Two weeks ago, Nate Sphon was one of a lucky few. A 17-year-old senior at Greensburg Salem High School, he was elated that he had been offered a partial scholarship to play college baseball, and he was certain that his team would be the Duquesne University Dukes.

He had been scheduled to visit Duquesne last Saturday to stay overnight, go out to eat and sign the NCAA's binding agreement, his national letter of intent.

Then he heard that he would not be playing baseball at Duquesne next year; no one would.

The college announced Jan. 25 that it plans to eliminate the team and three other men's athletic programs at the end of the semester: swimming, wrestling and golf.

Nate and other recruits for those sports now drift in a purgatory of fickle courtship. He plans to attend a recruiting camp at West Virginia University at the end of March. Penn State wants to see him play, possibly in April. The Coast Guard Academy has expressed interest. On Tuesday, he was finishing an application to West Chester University.

"We're scrambling," said his father, Thomas, 48, of Greensburg.

In many ways, the Sphons' situation epitomizes the dance of the NCAA recruitment process; schools may woo potential recruits -- and be charmed in return -- but all commitments are meaningless until the letter of intent.

"I am kind of an old-school guy," said Mr. Sphon. "And I know that nothing is ever promised until you sign on the line."

Nate is a pitcher and outfielder for his high school team, the Golden Lions. He was undefeated his sophomore year, and was voted all-section as a sophomore and junior. He has a 4.0 grade point average, his father said.

Nate also played football, as a quarterback and a defensive back. In December, he was one of two players who received his high school's Bob Mitinger award, named after the famed Penn State alum and former San Diego Chargers player.

But Nate is 5 feet 8 and 165 pounds, so baseball is his future sport.

Mr. Sphon, the athletic director at Nate's high school, worries that because his son made clear overtures to Duquesne, other coaches have moved on.

"He goes to the cages, and hits and throws and does stuff after school," Mr. Sphon said. "And, OK, he does pretty well. But he said to me the other day: 'Sometimes, it's like everybody forgot about me.'

"He was as happy as could be to go to Duquesne."

"It's a really good academic school," Nate said.

He said he had been offered a mixed academic and athletic scholarship worth $16,000, conditional on keeping his GPA at a certain level.

Nate also was looking forward to attending Penguins games and living in the same city as his brother, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh.

He said he felt bad, not just for himself, but for the players at Duquesne who lost their team.

"Their coach [Mike Wilson] is a really good guy," he said. "I missed an opportunity to work with a very good coach."

The coming months will likely be a waiting game. And the later it is in the season, the higher the stakes become.

Asked whether he thought his son would get a scholarship elsewhere, Mr. Sphon said: "Well, I hope so. Somewhere."

He defined the mission bluntly: "We have to find a school that he likes to go to, wants to go to, and then go."

He said Nate will probably not consider attending a junior college then transferring.

"I told him the other day, 'You know, Nate, the most important thing is -- at the end of the day -- that you get a good education. We all got to get a job when we're done.' "

Mr. Sphon said that Nate is interested in becoming a teacher or maybe a professor. He wants to study math, history or engineering.

At 17, nothing is certain.

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