Unsolicited recruiting help might be the best assistance a high school senior looking to play a sport at the next level can get.
Little did Michael Ledbetter know that he had not one or two but three friends and members of the Northwest Mississippi Community College men’s soccer team talk to their coach about him. Charlie Baldwin must have liked what he heard from former Caledonia High School standouts Chandler Lester, James Longmire, and Robert Mims because it didn’t take long for him to contact Ledbetter.
When Baldwin called, Ledbetter didn’t recognize the number. Since it was relatively quiet on the recruiting front, it didn’t occur to Ledbetter that a college coach would be calling him to extend an invitation to come to Senatobia to visit the Northwest Mississippi C.C. campus. Imagine his reaction when he answered his phone.
“I was definitely happy he called,” Ledbetter said. “It was at a time when I was with a lot of my classmates. I just happened by faith to pick it up and said, ‘Whoa.’ It was just a big surprise.”
More than a month later, the surprise has worn off. After signing a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Northwest Mississippi C.C. on Thursday morning, it really should start to sink in for Ledbetter that he has realized his goal and that it really does pay to have friends in the right places.
In addition to getting good reports about Ledbetter from his current players, Baldwin knew the Ledbetter name from having watched Michael’s brother, John, play at East Central C.C. in Decatur. John was a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools All-Star at Heritage Academy and an All-State performer as a sophomore at East Central C.C. In the fall of 2015, John was a senior at Belhaven, which advanced to the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association this past season.
Ledbetter’s network of help didn’t end there. He said a former Northwest Mississippi C.C. coach worked as an official at Heritage Academy’s game against Magnolia Heights in December 2015. Michael said the timing was ideal because he scored two of his best goals of the season in a 4-1 victory.
“The former Northwest Mississippi C.C. coach called (coach Baldwin) and from there (coach Baldwin) wanted me even more,” said Ledbetter, who also knows Will Jones, another former Caledonia High standout who is a member of the Northwest Mississippi C.C. men’s soccer program.
All told, Ledbetter said the good words and evaluations he received from everyone helped make his recruiting even easier. He said a visit to Northwest Mississippi C.C. helped seal the deal because he felt the school and the city suited him. He feels the same way about his projected role with the Rangers, who matched a program-best mark for wins and finished 12-7-1 in 2015. Northwest Mississippi C.C. lost to Pearl River C.C. in the semifinals of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) tournament. Longmire was one of three Northwest Mississippi C.C. freshmen to earn All-MACJC honors. Ledbetter has played forward, left back, and midfielder, so he is willing to play wherever needed.
“With the surrounding talent there, if they can make me better or I can make them better, that is really all I want,” said Ledbetter, who has 18 goals this season. “I believe in a successful future there.”
Ledbetter, who also was a member of the Heritage Academy football team, played travel ball with Longmire and played soccer with Mims when he was younger. He said he remembers telling friends he was interested in playing soccer in college, but he doesn’t recall if he told Jones, Lester, Longmire, or Mims. Ledbetter said he had received interest from one college coach prior to talking to Baldwin. He said interest from other colleges picked up after he gave a verbal commitment to play for Northwest Mississippi C.C. two days after visiting the school in December.
Looking back, Ledbetter said the initial interest he received from the college coach pushed him to work even hard. He said he “jumped on” the opportunity to accept a scholarship role because he had done his due diligence and felt confident Senatobia was where he needed to be.
After a slow start to the process, Ledbetter was all smiles Thursday as classmates blew bubbles and ate cupcakes to share in his celebration.
“I don’t regret my decision,” Ledbetter said. “I would still make the same decision right now.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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