April 9, 2009

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina baseball program has announced the addition of Brooks Hall to the 2008-09 signing class. Hall signed a National Letter of Intent this past week. Hall is rated the No. 83 best high school senior in the country by PG Crosschecker and the No. 3 best senior prospect in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects. Carolina now has five of the six top senior prospects out of the state of South Carolina signed.

“Brooks is a right-handed pitcher and third baseman that will have an opportunity to play both positions here at South Carolina,” said associate head coach Chad Holbrook. “He’s a potential high draft pick in this June’s MLB Draft. A projectable right-handed pitcher with a high ceiling, he possesses a fastball in the low 90’s. He has also shown potential as a hitter and infielder at the college level.

The addition of Hall gives the Gamecocks 13 players signed for the 08-09 signing period. The class includes five players from the South Carolina Diamond Devils AAU squad that won a pair of national championships this summer as well as the top rated high school players out of the states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It consists of 11 high school players as well as two junior college standouts.

“Coach Holbrook and Coach Calvi have assembled a very talented class for the 2010 team,” said head coach Ray Tanner. “We have addressed our needs with players that fit into our program and are capable of making an immediate impact.”

Robert Beary – C/UT – Apopka, Fla. (Pensacola JC)
– Named to 2009 second-team All-Panhandle Conference
– 2009 Preseason JC All-American by Baseball America
– Hit .426 with a single-season school record 16 HR as well as 76 RBI as a freshman at Pensacola JC in 2008
– 2008 NJCAA honorable mention All-American
– 2008 NJCAA All-Gulf District
– 2008 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year
– Rated No. 68 best JC prospect in the nation according to PG Crosschecker
Coach Tanner comment – “Robert is a tough, athletic kid that has had a great offensive career at the junior college level. We’re counting on him to provide an immediate offensive impact.”

Ethan Carter – RHP – Newport News, Va. (Menchville)
– Rated No. 61 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 1 best high school player in the state of Virginia
– One of 38 players in the nation to attend and play in 2008 Aflac All-American HS Classic
Coach Tanner comment – “Ethan has a lot of experience and success on the national stage. He has a power arm with a good breaking ball. What appealed to us, was his ability to throw strikes, consistently with all his pitches and his competitive nature.”

Brison Celek – C/1B – Charleston, S.C. (Bishop England HS)
– Named to 2009 SC Select Team
– 2007 & 2008 South Carolina AA All-State team
– Rated No. 6 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 9 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Played on 2008 17-U Diamond Devils summer team that won the 17-U World Wood Bat Association National Championships as well as the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
– MVP of the 2008 Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
– Helped lead Bishop England to 2007 South Carolina AA state championship as a sophomore with a .395 batting average, four HR and 40 RBI
Coach Tanner comment – “Comes from a great program that has won two AAU national championships. He is a hard-nosed catcher and first baseman that has the potential to hit for power and average.”

Brooks Hall – RHP/3B – Anderson, S.C. (T.L. Hanna HS)
– Rated No. 83 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker
– Rated No. 3 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects and PG Crosschecker

Greg Harrison – RHP – Hilton Head, S.C. (Hilton Head HS)
– Named to 2009 SC Select Team
– 2008 South Carolina AAA All-State team
– Rated No. 5 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 8 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Played on 2008 17-U Diamond Devils summer team that won the 17-U World Wood Bat Association National Championships as well as the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
– Most Valuable Pitcher of the 2008 Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
Coach Tanner comment – “Greg is an extremely competitive pitcher that possesses a fastball clocked in the upper 80’s with a solid breaking pitch. He had a strong desire to be a part of our program and has shown the ability to pitch well in the biggest games.”

Colby Holmes – RHP – Conway, S.C. (Conway HS)
– Named to 2009 SC Select Team
– Rated by Baseball America as No. 9 best high school prospect at 2009 Under Armour Preseason All-America Tournament
– Rated No. 4 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 7 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by PG Crosschecker
– Played on 2008 17-U Diamond Devils summer team that won the 17-U World Wood Bat Association National Championships as well as the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
Coach Tanner comment – “Colby is a tough kid and we love his mound presence. He is also very talented as a pitcher and we certainly believe that he has all the characteristics to enhance our pitching staff.”

