Sept. 20, 2011
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina baseball has landed the top recruiting class in the country as announced by Collegiate Baseball on Tuesday afternoon. The Gamecock newcomers include seven players that have been drafted as well as several standouts from both the high school and junior college ranks.
“We are ecstatic with this group of newcomers that have entered our program,” said South Carolina recruiting coordinator Chad Holbrook. “This is a class we are excited about because of its depth, athleticism and versatility. We have a talented group of young, athletic infielders with the addition of Joey Pankake, T.J. Costen, Connor Bright, as well as outfielders Tanner English and Shon Carson. English and Carson were labeled as two of the best available athletes in the 2011 MLB draft.
“We also feel Grayson Greiner was one of the best high school catchers in the country and only because of signability issues was he not drafted in the first 10 rounds,” added Holbrook. ” We think that our pitching signees (RHP Evan Beal, LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Joel Seddon) will contribute immediately.”
It is also a class with experience and maturity with the addition of our JC signees,” noted Holbrook. “Our JC signees have had great success at the college level, and they add maturity and experience to our 2012 team. We felt it was important to have some balance with high school and junior college recruits to help replace some of the experience we lost in 2011. Collectively, we believe it’s a talented class that will hopefully continue to put us in a position to compete for SEC championships and trips to the College World Series.”
SOUTH CAROLINA RECRUITING CLASSPlayer Pos. Hometown (Previous School)Evan Beal RHP Fairfax Station, Va. (South County HS)Connor Bright INF Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Wando HS)Shon Carson OF Lake City, S.C. (Lake City HS)Ahmad Christian INF Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian HS)Seth Constable OF Lewisville, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day HS)T.J. Costen INF Virginia Beach, Va. (First Colonial HS)LB Dantzler INF Winter Haven, Fla. (State College of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota)Robert DeCosmo RHP Agawam, Mass. (Cathedral HS)Tanner English OF Murrels Inlet, S.C. (St. James HS)Vince Fiori LHP Ramsey, N.J. (Ramsey HS)Grayson Greiner C Columbia, S.C. (Blythewood 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)Reid Moman OF Greenville, S.C. (JL Mann HS)Jordan Montgomery LHP Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)Joey Pankake INF Easley, S.C. (Easley HS)Hunter Privette RHP Hartsville, S.C. (Florence Darlington Tech)Joel Seddon RHP/INF St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair HS)Sean Sullivan OF Columbia, S.C. (Winthrop)Chase Vergason INF Orlando, Fla. (Brevard CC)
Recruiting Class Breakdown
(16) High School Prospects
(5) JC/College Transfers
By State
South Carolina (10): Connor Bright, Shon Carson, Tanner English, Grayson Greiner, Kyle Martin, Reid Moman, Jordan Montgomery, Joey Pankake, Hunter Privette, Sean Sullivan
Florida (3): Ahmad Christian, LB Dantzler, Chase Vergason
North Carolina (3): Seth Constable, Mikal Hill, Tanner Lovick
Virginia (2): Evan Beal, T.J. Costen
Massachusetts (1): Robert DeCosmo
Michigan (1): Joel Seddon
New Jersey (1): Vince Fiori
Evan Beal – RHP – Fairfax Station, Va. (South County HS)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (8th round/Kansas City Royals)
– Rated No. 2 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by Baseball America
– Rated No. 393 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 10 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by Perfect Game USA
– First-team All-Met selection by the Washington Post
– Went 8-0 his senior season with a 2.41 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 65 innings
– Played with Hurricane Baseball AAU team
Connor Bright – INF – Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Wando HS)
– 2010 & 2011 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– 2011 Charleston Post & Courier Lowcountry Player of the Year
– Rated No. 4 shortstop in the state of South Carolina and No. 22 best high school prospect by Diamond Prospects
– Hit .485 his senior season in 2011 with seven HR as well as 10 doubles
– 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
Shon Carson – OF – Lake City, S.C. (Lake City HS)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (44th round/Cincinnati Reds)
