Oct. 18, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Baseball America has ranked South Carolina’s recruiting class No. 3 in the nation as released by the publication in this week’s digital edition. This year’s class includes 21 newcomers to the Garnet & Black.
2013 GAMECOCK RECRUITING CLASS
Elliott Caldwell – INF/OF – Easley, S.C. (Spartanburg Methodist College)
– Rated No. 8 best junior college prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 16 best overall prospect in South Carolina for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– Hit .371 (76-for-205) in 2013 with three homers, 44 RBI, 63 runs scored as well as 15 doubles and four triples for Spartanburg Methodist
– Helped lead SMC to 2013 JUCO World Series, named to 2013 JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team
– 2013 Region X All-Region Team
– Rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect of the Prospect League, a collegiate summer baseball league where he played for the Butler BlueSox in 2012
– Named to 2012 Summer Collegiate All-America team by Perfect Game USA ; earned second-team honors
– Hit .388 with seven homers and 47 RBI for Butler, also stole 27 bases, set a league single-season record with 99 hits
– Played at Winthrop in 2012, saw action in 30 games with 10 starts – Prepped at Wren HS, was rated No. 3 best third baseman in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Also lettered in football and basketball in high school
Gene Cone – OF – Columbia, S.C. (Spring Valley HS)
– Rated No. 12 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 470 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 13 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 2 best outfielder in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2013 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– 2013 Diamond Prospects Gold Glove team
– Hit .405 as a sophomore in 2011 at Spring Valley HS
– Played for Diamond Devils AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
Canaan Cropper – RHP – Salisbury, Md. (James M. Bennett HS)
– Rated No. 2 best high school prospect in Maryland and No. 218 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Top right-handed pitching prospect in Maryland by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 6 best overall prospect in Maryland and No. 492 best overall prospect in the nation for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– As a senior in 2013, went 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 43.1 innings with 102 strikeouts
– 2013 Delmarva Daily Times Player of the Year
– 2013 All-USA Maryland Baseball Team by USA Today
– 2013 Atlantic All-Region by Perfect Game USA
– 2012 & 2013 Bayside Conference Pitcher of the Year
– Helped J.M. Bennett to 2011 and 2012 Class 3A state championship in Maryland, winning pitcher in title game in 2012
– As a junior in 2012, went 9-0 with a 0.88 ERA in 54.0 innings pitched with 98 strikeouts
– Played for Evoshield Canes AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
– Also lettered in basketball and played quarterback in football in high school
– Represented U.S. Mid-Atlantic in 2007 Little League World Series for West Salisbury LL
– His father, Bill Cropper, played college baseball at Lee College
Wil Crowe – RHP – Sevierville, Tenn. (Piegeon Forge HS)
– 2013 MLB Draft Selection (31st round/Cleveland Indians)
– 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Tennessee
– 2013 Louisville Slugger High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball
– Helped Pigeon Forge to 2013 Class AA championship in Tennessee, winning pitcher in title game in 2013
– As a senior in 2013, went 15-1 with a 0.46 ERA in 91 innings with 172 strikeouts. Also hit .448 with 12 homers.
– Rated No. 36 best overall prospect for 2013 MLB Draft by Keith Law of ESPN
– Rated No. 3 best high school prospect in Tennessee and No. 58 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 6 best overall prospect in Tennessee and No. 141 best overall prospect in nation for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– 2013 Southeast All-Region by Perfect Game USA
– Named to 2012 Tennessee Sportswriters Association All-State team
– 2012 District 3-AA MVP and All-PrepXtra First Team honors
– As a junior in 2012, went 11-4 with a 0.89 ERA with 143 strikeouts, also hit .449 with 10 doubles and 36 RBI
– As a junior pitched a perfect game in his first start of the 2012 season
– Played for Knoxville Stars AAU team; helped lead team to 2012 Continental Amateur Baseball Association 17U World Series championship, earned MVP Honors
– His father, Tim Crowe, played college baseball at Milligan College
Jordan Gore – SS/RHP – Conway, S.C. (Conway HS)
– Rated No. 7 best high school prospect in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Rated No. 11 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 391 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 13 best overall prospect in South Carolina for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– Rated No. 2 best shortstop in South Carolina by Perfect Game USA and Diamond Prospects
– 2013 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– 2013 Diamond Prospects Gold Glove team
– As a senior in 2013, hit .480 with 30 runs scored
– As a junior in 2012, hit .488 with 14 RBI
– As a sophomore in 2011, hit .415
– Played for Evoshield Canes and South Carolina SHOCKWAVE AAU teams
– Played for Team South Carolina at 2012 South Atlantic Border Battle
Tyler Haswell – RHP – Lawrenceville, Ga. (Peachtree Ridge HS)
– Rated No. 26 best high school prospect in Georgia and No. 382 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post Pitcher of the Year
– As a senior in 2013, went 6-3 with a 1.34 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched
– 2012 & 2013 GHSA 7-AAAAA All-Region
– As a junior in 2012, went 5-2 with a 2.35 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched, also hit .341
– Played for East Cobb Rangers and East Cobb Braves AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
Preston Johnson – RHP – Duluth, Ga. (Chipola College (Fla.))