Anthony Iacomini – 2B/SS – Cross River, N.Y. (John Jay Cross River HS)
– Rated No. 10 best high school player in the state of New York by PG Crosschecker
– 2008 New York Sportswriters Association second team All-State honors
– Hit .575 as a junior in high school with 12 HR and 51 RBI
Coach Tanner comment – “Anthony plays the game with great enthusiasm. He is terrific both defensively and offensively as evidenced by his numbers in high school. He is well rounded and a fundamentally sound player.”

Evan Marzilli – OF – Cranston, R.I. (Bishop Hendricken)
– Rated No. 3 best high school player in the state of Rhode Island by PG Crosschecker
– Played on 2008 17-U Diamond Devils summer team that won the 17-U World Wood Bat Association National Championships as well as the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
– Helped lead Bishop Hendricken to 2008 Rhode Island high school state championship as a junior
Coach Tanner comment – “Evan is a very talented athlete. He can hit, run and plays a great center field. He was also teammates with a few of our guys to help the Diamond Devils win a couple of national titles.”

Adrian Morales – 2B – Hialeah, Fla. (Miami-Dade CC)
– Named to 2009 second-team All-Southern Conference
– Batted .401 with seven home runs and 17 stolen bases as a freshman at Miami-Dade CC
– 2008 NJCAA All-Gulf District
– Rated No. 59 best JC prospect in the nation according to PG Crosschecker
Coach Tanner comment – “Adrian is a hard-nosed infielder that put up big numbers at Miami-Dade. He was a first-team All-State selection and was always at his best in clutch situations. A clutch hitter with a great feel for the game.”

Wil Myers – 3B/C – Thomasville, N.C. (Wesleyan Christian Academy)
– Rated No. 15 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 1 best high school player in the state of North Carolina
– Rated No. 14 best high school player in the country by Baseball America, as well as the No. 27 best prospect in the nation for the 2009 MLB Draft
– Named by Baseball America as one of the top 10 hitters at the 2008 World Wood Bat Championships
Coach Tanner comment – “A very talented catcher and third baseman that has the potential to hit in the middle of our lineup. He is regarded by many as one of the top prospects in the country.”

Chris Owings – SS – Leesville, S.C. (Gilbert HS)
– Named to 2009 SC Select Team
– 2008 South Carolina AA Player of the Year
– 2006, 2007 & 2008 South Carolina AA All-State team
– Rated No. 1 best high school player in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 52 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 2 best high school player in the state of South Carolina
– Played on 2008 17-U Diamond Devils summer team that won the 17-U World Wood Bat Association National Championships as well as the Continental Amateur Baseball Association 18-U Wood Bat World Series
– Helped lead Gilbert to 2006 and 2008 South Carolina AA state championships as a freshman and a junior
– Hit .488 as a junior with 12 doubles, four triples, four HR and 30 RBI
Coach Tanner comment – “Chris is a very talented shortstop. He has the ability to be a special player for the Gamecocks. He is equally impressive offensively and defensively.”

Christian Walker – 3B/1B – Limerick, Pa. (Kennedy-Kenrick HS)
– Won 2009 International Power Showcase High School Home Run Derby at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays
– Rated No. 111 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 1 best high school player in the state of Pennsylvania
Coach Tanner comment – “Christian is regarded as one of the top power hitters in the country. A talented third baseman that really loves to play and has been passionate about joining our program. We think he will be a terrific addition to our team.”

Tyler Webb – LHP – Nassawadox, Va. (Northampton HS)
– Rated No. 199 best high school player in the country by PG Crosschecker as well as the No. 6 best high school player in the state of Virginia
Coach Tanner comment – “Tyler has a ton of potential. He is a big, tall kid with a strong, quick arm. He is coming off of surgery so we think his best days are ahead of him. We are thrilled he has decided to join our program.”