anything can happen.

Still want to know if this kid was at Stevenson with 60+ schools there and he's a pitcher throwing 88 mph, and everyone is signing pitchers and wants pitchers and there's not many that throw 85+, why is he not being talked to. There's something weird with that story and something not being said, or maybe he is getting offers he just doesn't like them. But every pitcher with a good arm has pretty much been contacted by someone so far.

You are right that draft and follow is gone but they still do this. The guys I was talking about are top picks that woudn't accept the offers. Top prospects out og HS often end up at JCs even after DF is gone.
It is highly possible he has things that you aren't aware of. My son had many offers from colleges that he wouldn't take because they were cold weather and out in the sticks. there could be several reasons for not signing.

I spoke with a Coach at a top 10 JUCO. They are a D-1 JUCO that consitantly ranks nationally. They only give scholarships to pitchers who are consistantly above 88 mph. Otherwise, you walk on.

Now, I have seen/heard many kids who have signed on at D-1's in our Midwest area and I believe that a majority of them that I seen are not even close to a consistant 88 mph. Yes, I am only referring to a fraction of the kids but it sure sounds to me like the talent at some of the top JUCOs is nothing to turn your nose up at. JMHO

My son had an offer from a top JC whcih had been to the D1 WS 4 years in a row. HC was a pitching guy and most of his scholarships went to island guys. My son only threw 78-82.
I think people set these dtandards in their mind but the truth is if you can pitch there will be all divisions interested in you. My bet is that he has had interest but nothing that interests him or thye money isn't right.
My son's college had guys that were sub 80 and they had guys in the 90s. They had a freshman who hit 96 recently. Don't set artificial barriers for yourself. Soft tosser do get interest from top colleges but you can't sit back and wait. They also tend to have to prove themselves but they do get great offers.

The jucos may be getting the kids that are throwing 88+ because they are not currently getting the necessary grades for D1. In addition, and I know that I am being naive here, it is possible to be a better pitcher even though you don't throw as hard as another player, isn't it?