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Inside The Recruitment: Justin Decker, SS/3B, CBA, NY (2015)

November 24, 2014

Alex Jurczynski
Assistant Scouting Director, New York

PBR New York sat down with Justin Decker, SS/3B, standout for a deeper look inside his recruiting process.

Name: Justin Decker
High School: Christian Brothers Academy (Albany)
Position: SS/3B
State Rank: 73
Commitment: Dominican

Decker’s Top Three: Dominican, Mt. Olive, Siena
Top Offer: Domincan

PBR: When did you start looking into schools?

Decker: I first started looking into schools the beginning of my junior year. That may seem early but I wish I had started a little bit earlier because the time flies by. It’s never too early to start because if a college sees that you have good skills and they like you, you never know what may happen.

PBR: When did you go on your first college visit?

Decker: I went on my first college visit the summer before senior year. You really have to take advantage of the summer and visit all the schools you have interest in because it is the best time to do so. Yet again, it is never too early to start.

PBR: What did PBR offer you from a recruiting standpoint (The Process)?

Decker: PBR has a great process with many connections to colleges. I had the chance to talk to coaches one on one and the social media aspect was a big part of the exposure. They take advantage of the web and social media to spotlight you to the hundreds of coaches subscribed to the service.

PBR: What did you like about the PBR events you attended?

Decker: The showcases were very structured and there wasn’t a lot of standing around like you may get at some other events. They really do a great job of utilizing the time they have so you are able to get the most out of the showcase. Also, the video they make for you is a great recruiting tool as some people charge up to $500 for a video but PBR includes it with the showcase. Some showcases are just moneymakers but the guys at PBR really want you to get noticed and that’s the difference.

PBR: Do you think showcases are necessary for players looking to pursue a collegiate baseball career

Decker: Absolutely. It is extremely hard to get coaches to come watch your games and even if they do come, they only stay a few innings. Therefore, showcases are crucial to the recruiting process and give you the best chance of getting recruited. 

PBR: How did you land at Dominican College?

Decker: The PBR team and resources were very helpful to me as far as evaluating my options and educating me on the recruiting process.

PBR: How excited are you to play with your cross-town rival, Jordan Bernacet next season at the collegiate level?

Decker: I have been playing against Jordan since Little League and he is one of the best players I have played against. Not many people have the opportunity to play with someone they’ve known since Little League in college so I am pretty excited.  We have become pretty good friends and I look forward to working together with him at Dominican to bring a good amount of wins to the program.

PBR: What words of advice would you give for the upcoming classes based on your recruiting experience?

Decker: First off, you need to make sure you are in good academic standing. I don’t care if you’re the next Derek Jeter, no college is going to want you if you are a problematic student. The best thing you can do is talk to someone who has gone through the process and ask them any questions you may have. The recruiting process can be very stressful at times but you need to stay calm and utilize ALL of your resources.

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