Dec. 2, 2002

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina baseball program has announced the signing of 19 student-athletes to National Letter Of Intents during the NCAA early signing period. The signees are scheduled to enroll at USC in the Fall of 2003. Last season’s recruiting class was ranked eighth in the nation by Collegiate Baseball.

“We have 10 seniors and several juniors who may sign pro contracts after this year so it was necessary to sign a relatively large class,” said head coach Ray Tanner. “We expect many of these signees to be drafted and we anticipate losing a few to professional baseball. We hope this class turns out to be one of the top classes in the nation.”

The Gamecocks are coming off a school record 57 win season, which included another SEC Championship and a national runner-up finish at the College World Series. Carolina has won the SEC East three of the past four years adn the SEC title two of the past three seasons. USC has won more games over the past three years then any team in the nation with 162 victories.

South Carolina opens the 2003 season on February 7 at 3 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern at Sarge Frye Field.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FALL 2002 EARLY BASEBALL SIGNEES

Chad Billingsley, RHP, R/R, 6-2, 212, Defiance HS/Defiance, Ohio

Billy Buckner, RHP, R/R, 6-2, 194, Young Harris College/Conyers, Ga.

Dave Cash, INF, S/R, 6-2, 177, Northside Christian School/Odessa, Fla.

Andrew Cruse, RHP, R/R, 6-1, 195, Hopewell HS/Cornelius, N.C.

Phil Disher, C, R/R, 6-1, 192, South Aiken HS/Aiken, S.C.

Darin Downs, LHP, L/L, 6-3, 181, Santaluces HS/Boynton Beach, Fla.

Jason Fletcher, RHP, R/R, 6-2, 190, Indian River Community College/Cape Coral, Fla.

Arik Hempy, LHP, L/L, 6-3, 252, Garner Senior HS/Raleigh, N.C.

Harris Honeycutt, RHP, R/R, 6-0, 191, Fuquay-Varina HS/Fuquay-Varina, N.C.

Tommy King, INF, R/R, 5-11, 168, Apopka HS/Mt. Dora, Fla.

Dan Luczak, RHP, R/R, 6-6, 209, Brookfield East HS/Brookfield, Wisc.

Zach McCamie, RHP, R/R, 6-4, 193, Seminole Community College/Orlando, Fla.

Josh McDonald, RHP, R/R, 6-3, 172, Lexington HS/Lexington, S.C.

Steve Pearce, INF, R/R, 6-0, 182, Indian River Community College/Lakeland, Fla.

Steven Reinhold, OF, R/R, 5-8, 177, Tuscola HS/Waynesville, N.C.

Heath Rollins, INF, L/R, 6-1, 173, Lexington HS/Lexington, S.C.

Billy Simpson, 1B, R/R, 6-5, 254, Carle Place HS/Old Westbury, New York

Jon Willard, OF, R/R, 6-0, 205, Green Hope HS/Morrisville, N.C.

Brendan Winn, OF/C, R/R, 6-0, 212, St. Petersburg Junior College/Indian Harbour, Fla.