OP here, thank you all so much for your input. We're new to the whole college athletics scene, so we haven't known exactly what to expect. Things happened pretty fast, but my son ended up contacting the coach last night and committing. His application will be done tomorrow and he'll apply ED.

Coaches has spots to fill and basketball is not a large roster sport like football. The coach may be limited in the number of applicants who can receive "support" from each athletic team. But a commitment at senior year should go both ways. The school should be able to quickly respond to the ED application in writing in the manner you have been led. You can apply to a school and switch to ED if your son is ready to commit and the school is in agreement that they want him and are willing to offer the support. This is really the time when DIII schools are securing their most solid recruits.

Waiting has different risks. If you apply later they may fill the spot with another ED player. The later you wait in the process the more sure you need to be that either your player is very strong for that level, or your application is very strong for that school, or your pocket is strong enough to withstand a reduced offer of merit. That said, waiting does offer the opportunity that door #3 will open and something fabulous would be there. But for the most part if you have what you want now if would be wise to work out the arrangement and take the spot.

I think the coach is asking if your DS is "committed" to applying Early Decision. If it is a highly selective school, be sure to ask for a pre-read from admissions. They can tell you if he has the grades/scores for acceptance.

If this is not your child's first choice but it is an acceptable alternative given a certain amount of aid then you want to get written confirmation from the coach about the level of aid, especially if the child is going to be locked in with an ED (as opposed to EA) decision. The coach may be unwilling to give you written confirmation but push for what assurances you can get.

If it is your child's first choice, then go for it!!! It is not too early, as others have already indicated.

Congratulations to your child for receiving an offer!

Definitely not early for a senior. But D3 schools are a little different than D1. Usually with the selective ones there isn't really a written commitment. They do want an ED application. So if the ED deadline is 11/1 or 11/15 the coach needs to know now who he is going to use his limited chits on.

sports commitments happen early, sophomore year, or junior summer even
takes a lot of the stress out of senior year

What else are your waiting for or hoping for?

Did your DS apply early decision? Is this school your DS's first choice?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you afford it without any merit aid? Ask the coach what his likely merit aid will be.

We can afford it without merit aid and know an estimate of what the merit aid will be.

It is not that early to commit. My neighbor's daughter committed when she was a sophomore (softball).

Anonymous wrote:Can you afford it without any merit aid? Ask the coach what his likely merit aid will be.

We can afford it without merit aid and know an estimate of what the merit aid will be.

Can you afford it without any merit aid? Ask the coach what his likely merit aid will be.

OP here, my son's a senior.

Today, my son was asked to commit to a college to play Division III basketball. He likes the school, it has the academic program he wants, and we have an idea about the merit aid he'll receive. The coach would like an answer within a week or so. It just seems early to commit?

Thoughts?