Christian Nicolosi is a former Quinnipiac University baseball player who appeared in 29 games as both a starter and reliever over the course of his 4-year campaign. Christian underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 but still became a key starter in the rotation for Quinnipiac's multiple MAAC Championship runs. He had a lot of ups and downs in his career and discussed the recruiting process with 2aDays. 

2aDays: What divisions were recruiting you to play in college? And what were some of the colleges?

Christian: I had all three divisions recruiting me to play in college. Some Division 1 schools included Fordham U, George Washington U, Elon, and Quinnipiac. A Division 2 school was Saint Thomas Aquinas (NY). Misericordia University and Neumann University were the two Division three schools that recruited me.

2aDays: What showcases, camps, etc. did you attend? Did this help you to get on a coach's radar? What was the most beneficial showcase/camp that you would recommend that a high school recruit attend if they want to play for Quinnipiac?

Christian: I attended a Northeast prospect showcase held at Stony Brook University and a local winter showcase held at Ramapo College. Both showcases had over 30 colleges attend, so I knew they were great opportunities to get exposure from all college levels. The best advice I have for someone wanting to play for Quinnipiac is to attend the prospect camp held by Quinnipiac. There are two camps a year  (summer and winter) and gives you the best exposure possible to the QU coaches. There are no other colleges in attendance, so this is the best way for the coaches to see a recruit for a long period of time.

2aDays: Did you play on a team outside of high school? If so, what team was that?

Christian: Yes, I played for a travel team called Time to Sign Sports. We played in huge travel tournaments–another great way for college exposure.

2aDays: What is the one thing that a high school baseball athlete should do in order to play at the DI level. A must do.

Christian: D1 schools look for the best of the best. In order to get to the D1 level, a high school baseball player must be the hardest worker in the room at all times and make a valiant bid to be the best player on their high school team. 

2aDays: How many official visits would you recommend that a potential recruit go on? What are the don'ts when on an official visit?

Christian: I would recommend going on two official visits. This way, you can see a few things on campus you didn't view the first time. I recommend taking away athletics during your visit and truly think about whether or not you would like the university if sports were not involved. College is your new home away from home, so you want to feel as comfortable as possible. You may feel a bit timid during an official visit, which is very normal, but do not leave anything on the table. Don't be afraid to ask a million questions. Coaches don't mind answering questions about their school (if they do, you know you aren't in the right spot). This is your future; don't leave an official visit wishing you could have learned a little more about something on campus.

2aDays: What are the three most important questions that a recruit should ask the team when on a visit? What three questions should they ask a coach?

Christian: I believe the most important question is asking how the team camaraderie is. Your new team is your second family. You will be doing everything together, so you want to make sure you're entering a tight-knit community. I would also ask the team how the classroom experience is and how they enjoy living on campus. The most important question to ask a coach is where they feel your role will be for the team in the future. For the most part, this will probably change, but you will have a better foundation to start from. I would ask the coaches how an average practice takes place, so you get a good feel of what you will be going through on a daily basis. I would also ask the coaching staff how they handle any potential problems academically. Us athletes are always on the move and dedicate a lot of our time on things outside academics, so for the most part, struggles will occur. It is good to know how these problems are solved prior to them happening.

2aDays: When did you start the recruiting process and when do you think it is the ideal time for an athlete to reach out to a coach, and how should they reach out?

Christian: As a baseball player, the best time to try to get recruited in the summer before your senior year of high school. The best way to communicate with coaches is through email. You should be very honest when talking about yourself but promote and speak very highly of yourself.  

2aDays: There is a big difference between playing high school baseball and DI baseball. What is the biggest difference, and what should athletes do to prepare for the change?

Christian: The biggest difference heading into D1 baseball is strictly talent and pace of play. Everyone on each team was once the best player on his prior high school teams, so everyone is equal. The best way to prepare for this change is quite simply hard work. The increase in talent should excite you and motivate you to play with the best. The pace of play is turned up a notch in college ball, so the best way to prepare for this is practicing at full speed every single day. 

2aDays: Why Quinnipiac over the other schools that were recruiting you?

Christian: I knew I was going to be a bobcat just minutes into my official visit. I was able to connect well with the young coaching staff, and they made me feel very welcome. And don't get me started about the campus. It is one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, and I felt like I was walking around a resort on my visit. I visualized myself as an everyday student and couldn't wait for my freshman campaign to start.

2aDays: What are three characteristics that make a college baseball player a successful teammate?

• Selflessness. Always put the team ahead of yourself.
• Be a good friend, and always let out a helping hand.
• Always compete. Let the team know they have a guy they can rely on through thick and thin.

2aDays: Would you recommend players redshirting? Why or why not?

Christian: I will always recommend redshirting because it grants you access to play one more season of the sport you love after sitting out a full year.

Related: How Does the NCAA Medical Redshirt Work?

2aDays: What advice can you offer to high school athletes as far as social media is concerned? Should they delete or should they use it as a tool to get their name out there?

Christian: Should they delete, or should they use it as a tool to get their name out there? I'm not sure if you want your followers viewing your highlight tapes all the time, but I can say it may help for recruiting. Social media is one of the best outlets available to us, so I say utilize it. If you do end up posting possible footage, you should go crazy with hashtags that relate to things you think college coaches will be searching for. 

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* Originally published on May 13, 2022, by Keirsten Sires