– 2011 South Carolina AA All-State team as well as 2010 South Carolina AAA All-State honors
– Attending South Carolina on a football scholarship as a running back
– Rated No. 54 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 4 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– Played in 2010 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game
Ahmad Christian – INF – Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (46th round/Milwaukee Brewers)
– Attending South Carolina on a football scholarship as a defensive back
Seth Constable – OF – Lewisville, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day HS)
– Rated No. 327 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 15 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– 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 – INF – Virginia Beach, Va. (First Colonial HS)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (22nd round/Texas Rangers)
– Rated No. 62 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 2 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 3 best high school prospect in state of Virginia by Baseball America
– Rated No. 12 best overall second baseman prospect for 2011 MLB Draft by DiamondScape Scouting
– Hit .468 his senior season at First Colonial HS; also stole 14 bases
– Hit .389 his junior season at First Colonial HS
– Clocked at 6.62 in 60-yard dash
– 2011 Mid Atlantic All-Region Team by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association
– 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
LB Dantzler – INF – Winter Haven, Fla. (State College of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota)
– 2011 New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star; starting second baseman for the East Division representing his summer team, the Laconia Muskrats
– 2011 NJCAA honorable mention All-American
– 2011 FCSAA All-State first-team honors
– Was the third best hitter in the FCSAA in 2011 with a .415 batting average (88-for-212) with 50 RBI
– 2010 MVP of the Florida Collegiate Summer League with the Winter Park Diamond Dogs
– Helped lead SCF to 20 FCSAA state championship and the 2010 NJCAA World Series
Robert DeCosmo – RHP – Agawam, Mass. (Cathedral HS)
– Rated No. 219 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 6 best high school prospect in state of Massachusetts by Perfect Game USA
– 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)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (13th round/Tampa Bay Rays)
– 2011 South Carolina AAA All-State
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– Helped lead St. James HS to Class AAA state championship
– Rated No. 50 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 3 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 3 best high school prospect in the state of South Carolina by Baseball America
– Rated No. 1 outfielder in state of South Carolina and No. 5 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Hit .412 his senior season with seven HR and 23 RBI; also stole 28 bases
Vince Fiori – LHP – Ramsey, N.J. (Ramsey HS)
– 2011 Rawlings Northeast Region Honorable Mention
– 2010 Rawlings Underclass Honorable Mention All-American
– Father Vince lettered in baseball at Williams Patterson University and mother Rita was equestrian rider at Farleigh Dickinson
Grayson Greiner – C/1B – Columbia, S.C. (Blythewood HS)
– Rated No. 112 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 5 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 5 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Baseball America
– Rated No. 1 catcher in the state of South Carolina No. 6 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2009, 2010 & 2011 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 4A Player of the Year by The State Newspaper
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– 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
Mikal Hill – INF – Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)
– Rated No. 141 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 8 best high school prospect in state of North Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– 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
– 2011 MaxPreps Player of the Year in the state of North Carolina
– 2010 North Carolina 4A All-State team
– 2010 All-Observer Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer
– 2010 I-Meck 4A Conference Player of the Year
– Hit .455 his senior season with three HR, 19 RBI. Also stole 16 bases.