– As a sophomore in 2013, went 1-3 with a 6.91 ERA in 10 appearances. Struck out 24 batters in 27.1 innings pitched
– Played at Winthrop in 2012, made 20 appearances on the mound with eight starts, struck out 47 batters in 51.2 innings, won two games and also tallied three saves
– Prepped at Peachtree Ridge HS
– Played for East Cobb Patriots AAU team
Logan Koch – C – Charlotte, N.C. (South Mecklenburg HS)
– Rated No. 6 best high school prospect in North Carolina and No. 336 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 1 catcher in North Carolina by Impact Baseball and Perfect Game USA
– Helped South Meck to 2013 4 state championship in North Carolina
– 2013 N.C. Baseball Coaches Association 4A All-State honors
– 2012 All-South Charlotte News team
– 2012 Southwestern 4A All-League honors
– Played for Dirtbags AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
– Played for Team North Carolina at 2012 South Atlantic Border Battle
– As a sophomore in 2011, hit .425 with five homers and 40 RBI
– His father, Donn Koch, played college baseball at Florida Southern and spent two seasons in Chicago White Sox organization
Zack Madden – OF – Charleston, S.C. (Bishop England HS)
– 2013 South Carolina AA All-State
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– 2013 All-Lowcountry team by the Post & Courier
– Rated No. 14 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 3 best outfielder in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Played for Diamond Devils AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
Brock Maxwell – OF – Suwanee, Ga. (Lambert HS)
– Rated No. 10 best high school prospect in Georgia and No. 189 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 25 best overall prospect in Georgia for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– 2013 Southeast All-Region by Perfect Game USA
– Named MVP at the 2012 Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) World Series, hit .544 for the tournament as TGBA 17U won the CABA 18U National Championship
– 2011 & 2012 GHSA 7-AAAA All-Region team
– As a junior in 2012, hit .461 (35-for-76) with seven doubles, four homers and 22 RBI
– 2011 Baseball America High School All-America Third Team
– 2011 7-AAAA Player of the Year
– 2011 & 2012 Forsyth County Player of the Year
– As a sophomore in 2011, hit .468 with 14 homers and 37 RBI
– Also lettered in high school in football
– Played for Team Georgia Baseball Academy AAU team
Trey McNickle – RHP – Land O’Lakes, Fla. (St. Petersburg College)
– As a sophomore in 2013, went 1-2 with a save and a 2.31 ERA in 39.0 innings pitched, saw action n 32 games
– 2013 Male Athlete of the Year at St. Petersburg College
– Father Russ McNickle serves as a scout for the San Diego Padres, was previously head coach at Saint Leo University
– Prepped at Land O’Lakes High School, as a senior in 2011 was All-Laker/All-Lutz News First Team
Cody Mincey – RHP – Hartsville, S.C. (Spartanburg Methodist College)
– As a sophomore at SMC in 2013, went 4-2 with five saves in 28.0 innings pitched
– As a freshman at SMC in 2012, went 5-2 with two saves in 42.2 innings pitched
– Helped lead SMC to 2013 JUCO World Series
– Helped lead SMC to 2012 NJCAA Region X Championship
– Played at Hartsville High School, 2011 North-South All-Star
Marcus Mooney – INF – Loxahatchee, Fla. (Palm Beach State)
– As a freshman at Palm Beach State, hit .327 with 30 RBIs and 18 stolen bases
– Helped lead Palm Beach State to 2013 JUCO World Series and the championship game
– Brother of former Gamecock infielder Peter Mooney and former Florida infielder Michael Mooney
John Parke – LHP – Greenville, S.C. (Greenville HS)
– Rated No. 6 best overall prospect in South Carolina and No. 415 overall in the nation for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– Rated No. 9 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 359 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 1 left-handed pitcher in South Carolina and No. 10 best high school prospect in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2013 South Carolina AAA All-State team
– Played for Upstate Mavericks 17U Black AAU team
Josh Reagan – P – Lexington, S.C. (Lexington HS)
– 2013 Louisville Slugger High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball
– 2013 South Carolina AAAA All-State team
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– 2013 Diamond Prospects Gold Glove team
– Rated No. 4 left-handed pitcher in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Helped Lexington to 2013 Class AAAA championship in South Carolina, winning pitcher in title game with a three-hitter in a 4-0 victory, team finished ranked No. 7 in the nation in Baseball America’s High School Top 25
– As a senior in 2013, went 11-0 with a 1.13 ERA, six complete games and three starts. Struck out 75 batters in 68.0 innings pitched.
