Going Pro: U.S. or Canadian college?

By Jordan Caschera

Every kid at one point or another gets asked the same question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some people may think the answer is meaningless, particularly when young people suggest the nearly unlikely career as a professional athlete.

The answer to young athletes has remained the same for a long time. They are advised by coaches and parents to go to American colleges and play until pro-league scouts find them. But the odds of making the professional level differ between sports. According to insidehighered.com, baseball is in the number one spot with 9.4 per cent chance and football a not so near second with just 1.9 per cent of all division one athletes going pro.

What really makes U.S. colleges appeal more than Canadian colleges?

Myles Miller, a passionate baseball player at Roane State College said he always planned on following that path. According to Miller, the competition in the US is a lot better and getting the chance to play against draft prospects and other extremely talented players is what he looks forward to in Tennessee.

“I chose to go to the states for baseball because I eventually want to play professionally or get drafted,” said Miller. “The path to that is a lot easier if you play in the States because of the amount of scouts and recruiters here.”

Though the odds of making the major leagues are low, Miller said he has to follow his dreams no matter what, even if it takes him nearly 1,000 Km away from his hometown.

“There wasn’t a school in Canada that appealed to me baseball-wise. But if I had to choose a school in Canada to play for, it would definitely be St. Clair because of their athletic facilities and dominant baseball team,” said Miller.

If it wasn’t for the majority of student athletes playing in the states, St. Clair would be a destination for student athletes. According to Bernie Labute, director of recruiting at St. Clair College the college is drawing in student athletes. The school’s teams are winning their games Labute said. “Players want to go to where teams are successful on the field,” said Labute. “ we have that here at St. Clair.”

Current pro players and young aspiring players are all chasing the same dream of playing a sport they love as a career, the dream that young people have across the world.