Bryce Harper going Juco

[zack54attack]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/48018907.html

Bryce Harper, the baseball phenom from Las Vegas High School, has no future in high school. An extraordinary player is ready to make an unusual move.

Harper, a 16-year-old who just completed his sophomore year, has registered at the College of Southern Nevada, where he plans to attend classes in August and play for the Coyotes next season.

His father, Ron Harper, announced the decision Saturday while in Oklahoma City for a baseball tournament.

"Bryce is always looking for his next challenge," Ron Harper said. "He's going to pursue his education, too. He's going to get pushed academically and athletically.

"I don't see a problem with it. I think we've handled it the right way. I think it will be a great story."

Bryce Harper gained national acclaim by appearing on the June 8 cover of Sports Illustrated as "Baseball's Chosen One." The story hinted at his plans to enroll in junior college to prepare for his professional career.

Harper, a 6-foot-3-inch catcher, hit .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Wildcats this season. He also had 36 stolen bases.

With his combination of power and speed, Harper is projected to be the top pick in the major league draft when he's eligible. That should be next June.

Ron Harper said his son, who turns 17 on Oct. 16, will be draft eligible "in 2010 or 2011. ... There are a lot of rules that people don't know about."

Bryce Harper and his mother, Sheri, recently went to CSN and signed enrollment forms and his letter of intent to play baseball. Harper is aiming to earn his GED test credentials in the fall.

"He was thinking about it. He initiated it," Ron Harper said. "He said, 'Dad, why can't I take my GED and do this?' "

The minimum age for major league draft eligibility is 16, upon completion of high school.

Ron Harper said Las Vegas High administrators and baseball coach Sam Thomas are "all supportive" of the move, though he expects detractors might surface.

"There are going to be critics. I can't worry about what people think. People are going to see what they want to see and say what they want to say," Ron Harper said. "I think this prepares him for life, playing the game of baseball.

"People question your parenting and what you're doing. Honestly, we don't think it's that big a deal. He's not leaving school to go work in a fast-food restaurant. Bryce is a good kid. He's smart, and he's going to get his education."

CSN coach Tim Chambers is a longtime friend of the Harper family.

"That's the only way this works out. I've known Tim for about 25 years," Ron Harper said. "Tim is going to take care of him. I couldn't send Bryce somewhere else. If I sent him across the country, I might second-guess myself and think I was crazy."

Bryan Harper, Bryce's brother, is transferring from Cal State Northridge to play for the Coyotes next season, so Bryce will have a strong support group at CSN. Bryan is a 6-5 left-handed pitcher.

"It's phenomenal because I get to play with my brother," Bryce said.

Ron Harper said he and Bryce have faced a "media frenzy" since arriving in Oklahoma City last week, a result of the publicity from the Sports Illustrated cover story.

"I've always tried to keep him humble," Ron Harper said. "But Bryce has always made good decisions on his own. He needs to be a good role model.

"My son is going to live with us and still eat at the same table. His brother will be a mentor to him. Why can't it be a good story?"

 

[Macken]

this kid is amazing and will be the number 1 pick next year

 

[chazmaniandevil]

thank you captain obvious

 

[Leftwich]

Like I said before, if this kid is really that good i don't think he'll even be in the minors for more than 1 season. But the age thing is an issue to me.

 

[Slateman]

this kid is amazing and will be the number 1 pick next year

Hellllllllllllllllllllo NATIONALS!!!!!!

 

[Blade]

Great....the Nats are going to be the next Pittsburgh Penguins. Suck long enough so you can draft potentially 2 of the greatest players at their positions and win a Title. And then the whole world will go ga ga over the stupid team.

 

[NAHSTE]

Great....the Nats are going to be the next Pittsburgh Penguins. Suck long enough so you can draft potentially 2 of the greatest players at their positions and win a Title. And then the whole world will go ga ga over the stupid team.

