<p>Good point on NCAA.org. If you are looking at D-I or D-II, you will have to register with the clearinghouse. You do not need to do this for D-III. As for the timing of recruiting, many kids for top D-I programs will be "recruited" following their sophomore year or early in their junior year. That is when kids can give a verbal commitment. However, it is still quite possible to go to a D-I school (including top ones) by being recruited at the end of your junior year. For example, the Jake Reed camp (invitation only -- your coach would have to request a spot for you and even then, they could turn you down) is attended by a who's who of top college program coaches and they definitely take kids from that camp at the end of their junior year. However, as said before, you would have to be a phenomenol player when going up against the best in the nation, which you are not doing during your HS season in DE.</p>
<p>With all due respect, and having never seen you play, most kids who play D-I will have either played four years of varsity or perhaps three years at a prominent lax HS. You will not play varsity until your junior year at a school that does not appear to be lax prominent. While you can try to get recruited by some level of D-I, especially if you have a great junior campaign, or perhaps D-II (also tough), you may be looking more realistically at D-III, and more mid-level at that. Keep in mind that it is easier for a D-III coach to take a chance because he is not dealing with limited scholarship funds (since there are no athletic scholarships at that level). If he supports your application, what he is using is one of his chits with the admissions office. However, some coaches will tell you that while they "can't" help you get into their school, they will take you if you are admitted (translation -- they will take a chance on you, but will not use one of their chits to help you. This is cheap enough for them).</p>
<p>Talk to your coach and see where you realistically stand in terms of your skills and athleticism. Yoo need to approach this grounded in realism. You appear to be a very good student and believe me, that will help your cause quite a bit, at least at the D-III level.</p>