– Hit .566 his 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. 306 (44-for-144) as a sophomore at Pitt CC with a pair of homers and 31 RBI
– 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 an Eastern District championship and a Region X Tournament championship
– Helped lead Pitt CC to 2011 Region X Tournament championship
Kyle Martin – 1B – Simpsonville, S.C. (Wade Hampton HS)
– 2011 South Carolina AAA All-State
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– Rated No. 472 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 13 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 2 first baseman in the state of South Carolina and No. 17 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Reid Moman – OF – Greenville, S.C. (JL Mann HS)
– 2011 North 1A/4A All-Star in South Carolina
– Rated No. 5 best outfielder in the state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Jordan Montgomery – LHP – Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)
– 2011 All-USA baseball squad by USA Today
– 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina
– Helped lead Sumter HS to 2011 AAAA state championship; was 11-0 on the year with 114 strikeouts in 74.1 innings and a 0.38 ERA
– Pitched seven-inning complete game shutout in state title game; did now allow a run in four victories in state tournament
– 2011 Southeast All-Region Team by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association
– 2010 & 2011 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– 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. 2 left-handed pitcher in the state of South Carolina and No. 8 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
Joey Pankake – INF – Easley, S.C. (Easley HS)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (42nd round/Texas Rangers)
– 2011 SC/NC Select All-Star Game
– 2010 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– Rated No. 1 shortstop in the state of South Carolina and No. 3 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 4 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Baseball America
– Rated No. 250 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 9 best high school prospect in state of South Carolina by Perfect Game USA
– Played on Diamond Devils AAU team that won 2010 WWBA 17U National Championship
Hunter Privette – RHP – Hartsville, S.C. (Florence Darlington Tech)
– Compiled an 8-2 record in 2011 at Florence Darlington Tech in 58.1 innings with a 3.55 ERA as well as 64 strikeouts
– Privette’s eight wins tied for the most by a pitcher at the junior college level in the state of South Carolina
Joel Seddon – RHP/INF – St. Clair, Mich. (St. Clair HS)
– 2011 MLB Draft Selection (20th round/Toronto Blue Jays)
– 2011 Gatorade & MaxPreps Player of the Year in the state of Michigan
– Helped lead St. Clair HS to 2011 Michigan Division 2 state championship, first overall state title at HS since 1963
– Rated No. 96 best high school prospect in the nation by MaxPreps
– Rated No. 1 best high school prospect in the state of Michigan by Baseball America
– Rated No. 245 best high school prospect in the nation and No. 2 best high school prospect in state of Michigan by Perfect Game USA
– Named to 2010 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 2 All-State team
– Compiled a 10-0 record as a senior; struck out 11 in state semifinals, a 6-1 win
– 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
Sean Sullivan – OF – Columbia, S.C. (Winthrop)
– Transfer from Winthrop, brother of current Gamecock junior right-handed pitcher Patrick Sullivan
– Hit .288 in 2010, his sophomore season (67-for-233) with six HR and 34 RBI as well as 13 doubles and 48 runs scored
– Hit .327 in 2009, his freshman season (71-for-217) with three homers, 44 RBI as well as 11 doubles and 41 runs scored
Chase Vergason – INF – Orlando, Fla. (Brevard CC)
– Playing in the Coastal Plain League this summer for the Columbia Blowfish and was named to the All-Star team
– Played his sophomore year in 2011 at Brevard CC and finished with a .294 batting average (40-for-136) with six doubles, five triples as well as 18 runs scored and 18 RBI
– Played his freshman year in 2010 at Florida Atlantic and finished with a .293 batting average (24-for-82) and 22 runs scored
– Lettered at Bishop Moore Catholic HS where he earned first-team All-Central Florida honors and was team MVP his senior season
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South Carolina is the back-to-back defending national champion in NCAA Division I Baseball after winning consecutive titles at the 2010 and 2011 College World Series. South Carolina has 10 College World Series appearances including five in the last 10 years under head coach Ray Tanner. Under Tanner’s leadership, South Carolina owns the fourth highest win total in the nation in the last 12 years with a 577-231 record. South Carolina is one of eight schools to appear in the NCAA Regional every season in the last 12 years including nine NCAA Super Regional appearances in that span, one of only five schools to accomplish the feat.
Carolina owns more overall wins than any SEC team in the last 12 years and more conference wins than any SEC team in the last 12 years with a 222-137 conference record. South Carolina is the only SEC school to record 40 or more wins each season from 2000-present and the only SEC school to reach the NCAA Regional every season in the last 12 years. The Gamecocks also have the most NCAA Super Regional appearances of the 12 SEC schools in the last 12 years.
Head coach Ray Tanner is the second winningest coach in Southeastern Conference history with a .699 winning percentage in 15 seasons at the helm of the Garnet & Black.
Collegiate Baseball’s Top 10 Recruiting Classes
1. South Carolina
2. Vanderbilt
3. Mississippi
4. Oklahoma
5. Southern California
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Louisiana St.
8. Florida
9. Oregon St.
10. Stanford
