Brett Herbison never pitched college baseball after signing with the University of Illinois.

The former New York Mets minor leaguer did, however, pitch the merits of a college education to Illini recruits years later.

"I've lived through both sides of it," Herbison said.

First, some background.

After signing a national letter of intent with Illinois in the fall of 1994, the Burlington Central High School right-hander was drafted in the second round — 48th overall — by the New York Mets the following June.

"It's a win-win situation when you're selected as a top pick," Herbison said. "Either you go and fulfill a childhood dream and sign a professional contract or you go to an academic institution at the Division I level."

Herbison chose the former, signing with the Mets for a reported $285,000. Entering the draft, he had vowed not to sign under any circumstances if he was selected lower than the fourth round. When Herbison not only went in Round 2, but was the first pitcher taken by the Mets, he says it was an easy choice.

"At that time, they were an organization that was known for developing young arms," the Elgin native said.

Although Herbison enjoyed his share of pro baseball highlights — he played on three minor league championship teams and was an Appalachian League All-Star in his second season — elbow and shoulder injuries ultimately derailed a seven-year, six-season career in the Mets' minor-league system. After a brief stint in an independent minor league in 2002, Herbison had called it a career.

By the fall of 2004, Herbison was back in the classroom, beginning work toward a finance degree in the UI College of Business. He also was back in uniform, joining head coach Dan Hartleb's Illini staff as a volunteer assistant.

In that capacity, Herbison was permitted under NCAA rules to meet with UI recruits during their on-campus visits. That allowed him to share his story about the importance he placed on a college education, even though he had bypassed college baseball to turn pro.

"I was one of the few (players who turned pro out of high school) that actually was able to come back and get a degree when I was done playing," he said. "Friends of mine (in pro ball), they'd developed families. Life comes at you fast, and they had to get jobs right away. I was fortunate in that I didn't have a family that I needed to go provide for.

"But I don't want to minimize what I accomplished (in earning a college degree). You need to have self-discipline and focus."

For that reason, Herbison told recruits, he was earning his degree the hard way. He also told them that if circumstances led them to play college ball, their chances of completing a degree would be greater, even if they later left for the pros before graduating.

"It's a heckuva lot easier to have a year (or) a year and half (left) to get that degree (after pro ball) than the full four years, which is the way I did it," Herbison said.

Although Herbison did not rise higher in the minors than Class AA, he says he made the right decision to turn pro out of high school.

"I've been asked that several times, both by recruits and others," Herbison said. "With all the factors that went into that decision, yes, I'd make it again. I don't have any regrets."

Armed with his UI degree, the 2008 college graduate now is well into his post-baseball career — as an investment analyst with Northern Trust Co. in Chicago.

"I was fortunate enough to go back (to college) and get it done," Herbison said.