Program 15 and Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) have entered into a partnership that will help both sides “change the game” for New Balance Future Stars Series players. 

The Future Stars Series is the initiative between New Balance and Program 15 to elevate the game of baseball by providing amateur baseball players across all economic levels an opportunity to reach their full potential through the training, development, and guidance of former MLB players, scouts, and coaches.

Not only will NCSA serve as a clearinghouse for Progam 15 organizations for them to input information that will help their players in the recruiting process, but NCSA will provide an estimated (based on 5,000 enrolled players) 250 leadership grants at an approximate retail value of $3,000 each totaling $750,000 for select players to access some of their premium tools.

Through the utilization of NCSA technology and the new Team Edition platform, Program 15 New Balance Future Stars Series organizations will be able to input their roster information, providing the national staff a platform for entering in player evaluations.  The staff will also be able to recommend schools to individual players and monitor their recruiting activity.  It will ensure that players in Program 15 are on track academically, putting more of a focus on off-field accomplishments.

Roughly five percent of Program 15 players will receive the “Athleadership” Grant — which is, according to the Athleadership Grant website, dedicated to helping young athletes achieve their goals of participating in athletics at the collegiate level.  Coaches will recommend players within their program who best demonstrate qualities like integrity, hard work and community contributions and a selection committee will go through those applications.

“I’m beyond excited,” said Nelson Gord, Director of Recruiting Education For Program 15. “You’re going to have your top kids that will be drafted and go to SEC schools and whatnot, but that’s a small fraction of everyone.  My passion has always been taking a kid that’s a first generation college student and finding an opportunity for him to help assist in paying for his education and finding a place where he can get onto the field and change the game; break the cycle that goes on in some communities and some families, and create a better future for these young men beyond the game of baseball, but because of the game of baseball.”

Program 15 is excited to offer this incredible opportunity to its players and organizations and is proud to partner with the NCSA in doing so.

“When working with Nelson and the NCSA, we’re trying to find a way to be an asset to all players to aid in the process,” said Program 15 and New Balance Future Stars Series CEO Jeremy Booth.

“We have organizations partnered with us who do a good job and are passionate about helping their players. This has a chance to be a big accelerant and help players stay ahead of the process through the academic requirements and the high demands currently in recruiting today. The grant has the potential to help players even more though our collective efforts, which is what the series is about.”