CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying about NLAR
"We would highly recommend Joe Riley..."
"My son, Jake, began playing baseball, or rather T-ball, at age four, and he played consistently through high school and now college. During his playing career, he encountered coaches that focused on teaching fundamentals or focused on winning, or focused on the end-of-the-season pizza party. With Joe Riley and Next Level Athletics, my son found a coach and program that combined fundamentals, winning, and fun. Joc encouraged Jake, pushing him to work on his skills and nurturing his talents. Joe was fully committed to seeing Jake succeed, not only as a player but as a person. When the opportunity for Jake to showcase his skills in front of college recruiters came, Joe advocated for Jake. As a result, Jake was courted by two schools and will have an opportunity to continue playing baseball. We would highly recommend Joe Riley and Next Level Athletics."
- Matt Patino
"Within a few days of signing our contract with Joe, Mikey received an offer..."
"We had signed our son up with NCSA and spent a lot of money and felt like they weren't helping us at all with our son, Mikey's, college baseball recruiting. We were scrambling half way through his senior year trying to help him follow his dream. We met Joe Riley with Next Level Recruiting and he explained his process. Just like NCSA, he wasn't guaranteeing an offer but unlike NCSA he was willing to reach out to coaches on our son's behalf. Within a few days of signing our contract with Joe, Mikey received an offer. Joe didn't stop there! He had multiple coaches from all divisions in many states reaching out to Mikey about their interest. Joe ultimately helped Mikey find his perfect fit with an offer from University of Hawaii Hilo.
Since then, he has checked in on Mikey and remains in touch with him to make sure he is happy with his choice. We have since signed all our kids with Joe as they embark on the college recruiting process."
- Chris & Jen Bonenfant
"The investment we made in Joe was far less than the scholarship money..."
"It felt like we had someone in our corner every day advocating for Josh and showcasing his abilities to colleges nationwide. As Josh's senior year began, he had two college offers of which neither were of interest to him. Knowing we needed help, we signed up with Joe, and within two weeks there were 12 universities that showed interest in Josh. By the third week, Josh
had six new baseball scholarship offers from all parts of the country. Josh now plays at a highly competitive Division II school in Oklahoma. The investment we made in Joe was far less than the scholarship money Josh realized in his first semester of school. Josh is loving the school and the baseball program. Josh would not be where he is today without Next Level Athletic Recruiting. Everyone should have Joe Riley on their recruiting team!"
- Greg and Allison Trapp
"You really helped bridge the gap for Mason in
finding out what kind of person he could be in life"
"Thank you so much for everything that you've done for Mason. You really helped bridge the gap for Mason in finding out what kind of person he could be in life. From gym sessions, to raiding our refrigerator and guiding him in proper nutrition, you made sure that he stayed on the grind. Having a coach/mentor like you, looking out for his future, gave him confidence in his dreams of going to college, playing some baseball and getting recognized for his hard work was all worth while. Thanks again for everything."
- The Krogsgaard Family
"Within a weeks of signing up with NLAR, Cooper was in active personal contact with over 11 coaches and by the 3rd week mark he had 9+ offers......."
"Working with Joe and NLAR was the best decision we could have made. It wasn’t until his senior year in high school that our son made the decision that he wanted to continue his baseball adventures in college. We had no idea how or where to even begin and there were so many options for recruiters out there. Most were very “kitschy” and looked like money grabs. We’ve know Joe Riley for a few years and it only made sense to have him help our son. Joe and Cooper work very well together and they have great mutual respect. Joe truly cares about his clients and wants nothing but the best for them, regardless of their level of play.
Within a weeks of signing up with NLAR, Cooper was in active personal contact with over 11 coaches and by the 3rd week mark he had 9+ offers all from D2 colleges around the country. Joe walked him (and us) through each process and made us feel like we were his priority. He was always available to answer questions and lend an ear. The investment we made in Joe was less than a 1/4 of what our son was offered in athletic scholarships. We’re so proud that Cooper will be playing competitive baseball in the Lone Star Conference in Oklahoma. If and when the time comes to see what else might be out there for him (D1) we will always have the comfort of knowing that Joe’s in our corner. Thank you Joe (Dalton) for everything!"
-Brandon and Michelle Child
"His hands-on approach and personal investment made all the difference."
"I can't express enough how invaluable Joe Riley and Next Level Athletic Recruiting have been in our journey. From the moment we connected, Joe's knowledge, dedication, and unwavering support truly set him apart. He took the time to understand not only the athletic potential but also the unique strengths and aspirations of my son. Joe spent countless hours working directly with him, helping with everything from evaluating his strengths to refining his skills and ensuring he was prepared for every step of the recruitment process. His hands-on approach and personal investment made all the difference.
Joe’s deep-style connections and expertise in the recruiting process were a game-changer. His guidance was crucial every step of the way—whether it was helping us navigate the complexities of recruitment or crafting a personalized strategy to ensure the best opportunities were pursued. His communication was transparent, timely, and always thoughtful, making sure we were informed and confident in every decision.
Thanks to Joe and Next Level Athletic Recruiting, my son now has the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, something we once thought would be out of reach. Joe's professionalism, passion, and genuine care make him a standout in the recruiting world. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment and could not have asked for a better advocate.
