Sept. 23, 2008
Columbia, S.C. –
The University of South Carolina’s incoming recruiting class for baseball has been ranked 13th in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. This year’s group features 14 players including eight high school standouts as well as six junior college transfers. Five of the players are former MLB Draft selections with the class also featuring two South Carolina High School Player of the Year award winners.
2007-08 GAMECOCK SIGNEES
Austin Ashmore
OF
Fr.
Greer, S.C.
Greer HS
High School: 2007 & 2008 South Carolina AAA All-State team … Played in 2008 SC North-South All-Star game for North 2A/3A squad … Won home run derby competition at NC/SC Select all-star baseball event in Myrtle Beach, S.C. … Hit .373 as a senior with four doubles and six homers … Played for Greer High School and coach Bob Massulo … Also an All-Academic recipient from the Spartanburg Herald Journal, finished No. 4 in his senior class … Named to 2007 & 2008 Impact Baseball Dream Team for the state of South Carolina.
Nolan Belcher
LHP
Fr.
Augusta, Ga.
Greenbrier HS
High School: Compiled a career record of 47-2 with 516 strikeouts in 282 innings in high school … Finished his senior season with a 12-1 record, a 0.89 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 78 innings … Also played in the outfield and batted .527 with nine doubles … As a junior went 10-1 on the mound … Played for three state championship teams in the state of Georgia, two at Greenbrier and one at Augusta Christian … Played for coach Rodney Holder at Greenbrier HS … Listed by Baseball America as No. 46 best prospect overall in the state of Georgia for 2008 MLB Draft.
Jackie Bradley
OF
Fr.
Prince George, Va.
Prince George HS
High School: 2008 Virginia AAA All-State team … Hit .435 as a senior with five homers … Played for Richmond Braves National AAU team … Listed by Baseball America as No. 40 best prospect overall in the state of Virginia for 2008 MLB Draft.
Justin Dalles
C
Jr.
Lake Worth, Fla.
St. Petersburg JC
Junior College: 2008 NJCAA honorable mention All-America honors … Also named to 2008 All-NJCAA Gulf District and 2008 All-FCCAA first team … Hit .387 as a sophomore with 13 HR and 70 RBI … Tallied six home runs as freshman … Three-time MLB Draft selection … Selected in 2008 by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 26th round, selected in 2007 by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 40th round and selected in 2006 by the New York Mets in the 15th round … Listed by Baseball America as No. 41 best prospect overall in the state of Florida for 2008 MLB Draft.
Nick Ebert
3B
Jr.
Ocala, Fla.
Central Florida CC
Junior College: Hit .341 as a sophomore with 10 HR and 35 RBI … 2007 All-NJCAA Gulf-District as a freshman, among the leading hitters in the FCCAA with a .393 average, 16 doubles and 37 RBI.
Bobby Haney
INF
Jr.
Smithtown, N.Y.
Manatee CC (Fla.)
Junior College: Hit .383 with 23 doubles, 13 HR and 48 RBI as a sophomore, finished four in the FCCAA in RBI … 2007 FCCAA second team All-Conference team as a freshman … Selected in 2006 MLB Draft in 38th round by Philadelphia Phillies.
Jeff Jones
INF
Jr.
Ft. Worth, Texas
Navarro JC
Junior College: Hit .323 as a sophomore with 12 doubles … Batted .366 as a freshman with nine doubles … Played for coach Whoa Dill at Navarro JC.
Adam Matthews
OF
Fr.
Lexington, S.C.
White Knoll HS
High School: 2008 South Carolina AAAA All-State team … Member of 2008 SC Select All-Star team, played in SC/NC Select game … 2008 4A All-Area Player of the Year in the Midlands by The State … Hit .433 as a senior with seven home runs, five triples and three doubles, also tallied 19 stolen bases … Selected in 2008 MLB Draft in 41st round by Cleveland Indians.
Grimes Medlin
LHP
Jr.
Benson, N.C.
Young Harris JC (Ga.)
