Nov. 22, 2010
By Andrew Kitick
Assistant Media Relations Director
Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina baseball program has announced the signing of 17 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the November early signing period. The class consists of 16 high school prospects and one junior college transfer.
“We have identified a great group of players that will make an immediate impact,” said head coach Ray Tanner. “With several players expected to be drafted next season, Coach Holbrook and Coach Meyers have done a great job bringing in talented players to fit our needs and blend with the players currently in the program.”
The Gamecocks added prospects from five different states including 10 players from the state of South Carolina.
“We are very excited with the group of players we signed,” said associate head coach Chad Holbrook. “It is a very deep and balanced class and it includes many of the top players in the state of South Carolina.”
“We wanted to improve our athleticism and we believe that we have three of the fastest players in the country in Seth Constable, T.J. Costen and Tanner English,” added Holbrook. “It’s an exciting group of infielders with Costen, Mikal Hill, Connor Bright, Joey Pankake and Tanner Lovick. We feel all of them have the talent and ability to help us right away. We have improved our pitching depth and are very excited about Joel Seddon, Robert DeCosmo, Andrew Faulkner and Taylor Guerreri. This is a versatile group with several players that can play multiple positions including Pankake and Seddon.
“Kyle Martin is a strong kid that hits for power and plays a good first base. Signing a top-flight catcher was a priority for us in this class and we feel Grayson Greiner is one of, if not, the top catching prospects in the country. He can really catch and throw and he also hits for power.”
“We look forward to this group being a part of the Carolina program and helping us continue to battle for championships,” said Holbrook.
2010-11 GAMECOCK BASEBALL RECRUITING CLASS
Player Pos. Hometown (Previous School)Evan Beal RHP Fairfax Station, Va. (South County HS)Connor Bright INF Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Wando HS)Seth Constable OF/2B Lewisville, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day HS)T.J. Costen SS/OF Virginia Beach, Va. (First Colonial HS)Robert DeCosmo RHP Agawam, Mass. (Cathedral HS)Tanner English OF Murrels Inlet, S.C. (St. James HS)Andrew Faulkner LHP South Aiken, S.C. (South Aiken HS)Austin Gambrell 3B Belton, S.C. (Belton-Honea Path HS)Grayson Greiner C/1B Columbia, S.C. (Blythewood HS)Taylor Guerrieri RHP North Augusta, S.C. (North Augusta HS)Mikal Hill INF Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)Tanner Lovick INF Winterville, N.C. (Pitt CC)Kyle Martin 1B Simpsonville, S.C. (Wade Hampton HS)Jordan Montgomery LHP Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)Joey Pankake INF/RHP Easley, S.C. (Easley HS)Alex Satterfield RHP Laurens, S.C. (Laurens Academy)Joel Seddon RHP St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair HS)
Signing Class Breakdown
(16) High School Prospects
(1) Junior College Transfer
By State
South Carolina (10): Connor Bright, Tanner English, Andrew Faulkner, Austin Gambrell, Grayson Greiner, Taylor Guerrieri, Kyle Martin, Jordan Montgomery, Joey Pankake, Alex Satterfield
North Carolina (3): Seth Constable, Mikal Hill, Tanner Lovick
Virginia (2): Evan Beal, T.J. Costen
Massachusetts (1): Robert DeCosmo
Michigan (1): Joel Seddon
Evan Beal – RHP – Fairfax Station, Va. (South County HS)
– Rated No. 356 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 10 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by PG Crosschecker
– Played with Hurricane Baseball AAU team
Connor Bright – INF – Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Wando HS)
– 2010 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– Rated No. 3 shortstop in the state of South Carolina and No. 12 best high school prospect by Diamond Prospects
– Hit .495 his junior season in 2010 with four HR and 31 RBI at Wando HS
– Played on Diamond Devils AAU team
– Father – Mike Bright was a former professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Seth Constable – OF/2B – Lewisville, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day HS)
– Rated No. 285 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 15 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 1 outfielder in the state of North Carolina and No. 9 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball
– Named to 2010 NCISAA 3A All-State team
– Also was starting running back on high school football team
T.J. Costen – SS/OF – Virginia Beach, Va. (First Colonial HS)
– Rated No. 64 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 3 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 76 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 2 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by Baseball America
– Clocked at 6.62 in 60-yard dash
– 2010 Perfect Game USA Preseason Underclassmen All-America team
– Named one of the Top 15 standouts at 2010 East Coast Professional Showcase by Baseball America
– Played on Richmond Braves AAU team
– Also played on Diamond Devils AAU team that won 2010 WWBA 17U National Championship
Robert DeCosmo – RHP – Agawam, Mass. (Cathedral HS)
– Rated No. 188 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 6 best high school prospect in state of Massachusetts by PG Crosschecker
– Named to 2010 Perfect Game USA 3rd Team Preseason HS Underclassmen All-American team
– Played on East Cobb Braves AAU team
Tanner English – OF – Murrels Inlet, S.C. (St. James HS)
– Rated No. 160 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 7 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 2 outfielder in state of South Carolina and No. 8 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Andrew Faulkner – LHP – South Aiken, S.C. (South Aiken HS)
– Rated No. 1 left-handed pitcher in state of South Carolina and No. 6 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2010 South Carolina AAA All-State
– 2010 Augusta Chronicle All-Area team
– Helped lead South Aiken HS to runner-up finish in 2010 South Carolina AAA state championship
Austin Gambrell – 3B – Belton, S.C. (Belton-Honea Path, S.C.)