Thank you, Joe!"
- The Tucker Family
"He is honest, hard working, and always has your kids best interests in mind."
"Joe, we want to thank you for all you've done in helping our son JP make his dream a reality and play baseball in college. His dream has always been to continue to play and be a college athlete and you helped make that happen. The level of communication, effort and overall partnership and friendship you provided made this whole process worth it and we couldn't be more grateful. To any parent looking to help their kids achieve their goals of playing at the next level, please give Joe a try. He is honest, hard working, and always has your kids best interests in mind.
Thank. you Joe"
- Jean Pierre Noury
"Jason's dream is coming true...."
Our son, Jason was encouraged to and played multiple sports from the age of three. He instantly fell in love with baseball. He has been playing ever since with the dream of playing in college! He has played on travel teams and attended several Showcases. He began to have doubts that he was good enough or wanted to play in college. Joe with Next Level Athletic Recruiting knew Jason was good enough on and off the field to make his dream come true. So, with Joe's encouragement and determination, he was all in! Jason's dream is coming true and he has committed to the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown!
We are incredibly thankful to Joe for his faith and commitment to Jason!
- The Anderson Family
"........ we can't recommend Joe Riley at Next Level athletics highly enough."
"We are beyond grateful for the incredible support and guidance we received from Joe Riley at Next Level Athletics throughout our son's college baseball recruiting journey. From day one, he believed in his potential and connected Gavin with the right people at the right schools. Joe was knowledgeable and truly cared about finding the best fit for both his athletic and academic goals. He walked him through everything - from highlight videos and recruiting emails to communication with coaches. We never felt lost or overwhelmed, because he was always there to answer questions and provide advice. Thanks to Joe, our son will be continuing his education and playing at Nelson University in Arizona. Watching his hard work pay off has been a dream come true, and we know we couldn't have done it without his help. If you're a family with a student-athlete who dreams of playing at the next level, we can't recommend Joe Riley at Next Level athletics highly enough. He made the difference for us, and we're forever thankful."
- Jen Salinas
Parent of Gavin Ball
"Trust NLAR and Joe Riley to help you navigate in this next step......"
"We joined the NLAR family nearly six years ago. Our son Max has benefited from his relationship with Joe Riley in many ways. Coaching, training, and fundamentals are only the beginning to what NLAR has to offer. Mentorship and Joe’s ability to relate to his athletes is invaluable. Exposure to college coaches at NLAR showcases and as a team at tournaments truly opened the door for Max to meet the coaches and make his decision to play college baseball at Oklahoma Christian. Without NLAR in our corner. I’m not sure this would have been possible. We consider Joe as part of the family. Just as NLAR has done for Max.
If you have a young athlete considering continuing their baseball career and education in college. Don’t hesitate for a minute. Trust NLAR and Joe Riley to help you navigate in this next step in your athletes life and career.
- Robert Schmerber
"....this guy knows everyone!"
"We would love to thank Joe Riley
for his amazing commitment to our son's future and finding the perfect fit for him not only as a player but academically as well! We came across Joe this past summer during travel ball and he told us that he would make sure he had our son's best interest when introducing him to coaches.
We talked to quite a few and fell in love with the atmosphere of OC and all it has to offer. If you are looking into sending your kiddo off to the next level to play in college this guy knows everyone! He connects players with the right coaches and was available whenever we needed him. Thank you Joe! We are forever grateful for your support and dedication to our kiddo!"
- The Mesko Family
From Dreams to Scholarships:
Inspiring Success Stories of High School Athletes
Daniel Barraza
Huge congratulations to Daniel Barraza, Class of 2025 (OF), on his commitment to Bethesda University in Anaheim, CA! I am super proud of you! We have worked and trained for years to get to this point. You are such a great young man and a hard worker!
A left-handed stick who can swing it extremely well and is super fast! You didn’t make your high school team, but that didn’t stop you. You kept your head high, kept working, and believed in yourself—and I believed in you! You are a role model for many kids out there.
Daniel, always chase your dreams—no one can tell you that you can’t do it! You and I have built a strong relationship, and you will always be family to me, like a brother. I’m excited to watch you play college baseball, and I’ll always be there for you. We will keep grinding and working! We are a team, and I’ve got your back!
A huge congratulations to his mom, Ashley Barraza, and his entire family—this is a huge moment, and I’m extremely happy for all of you!
Skyler Smith
Huge congratulations to Skyler Smith! He is the true definition of perseverance—keep working and never let anyone tell you that you can’t. He works incredibly hard, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
Skyler is an excellent pitcher who consistently hits his spots with a smooth and fluid delivery. He’s also a gap-to-gap hitter with a great glove, making him a versatile player who can excel anywhere on the field.
I want to take a moment to share a little bit of his story. Skyler played for me on the Next Level Athletics travel team, where he was always grinding, always having fun, and always wearing a smile. What makes his journey even more inspiring is that he did not play high school baseball. Yet, he never let that stop him from chasing his dream.
Skyler is a true role model for any kid who didn’t make their high school team or chose not to play high school baseball. Never give up—keep pushing forward and fighting for your dreams!
I’m extremely proud of you, Skyler, and I’ll always have your back. I will always believe in you! If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out, my brother.
Congratulations!
