College Development Programs

RT Staff Note: We are always touting CDP's like ADB, Norcal, East Cobb and others, but there are a growing number of other programs that fly under the radar, yet help place dozens of players every year in colleges. The All Star Baseball Academy isn't exactly an unknown organization. They are high profile in the east, but not usually top of mind in terms of championships. That said, pro players like B.J. and Justin Upton played for ASBA. Rounding Third salutes teams like ASBA and the world of College Development Baseball would be a better place if more programs like this and others in our top 10 would emulate this business model. It's great for the game of baseball and provides an incredible service for players that want to play ball at the next level. The following is a Press Release we found on CBS MarketWatch.

All-Star Baseball Academy Announces Commitment of 24 Players to Collegiate Baseball Programs

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Nov 12, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- All-Star Baseball Academy (ASBA), the Delaware Valley's largest organization for developing young athletes through instruction, competition and mentoring, announces today that 24 of its players will be signing letters of intent by the November 19th deadline to play collegiate baseball. These Greater Philadelphia region players have all been active participants in ASBA's programs and will be entering elite baseball programs across the country. ASBA will be honoring these players at an event at its West Chester facility at 7:00 p.m. on November 19.

The ASBA players will be signing with colleges including the University of North Carolina's program, which is currently ranked third by the NCAA, as well as schools such as Georgetown University, Wake Forest University, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia and Penn State University.

"We would like to congratulate each one of these players," said Mike Manning, director of ASBA. "We have a tremendous class of athletes this year and see many younger players following the same path to play college ball. Our program is designed to not only provide instruction to improve the skill sets of the players, but also help them through the recruitment process and prepare them for competition at the collegiate level. We look forward to following these players through their collegiate baseball careers."

The 24 players include:

Name - College - High School

Robert Amaro - Virginia - William Penn Charter
Nick Bonadies - West Chester U. - Scotch Plains Fanwood
Tim Cooney - Wake Forest - Malvern Prep
Tom Coyle - North Carolina - Germantown Academy
Ryan Dietrich - Penn - The Hill School
Chris Gosik - East Carolina - Malvern Prep
Neal Herring - Penn State - West Chester East
Jeff Kelly - Pittsburgh - Owen J. Roberts
Justin Leeson - Georgetown - West Chester East
Mike Lubanski - Wake Forest - Malvern Prep
Jay Lynch - Binghamton - West Chester East
Ryan McCallin - Georgia Southern - St. Mark's, DE
Dan Novak - U.S Naval Academy West - Chester East
Mark Rhine - Wake Forest - William Penn Charter
Taylor Runge - Bucknell - Octarara
Vince Russomagno - Cornell - Episcopal Academy
Eric Ruth - Winthrop - North Penn
Jeff Schill - John Hopkins - LaSalle College HS
Steve Snyder - Penn State - West Chester East
Jim Stokes - Elon - College The Hill School
Andrew Strenge - Maryland - Holy Ghost Prep
Tom Timoney - UNC Wilmington - Mercersburg Academy
Christian Walker - South Carolina - Kennedy Kenrick
Chris Whitman - Millersville U. - Bishop Shanahan

ASBA works with players to ensure that they will have successful future careers through a high level of competition and superior instruction. ASBA offers collegiate baseball showcases, which offer players the opportunity to demonstrate their skills for the leading collegiate baseball coaches across the country. In addition, ASBA offers camps, where players further develop and perfect their skills and learn the best techniques for highlighting their abilities.

In November, December and January, ASBA is offering five Collegiate Camps which have been designed to introduce high school-level players to college coaches and offer a perfect environment where players not only learn from these coaches, but are also able to demonstrate their individual skills. The Winter Collegiate Camps will be held at ASBA West Chester on November 15 and 16 with coaches from the Coastal Carolina University, December 13 and 14 with the University of Virginia, December 20 and 21 with the University of North Carolina, December 29 and 30 with Villanova University and January 10 and 11, 2009 with Penn State University. More information on the Winter Collegiate Camps can be found on the ASBA website at www.allstarbaseballacademy.com.

About All-Star Baseball Academy
All-Star Baseball Academy is the Delaware Valley's largest and most respected organization for developing more than one million young athletes each year through instruction, competition and mentoring. With locations in West Chester, Broomall, Hatboro and Downingtown, Pa., ASBA offers area youth many different services to provide them with the necessary edge to be successful in athletics as well as their lives. For more information on ASBA visit www.allstarbaseballacademy.com.