That's not really how baseball works. The chances are slim that Strasburg and Harper ever become big league teammates.

And even if they did land both of these players they will be so saddled financially that they won't do dick else with their club, and, lo and behold, the Nats will still suck.

High draft picks do not necessarily equal success in MLB.

 

[kyhadley]

I still think its retarded that you can't trade draft picks.

 

[EmpireWF]

I still think its retarded that you can't trade draft picks.

Do you have any good solutions that would allow trading of draft picks without any of the potential problems?

 

[Slateman]

That's not really how baseball works. The chances are slim that Strasburg and Harper ever become big league teammates.

And even if they did land both of these players they will be so saddled financially that they won't do dick else with their club, and, lo and behold, the Nats will still suck.

High draft picks do not necessarily equal success in MLB.

Care to explain. I don't see how they can't sign them. Its not like they're totally devoid of talent. Zimmermans, Detwieler, Balester, Lanan, Flores, Dukes . . . all talented. Just need time to develop.

Strasburg will be signed. What is he gonna do? Sit out a year? Play ball in Mexico? Then he's stuck in the exact same position. He gets drafted by the Nats (who would have the first and second picks in the draft).

The Nats will spend money. Bowden is gone. They have the cash. Harper will be a Nat

 

[BroncoBlue]

Just a little FYI on this kid.

My younger brother played on the same team as him here in Denver, Colorado when he was in middle school.

The kid was so rich his parents flew him out every weekend to play on a club team in Colorado even though they lived in Las Vegas,NV.

IMO he had to have gotten a ton better to be ready to play even in the minors.

Don't get me wrong he's a phenomenal talent, but there was another pitcher here in Colorado name Matt Ogden who was just as good and the same age.

IMO this is all hype and he won't pan out.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

Just a little FYI on this kid.

My younger brother played on the same team as him here in Denver, Colorado when he was in middle school.

The kid was so rich his parents flew him out every weekend to play on a club team in Colorado even though they lived in Las Vegas,NV.

IMO he had to have gotten a ton better to be ready to play even in the minors.

Don't get me wrong he's a phenomenal talent, but there was another pitcher here in Colorado name Matt Ogden who was just as good and the same age.

IMO this is all hype and he won't pan out.

it wasnt the kid that was rich, the traveling teams paid it for him (at least thats what i remember from the si article)

 

[Jax]

been to about 20-30 of the kids games dudes a beast

 

[BroncoBlue]

it wasnt the kid that was rich, the traveling teams paid it for him (at least thats what i remember from the si article)

They didn't pay for the air fair from Vegas to here just he's uin's and travel exp. from Denver to where ever and stuff like that. Which was a lot all in its own it use to cost my parents $3,000 plus for my brother to be on that team.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

They didn't pay for the air fair from Vegas to here just he's uin's and travel exp. from Denver to where ever and stuff like that. Which was a lot all in its own it use to cost my parents $3,000 plus for my brother to be on that team.

i thought he never stayed on one team, it said he just played with whatever traveling team called him and invited him that week

 

[BroncoBlue]

i thought he never stayed on one team, it said he just played with whatever traveling team called him and invited him that week

Here in Denver he was on a team called the Steel and he traveled all over with them and even played a couple local tournaments.

 

[BroncoBlue]

been to about 20-30 of the kids games dudes a beast

Damn did you stalk him arourd town or something! lol

 

[chazmaniandevil]

Here in Denver he was on a team called the Steel and he traveled all over with them and even played a couple local tournaments.

oh, this must have been a couple years ago then right?

 

[Jax]

Damn did you stalk him arourd town or something! lol

no lol i went to most of LVs baseball games tho lol

 

[BroncoBlue]

oh, this must have been a couple years ago then right?

Ya it was a couple years ago....

Did you guys know Bryce's dad lost his job in Vegas and they sent him to live with his grandma in Oklahoma City. He's still applying to Southern Nevada Jr. Colleges though.