– 2010 South Carolina AAA All-State
– Rated No. 490 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 15 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 2 third baseman in the state of South Carolina and No. 16 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Played on Diamond Devils AAU team that won 2010 WWBA 17U National Championship
Grayson Greiner – C/1B – Columbia, S.C. (Blythewood HS)
– Rated No. 89 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 3 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 1 catcher in the state of South Carolina No. 4 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2009 & 2010 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– Hit .442 (38-for-86) his junior season in 2010 with nine HR and 39 RBI; also hit .420 as a sophomore in 2009
– Father Mark Greiner lettered in basketball at South Carolina from 1973-76
Taylor Guerrieri – RHP – North Augusta, S.C. (North Augusta HS)
– Rated No. 1 prospect in the state of South Carolina and No. 23 best high school prospect in nation by Baseball America
– Rated No. 1 prospect and No. 1 right-handed pitcher in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 101 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 4 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Named one of the Top 15 standouts at 2010 East Coast Professional Showcase by Baseball America
– 2010 Augusta Chronicle All-Area team
– Played on Diamond Devils AAU team that won 2010 WWBA 17U National Championship
Mikal Hill – INF – Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)
– Rated No. 119 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 8 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 1 shortstop in the state of North Carolina and No. 5 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball
– 2010 All-Observer Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer
– 2010 I-Meck 4A Conference Player of the Year
– Hit .566 is junior season with seven HR, 39 RBI. Also stole 18 bases in 26 games.
– Older brother Alex plays at UNC-Wilmington
Tanner Lovick – INF – Winterville, N.C. (Pitt CC)
– Hit .397 (62-for-156) as a freshman at Pitt CC with seven HR, 47 RBI to go along with a .489 on-base percentage
– Helped lead Pitt CC to NJCAA World Series in 2010 as well as a Region X Tournament championship
Kyle Martin – 1B – Simpsonville, S.C. (Wade Hampton HS)
– Rated No. 434 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 12 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 1 first baseman in the state of South Carolina and No. 13 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Jordan Montgomery – RHP – Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)
– 2010 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– Compiled an 8-2 record his junior season with a 1.20 ERA in 58.1 innings. Finished with 93 strikeouts to just 21 walks.
– Rated No. 3 left-handed pitcher in the state of South Carolina and No. 20 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Joey Pankake – INF/RHP – Easley, S.C. (Easley HS)
– 2010 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– Rated No. 1 shortstop in the state of South Carolina and No. 5 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 208 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 8 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Played on Diamond Devils AAU team that won 2010 WWBA 17U National Championship
Alex Satterfield – RHP – Laurens, S.C. (Laurens Academy)
– Rated No. 17 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 7 right-handed pitcher in the state of South Carolina and No. 21 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Joel Seddon – RHP – St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair HS)
– Rated No. 204 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 1 best high school prospect in state of Michigan by PG Crosschecker
– Named to 2010 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 2 All-State team
– Compiled a 10-1 record as a junior with a 0.77 ERA. Struck out 109 batters in 72.2 innings.
– His brother Brad lettered in baseball at Michigan and his sister Kari currently plays softball at Central Michigan
