April 19, 2019
In our second alumni spotlight of the 2019 season, we highlight two Honor Roll alumni pursuing their baseball careers at the Division I and Division III levels: John Dempsey, a freshman at Wofford College, and Sam Richards, an incoming freshman at Kenyon College. Although at different points in their baseball and academic journeys, each found success and connected with their college coaches at Headfirst Honor Roll Camps. We asked John and Sam to share their unique perspectives on the recruiting process below:
3B John Dempsey – Wofford College, class of 2022Captain and 4-year starter at Georgetown Prep: Washington Post All-Met junior and senior year; All IAC junior and senior year; Perfect Game pre-season All American Atlantic Region; Currently leading Wofford in HRs, 2Bs and SLG% as a freshman
What do you know now about the high-academic recruiting process that you wish you knew when you were going through the recruiting process?
Keep your grades up, play with confidence and talk to as many coaches as you can.
What impact did Headfirst Honor Roll Camps have on your recruiting process?
I had a few offers from Division I schools prior to going to Headfirst Honor Roll Camps and almost didn’t attend camp. I was relaxed and thankfully Wofford College saw me play during the two days of camp. It ended up being the best fit for me for both academics and baseball*.
How did your recruiting process compare to your high school or travel ball teammates that were not pursuing a high-academic school?
I focused more on keeping my grades up and trying to concentrate on what was in my control in the recruiting process. I made sure I was prepared for whatever came my way – both athletically and academically.
What was the biggest shock/hardest adjustment during your freshman year?
The academic adjustment was the biggest shock. It’s hard to keep your grades up because baseball takes a lot of time – both working with the team and on your own. Time management is extremely important.
What is the best piece(s) of advice that you would give current high school student-athletes looking to play at a high-academic school?
Keep working on improving your grades, and remember that there is a fit for everyone. In one weekend, Headfirst Honor Roll Camps exposed me to a lot of schools, and I ended up finding the best fit for me.
*We love that John shared this piece of his story – it means that he was able to be patient in his process and make sure that he was able to find the right holistic fit, rather than rush through it for the perceived “win” of making an early Division I commitment. Nice job, John!
2018 All-State Honorable Mention; Metro League 2018 Senior of the Year; 2018 First Team All-League; 2018 Colorado Academy Baseball MVP
What impact did Headfirst Honor Roll Camps have on your recruiting process?
Headfirst eliminated the mystery in the recruiting process. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet coaches, talk to them about my interests and better understand what they are looking for and how they evaluate recruits. The camp experience far exceeded my expectations, and I believe Headfirst was better than any other camp or showcase I attended. Not only did I enjoy the process, but I learned a lot and met my future coach at camp.
How did your recruiting process compare to your high school or travel ball teammates that were not pursuing a high-academic school?
From what I hear from my former teammates, the high-academic recruiting process places a much more intense scrutiny and higher expectations on your academics, while still expecting you to perform at a highly competitive level athletically.
What is the best piece(s) of advice that you would give current high school student-athletes looking to play at a high-academic school?
High-academic college coaches expect the best from potential recruits academically, athletically, and in your extracurricular activities. Coaches will ask about everything – sports, grades, community service, etc. – whatever it is that makes you an attractive recruit that they can support. Take the time to be involved and committed to those activities that inspire you, and be sure to embrace your academic journey.