Baseball America has the story. Harper, currently a sophomore in high school, is considered by many evaluators to be the best high school prospect that they have seen in a while, and many belive he would have gone #2 overall this year had he been draft-eligible. Harper was recently the subject of a SI cover story, declaring him to be “the Chosen One”, the Lebron James of baseball. He would be the expected #1 overall pick in 2011, when he would be a high school senior. However, Harper, a powerhitting catcher with great athleticism and an exceptional arm, is attempting to be draft-eligible a year earlier by enrolling in South Nevada Junior College while getting his GED, which would make him eligible for the 2010 draft. He is expected to be the top pick in 2010, even at the age of a high school junior.
Harper is the type of talent that the Yankees never have a chance to draft, but it is nonetheless interesting to see how elite talents (represented by Scott Boras) can circumvent the draft rules. In the 2009 draft, the 2nd round saw the drafting of a similar case to Harper, USC c/RHP Robert Stock. Stock, a hyped catching/pitching prospect and likely first-round pick out of high school, enrolled at USC a year early after his junior year in high school. He was unable to live up to the hype at USC, but still has a lot of talent, and could be a great player at either position. He is probably not in Harper’s class as a prospect, but Stock’s case should be considered when Harper decides to enter the draft early.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
4 Responses to High School Phenom Bryce Harper to Enroll in Junior College
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
Wow. Hopefully Harper can some how fall to the Yankees. The Nationals actually have a chance at being good if they get both Strasburg and Harper.
Good luck to Bryce. Heis said on ultiple occasions – including in SI – that his goal is “to play in Yankee Stadium. Play in th epinstripes.” Hopefully we can land him ine day…
BTW, Can anybody explain what exactly is the difference between a regular college and a “Junior” college? (I got my High School diploma and enrolled in the local Jewish college so I ain’t exactly knowledgable ’bout this stuff….) And how is it possible to attend college before earning a GED? Just curious how all this stuff works.
Junior colleges are 2 year schools, you can earn a degree after two at some or transfer over to a four year school after the two years are up, not sure about how it works for the draft, i think they can be drafted after one year, please correct me if I am wrong
That’s right. And Harper will get his GED before attending the junior college.