If freshman time it right it can work better than leaving immediately the summer after HS. They play their freshman year, receive their call early that fall during the season and depart in January so they can get home in December and start school right up in the winter semester and participate in spring ball.
Those that just leave after HS are behind the 8-ball having never even practiced at the D1 level and get home in the summer with little time to get ready for the season. It's almost a guaranteed redshirt for most.