James Scott '22 Recruiting Profile

Baseball is my passion. I have been playing since I could walk. I am now a senior in high school giving me 15 years of baseball experience under my belt which has helped me learn the way baseball should be played and how to be the best teammate I can be. I am certain that my attitude, work ethic, and respect for the game and those I play with would contribute to your program.

I was told by my coaches at a very young age that I had an incredibly high baseball IQ. I think that was due to my love of the game which led me to be a student of the game, as well as a player. However, the first time I experienced the true game of baseball was as a freshman in high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. The coaches placed me on the sophomore team for the first half of the season and then I was called up to varsity for the playoffs. It was then that I understood the dedication and mental toughness required to play baseball at a high level. Since starting high school, I have had 3.5 years of varsity experience while maintaining a 2.98 GPA and scoring a 26 on the ACT.

I have many qualities I can bring to a baseball team. The most important that I would highlight are leadership, confidence, tenacity, and coachability. I listen when being spoken to and I am not afraid to speak up when I deem it necessary. My relentless style of play is motivating to everyone that watches me take the field. I play to win and will sacrifice everything for the team to win. I am the guy who will run into the fence to catch a fly ball and wear a 90 MPH fastball just to get on base. I generally lead the teams I play on in HBP and OBP. I like to think that I am leading my teammates and leaving an impression for all to see how me and my teammates play the game.

Being one of the shortest players on every team I have played on has only motivated me and driven me more to inspire and create a winning culture at every program I play for. During the fall of 2020, I moved to Florida from Illinois to continue to play baseball while attending IMG Academy. I showed up unknown, 5’ 8’’ with no provable metrics competing against guys who had been drafted in the MLB and already signed to top DI programs. I was placed on the lowest team. Similar to every other team I have been a part of, I set out to prove I belonged at IMG and could compete with the best. Through hard work and determination, I was both honored and excited to have been selected to play on the Varsity Black team (aka the National II Team) for the 2021 season. I was the starting left fielder for the entire season but that was not the most rewarding accomplishment. At the IMG year end awards ceremony, I was selected by my teammates to receive the Gatorade Player of the Year Award. This award is given to the player who most embodies the characteristics of the ideal teammate. What an honor.

Lastly, I am looking for a school where my style of play can contribute to a winning culture on the baseball diamond.  And further, a school that will challenge me as student in the classroom and help me meet my academic goals.   I am open to ALL options that support these goals.  Above all else, I aspire to be the best I can be both on and off the field and hope to inspire those around me in the same way.