Junior College: Finished 2008 season with an 8-4 record, 3.49 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched … Compiled a 5-3 record with three saves and a 2.64 ERA as a freshman in 2007, struck out 71 batters in 61 innings … Selected in 2007 MLB Draft in 26th round by Tampa Bay Rays … Listed by Baseball America as No. 33 best prospect overall out of the state of Georgia for 2008 MLB Draft as well as the second best JC prospect out of the state of Georgia.
Matt Price
RHP
Fr.
Sumter, S.C.
Sumter HS
High School: 2008 South Carolina AAAA All-State team … Member of 2008 SC Select All-Star team, played in SC/NC Select game … Recorded a 7-4 record as a senior with a 0.40 ERA … Listed by Baseball America as No. 3 best high school draft prospect out of state of South Carolina for 2008 as well as the No. 20 best overall draft prospect for the state of South Carolina … Pitched a no-hitter at the 2007 World Bat Championships in Jupiter, Fla.; struck out 17 batters in a 1-0 win over the Hurricanes (Va.) baseball team … Pitched for Sumter 2006 American Legion team that won state championship.
James Rawls
RHP
Fr.
Batesburg-Leesville, S.C.
Batesburg-Leesville HS
High School: 2007 & 2008 South Carolina AA All-State team … Member of 2008 SC Select All-Star team, played in SC/NC Select game.
Casey Rihn
INF
Jr.
La Habra, Calif.
Santa Ana JC
Junior College: Hit .332 as a sophomore with eight HR and 43 RBI as well as 15 doubles, tied for second in Orange Empire Conference with 52 runs scored … Hit .368 as a freshman with eight HR and 47 RBI as well as 18 doubles … 2007 All-Southern California team.
Michael Roth
1B
Fr.
Greer, S.C.
Riverside HS
High School: 2006 & 2008 South Carolina AAA All-State team … Earned 2006 South Carolina AAA Player of the Year honors as a sophomore … Member of 2008 SC Select All-Star team, played in 2008 SC/NC Select game.
Adam Westmoreland
LHP
Fr.
Cayce, S.C.
Brookland-Cayce HS
High School: 2008 South Carolina AAA All-State team … 2008 South Carolina AAA Player of the Year … Member of 2008 SC Select All-Star team, played in 2008 SC/NC Select game … Went 9-1 with one save and a 0.85 ERA as a senior, struck out 132 batters and walked only 26 on the year … High school team earned state championship as a senior … Played for Brookland-Cayce HS and former Gamecock letterwinner, coach Brian Hucks … Selected in 2008 MLB Draft in 35th round by Los Angeles Dodgers.
Collegiate Baseball’s 2008 Recruiting Results
(As of Sept. 23, 2008)
Rank – Team – Recruits
1. Arizona St. 20
2. Oregon 35
3. Vanderbilt 13
4. Arkansas 16
5. Georgia 15
6. UCLA 8
7. Miami, Fla. 13
8. Florida St. 13
9. Clemson 12
10. Fresno St. 23
11. Texas 12
12. Oregon St. 13
13. South Carolina 14
14. Cal. St. Fullerton 19
15. Wichita St. 11
16. Southern California 15
17. Rice 14
18. Florida 12
19. Kentucky 10
20. Louisiana St. 10
21. N.C. State 14
22. U.C. Irvine 12
23. Southern Miss. 16
24. Virginia 11
25. Mississippi 13
26. Stanford 12
27. Texas A&M 11
28. Tennessee 16
29. San Diego St. 13
30. Texas Christian 12
31. Oklahoma St. 12
32. Oklahoma 15
33. Pepperdine 10
34. Arizona 10
35. Georgia Tech. 10
36. Louisville 11
37. Hawaii 14
38. Notre Dame 8
39. Long Beach St. 15
40. South Florida 11
Cal. St. Northridge 10
South Carolina is one of only five schools in the nation to have made seven NCAA Super Regional appearances over the last nine years (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007). In the previous nine seasons, Carolina owns the fifth highest total of wins in the country (428) and has won more SEC games than any team in the league (162). In addition, the Gamecocks have made nine consecutive postseason appearances, the longest current streak among the 12 SEC schools. South Carolina also has three College World Series trips (2002, 2003, 2004), two SEC championships (2000, 2002) and one SEC tournament title (2004) in that span.
