In this episode, I sit down with Justin Ebert, hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Greensboro College, to talk about what it really takes to develop as a hitter at the college level and what high school players and families should be doing right now to prepare.

Justin shares how his background in psychology shapes the way he communicates with hitters, why mental resilience matters just as much as mechanics, and how he builds individualized routines that set guys up for success from day one.

We also get into the recruiting side of things, how Greensboro evaluates players, what intangibles they look for beyond tools and stats, and how the transfer portal has changed the landscape for high school showcases.

This conversation is especially valuable for high school players and families who want to understand what college coaches are actually looking for and how development, attitude, and fit can matter more than rankings or division level.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

0:53 Justin's origin story and path from player to coach

3:46 Why psychology changed how Justin coaches and communicates

4:45 How he helps hitters manage failure and stay mentally even

6:10 The biggest gap for incoming freshmen, building a routine

7:31 How Justin builds individual drill routines for each hitter

8:30 Tee work and underhand toss philosophy at Greensboro

9:55 Where Justin learned his hitting philosophy and who influenced him

11:13 Using visual cues instead of mechanical adjustments

11:48 Batter's box positioning and two-strike approach

14:38 Justin's experience playing travel baseball with the Canes

16:31 What Justin learned coaching travel ball with Team Elite and the Canes

18:34 How the recruiting landscape has changed since he played

19:46 Players who surprised him during the recruiting process

21:10 How the transfer portal has changed showcase baseball

21:17 When Greensboro starts recruiting and how they build their classes

25:37 The type of player and person Greensboro looks for

26:58 Why Greensboro College baseball is a family and what makes it different

29:03 Life in Greensboro, the city, campus, and culture

30:16 Best local food spots in Greensboro

32:10 Campus life, housing, and living situation for players

33:46 Facilities and why coaching matters more than resources

35:27 What Justin will do differently in his second year as hitting coach

Follow Greensboro Baseball:

Twitter/X: @GCPrideBaseball

Instagram: @GreensboroCollegeBaseball

TikTok: @GCBaseball

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Nate Cole, recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Harvard University, to talk about what it actually takes to play baseball at one of the most selective schools in the country.

Nate walks through Harvard’s recruiting process, what they look for academically, how they evaluate players beyond stats and rankings, and why being a great student alone is not enough to play at the Division 1 level.

We also get into the development side of Harvard baseball, including how Nate works with pitchers, how they use technology and data, why some players need more simplicity instead of more information, and what separates players who succeed at the college level.

This conversation is especially valuable for players and families who want to understand the balance between academics, baseball ability, work ethic, and finding the right fit in the recruiting process.

Topics Covered:

What Harvard looks for in baseball recruits

How academics filter the recruiting process

Why GPA, SATs, and AP classes matter

The importance of challenging yourself early in high school

How Harvard evaluates players in person

Why Harvard recruits nationally for small classes

What families misunderstand about Ivy League recruiting

Why being “an Ivy League kid” is not specific enough

The type of player Harvard baseball wants

Why players need to be self-driven

How Nate develops pitchers at Harvard

Using technology, data, and video in player development

Why some players overthink and need to simplify

The role of passion, work ethic, and love for baseball

How baseball can open academic opportunities

The biggest mistakes families make in recruiting

Why fit matters more than logos, rankings, or scholarships

Follow Nate Cole:

X: https://x.com/NateCole33

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Maryville College head coach Clint Helton to talk about Division III baseball, recruiting, player development, and what it really takes to build a winning program.

Clint shares his path from playing at Maryville to becoming the head coach, how the program has grown, and what he looks for when recruiting players. We also dive into the misconceptions around Division III baseball, why the right people matter as much as talent, and how Maryville has built a culture where players take ownership of their development.

We also get into pitching strategy, why pitchability matters more than velocity at certain levels, how Maryville uses data, and what makes the school and Knoxville/Maryville area such a unique place to play college baseball.

• Clint’s background as a Maryville player and coach
• His transition from assistant coach to head coach
• What he would tell his younger coaching self
• Why recruiting is about finding the right player and the right person
• How Maryville evaluates makeup during the recruiting process
• What high school players misunderstand about Division III baseball
• Why D3 baseball can be much better than people think
• The importance of self-directed work outside team practice
• How Maryville structures its fall development period
• Why pitchability, command, and off-speed usage matter
• How Maryville’s staff tracks competitive pitches and uses data
• What makes Maryville College and the surrounding area appealing
• The history of Maryville baseball, including its 150th season

Clint Helton: @CHelt29

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.