RHP Parker Schuring (Huntley, 2023; Northern Illinois commit) made it a habit to show well in front of our PBR staff this past summer. He initially opened some eyes at PBR at The Rock, cruising in the high 80's with a sharp breaking ball to pair. A few months later he made his way down to Rantoul for the inaugural Illinois State Games, and came away one of the clear winners from the event - committing to Northern Illinois less than a month later. With the trend that Schuring has been on as of late, he surely looks to be someone that Huntley can rely on this coming spring on the mound, adding some quality depth to an already talented pitching staff.

We recently had the chance to catch up with Schuring about his recruitment process, along with some other fun topics mixed in throughout the Q&A. 

Our Q&A

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Schuring: My expectations about the recruiting process were I knew I was going to have to be patient and expect a long/tough process. I was looking for a bigger college with a solid business and baseball program.

P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

S: Distance was never a deal breaker. Although, after I made the decision to accept the offer, I was glad I did. I’m glad I’ll be close to home for my family to come and watch me play.

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

S: The recruiting process really started to heat up after my junior high school season. NIU first saw me play at PBR at The Rock in Wisconsin.

P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

S: I was really impressed with the coaching staff and the facilities. The key factor in making my decision was that I really felt wanted when I made my first visit.

P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

S: Other schools that were on my short list were Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, St. Louis University, Eastern Michigan, Kirkwood and UIS.

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

S: I think the best player i’ve faced this year was Ryan Niedzwiedz. He’s tough to pitch to and tough to get out.

P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

S: Most definitely when I decided to focus solely on pitching and become a PO. I’ve known for many years that pitching has been my strength, so choosing to concentrate on pitching definitely improved my chances of playing college baseball.

P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

S: I would say to work hard, be patient and pursue that passion.

P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

S: For this question i’m going to have to go way back to Cooperstown when I hit nine home runs.

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

S: I think everyone is expecting a lot out of our team since we have most of our starters back and a lot of talent with many committed players. I really think our team is going to have a great season.

P: How did the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event?

S: I did receive more attention after the Illinois State Games. I had many offers before but going to the State Games gave me several more opportunities for my recruiting process.

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

S: I think I would have to steal Zander Meuth’s velocity for sure!

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

S: I think the next talented young player to keep an eye out for is AJ Putty on my high school team.

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