Jae Roberts – OF – Columbia, S.C. (Hammond School)
– Rated No. 7 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 304 best high school prospect in the nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 23 best overall prospect in South Carolina for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– Rated No. 10 best outfielder in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– Helped lead Hammond to 2013 3A SCISA championship in South Carolina, hit walk-off three-run homer in the eighth inning
– Played for Evoshield Canes AAU team
– Played for Team South Carolina at 2012 South Atlantic Border Battle
Reed Scott – RHP – Roswell, Ga. (Blessed Trinity)
– Rated No. 85 best high school prospect in Georgia
– As a junior in 2012, went 10-1 with a 1.92 ERA and 65 strikeouts
– Played for East Cobb Astros AAU team; named to All-Tournament Team at 2012 WWBA World Championship
Jackson Smith – RHP – Hartselle, Ala. (Hartselle HS)
– Rated No. 22 best high school prospect in Alabama in Alabama by Perfect Game USA
– 2013 Alabama Class 5A All-State
– Helped lead Hartselle to 2013 Class 5A baseball championship in Alabama
– As a senior in 2013, went 9-1 with a 1.65 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched
– Named to 2013 Huntsville Times Elite Baseball Team
– As a junior in 2012, missed most of his high school season due to broken ring finger on pitching hand
– Played for East Cobb Braves AAU team
Matthew Vogel – RHP – Medford, N.Y. (Patchogue Medford HS)
– 2013 MLB Draft Selection (36th round/Arizona Diamondbacks)
– Rated No. 3 best high school prospect in New York and No. 153 best high school prospect in nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 3 best overall prospect in New York and No. 374 in nation for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– Rated No. 2 best right-handed pitching prospect in New York by Perfect Game USA
– 2013 Rawlings Preseason All-America Third Team by Perfect Game USA
– 2011 & 2012 Newsday All-Long Island team
– 2012 NYSSWA All-State baseball fifth team
– As a junior in 2012, went 2-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 23 innings with 43 strikeouts; also hit .420 with 20 RBI
– 2011 NYSSWA All-State baseball sixth team
– As a sophomore in 2011, went 9-1 with a 0.34 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched
– Played for South Florida Bandits AAU team
– Played for USA Baseball’s 16U National Team in 2011 that won the 2011 IBAF World Youth Championship
– Played for PG Crimson Bandits in 2011; named to All-Tournament Team at 2011 WWBA World Championship
Taylor Widener – RHP/1B – Aiken, S.C. (South Aiken HS)
– Rated No. 5 best high school prospect in South Carolina and No. 175 best high school prospect in nation by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 7 best overall prospect in the state of South Carolina for 2013 MLB Draft by Baseball America
– 2013 South Carolina AAAA All-State
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– 2013 Atlantic All-Regional by Perfect Game USA
– Rated No. 4 right-handed pitcher in South Carolina and No. 6 best high school prospect in South Carolina by Diamond Prospects
– 2012 August Chronicle Player of the Year in South Carolina
– As a junior in 2012, went 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 47 innings, also hit .329 with five homers and 24 RBI
– Helped lead South Aiken HS to 2012 District VI championship
– Played for Best Nine AAU team
– Played for Team South Carolina at 2012 South Atlantic Border Battle
Matt Williams – INF – Honea Path, S.C. (Belton-Honea Path HS)
– 2013 South Carolina AAA All-State
– 2013 SC/NC Select All-Star
– As a senior in 2013, hit .370 with 18 RBI and 32 runs scored
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South Carolina won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2010 and 2011 at the College World Series. South Carolina has 11 College World Series appearances including six in the last 12 years. Carolina owns the second-highest win total in the nation in the last 14 years with a 669-271 record. South Carolina is one of five schools to appear in the NCAA Regional every season in the last 14 years including 11 NCAA Super Regional appearances in that span, one of only two schools to accomplish the feat.
