June 5, 2008

Official Release in PDF Format

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina junior first baseman Justin Smoak and junior shortstop Reese Havens have been selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Smoak was the No. 11 overall pick by the Texas Rangers with Havens going No. 22 overall to the New York Mets. It is the first time since 2004 that Carolina has had two first round draft choices.

A first team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball this year, Smoak was Carolina’s leading hitter with a .383 batting average (90-for-235) to go along with 23 homers and 72 RBI. For the second consecutive season, Smoak was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award presented by USA Baseball. He is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy presented by the NCBWA to the top college baseball player in the nation.

In his three-year career at Carolina, Smoak set school records for home runs (62), runs batted in (207), bases on balls (151) and total bases (485). He is fifth on the SEC Career list for home runs and is of only seven players in SEC history to record 60 or more round trippers. Smoak twice earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the NCAA Regionals, receiving the distinction this year in Raleigh and last season in Columbia. He started every game at first base for three straight years with 194 consecutive starts on the corner.

Reese Havens earned third team All-America honors and second team All-SEC honors at shortstop for the 2008 season for the Gamecocks. Havens started all 63 games for Carolina and batted .359 with 18 HR and 57 RBI to go along with 13 doubles and two triples. In his three-year career, Havens tallied 215 career hits. He was named to the 2008 NCAA Raleigh Regional All-Tournament team as well.

Smoak and Havens played on three NCAA Regional teams and twice made it to the NCAA Super Regional.