The Top Three Reasons NSR Suggests JUCO

The junior college (JUCO) route is a viable option for prospects in some cases.

Going JUCO sometimes carries a stigma, but that is an unfair assessment. We know because we see the opposite side of the argument win out every year with NSR prospects who thrive in the two-year athletic model. They consistently go on to solid, if not great, careers at four-year schools. Most of their success goes back to their time spent at the junior college level.

NSR scouts have found that there are three specific advantages for athletes to choose the JUCO route. We do not hesitate to recommend that path to prospects that fit into this category. For over 36 yeas, NSR has been assisting high school athletes find scholarships at every level. D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO opportunities are found by NSR for athletes.

Playing Time

 With JUCO rosters only two classes deep an NSR prospect’s chance of earning serious playing time as a freshman is much better than at a four-year program where players are four classes deep. That naturally leads to more game experience. Having the opportunity to compete early in college is always a good thing. It is something no one can duplicate in practice.

Further, sitting on the bench is no fun. Yes, there are upsides to working up to a starting position. But some prospects get disillusioned, fairly or unfairly, by not playing. That is especially true since they just spent four years grinding away to become a starter and contributor, if not a star, in high school. Dropping down to second fiddle can be very hard. So hard is the transition that some prospects don’t survive. Had they gone the JUCO way, they may have lasted. That alone would have changed their lives.

Athletic Skill Development

Physically many prospects are not ready to compete at four-year schools. Being tagged as undersized or not strong enough plague a good number of high school seniors just coming into their most dramatic growth spurts. Growth in the late teens and early 20’s is not uncommon. Prospects with a keen desire to play in college, have the grades, but are not yet capable of hanging tough with more prominent athletes may need a year or two of maturation. The two years of JUCO ball gives them the doorway to catching up with their peers.

While some kids are physically ready, skill-wise they may lack. Maybe they came to the sport late. Perhaps they have decided to switch from their first loved sport to the one that coaches are telling them they are more likely to play in college. Those two more developmental years can turn a D-II athlete into a D-I recruit, that is if the athlete puts in the dedicated work.

We could add the grades issue, but that is too easy. So we will leave that in a category all by itself.

More Scholarship Opportunity

Going the JUCO route is a great way to help students earn scholarships, both academic and athletic, to help curb the price of going to college. A lot of student-athletes that go the JUCO route can save a ton of money in the long run since JUCO tuition is typically less expensive than a four-year institution.

JUCO’s offer partial and full athletic scholarships in addition to other awards the specific institution may offer.

Parents and prospects, give this some serious thought – there is no real downside to heading off to a junior college right out of high school. Many four-year coaches look to the JUCO programs first to fill their roster holes. When that happens, a junior college veteran can walk into a role more prepared than had he or she opted to dive into bigger school first.

Find out more about the JUCO schools that might be right for you. Call the NSR scout near you today for a complimentary evaluation of your athlete’s abilities and consultation about how your skill set. The NSR scouts can let you know their thoughts on the recruiting process. If a junior college route is best for you, then they can talk about the many different options.