There’s still time for uncommitted 2016 prospects

Today is the day thousands of high school seniors, including hundreds from National Scouting Report, will proudly slip on their favorite college T-shirt, take their seat behind a table, smile for the cameras and sign a National Letter of Intent on the first day of the NCAA’s regular signing period.

High school athletes in more than 20 sports will become “official” college athletes after signing binding agreements to play for their chosen colleges and universities. It’s a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.

However, for thousands of other high school seniors, there will be no lights, cameras or action today. No signatures. No smiles. No photos. Those athletes are still uncommitted or still waiting for offers.

Here’s some advice for them:

If you are still weighing offers, you still have time. The NCAA’s regular signing period continues through May 18 for Division I basketball players and through Aug. 1 for athletes in all other Division I and II sports except football (April 1).

“History tells us there are still opportunities out there,” NSR president Rusty Rigney said. “There may not be many left at the Division I level, but there still are some at the D-II level and many at the D-III and NAIA level.”

College coaches may pressure you to sign as soon as possible — they need to allocate their funds and finalize their rosters — but you can’t afford to make a mistake. Once you sign a National Letter of Intent, you are legally bound to that school for one year. If you change your mind, it will cost you a year of NCAA eligibility unless the school’s athletic director awards you a full release.

You should ultimately choose a college or university that you would attend even if you weren’t playing a sport. What happens if you don’t get playing time? What happens if you get injured? You don’t want to be stuck at a school for four years that you chose only because you wanted to play a sport there.

If you have no offers, put down a tuition deposit at one of the colleges or universities to which you were accepted — even if you can’t play a sport there. Most schools require a deposit of $100-$500 by May 1 to hold a spot for you. Although deposits are normally non-refundable, at least you will have a school to attend.

Meanwhile, you still will have several months before the end of the regular signing period to receive offers. Don’t worry that you missed the application deadline. Colleges and universities hold spots in school for scholarship athletes. If a college coach is interested in you, he or she will ask you to submit a late application. If you are accepted to that school, the coach can make you an offer and you can sign a National Letter of Intent.

Although you may have put down a deposit at another school, you are not legally bound to that school as long as you didn’t sign a National Letter of Intent. You can change your mind at any time without penalty (other than losing your deposit).

If you hope to play at an NAIA or NCAA Division III school, there are no signing dates to worry about. If a coach is interested in you, you often can apply and commit to those schools right up until the first day of classes.

You still can wear your school colors and smile for the cameras any time before then.