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re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion
Posted on 6/27/13 at 6:53 pm to CayceCock13
Posted on 6/27/13 at 6:53 pm to CayceCock13
Added Perfect Game Profiles to all 2013 Recruits that came out of HS.
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Posted on 6/30/13 at 3:33 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
@PerfectGameUSA
2014 RHP Dylan Cease (GA) up to 96 mph in his 1st inning. Big time arm! #PGTourney
Posted on 7/1/13 at 2:05 pm to CayceCock13
Class of 2013 shortstop Marcus Mooney
South Carolina has an opening at shortstop with rising junior Joey Pankake switching positions. There will be competition for the spot but another body can be added to the fold as junior college shortstop Marcus Mooney (Loxahatchee, Fla./Palm Beach State) has committed to the Gamecocks.
Mooney was first introduced to the program in the fall of 2010 when he helped his older brother, Peter, move in at South Carolina. Peter Mooney, who spent the 2011 season at shortstop, won a national championship as a junior and moved on to professional baseball.
Then assistant coach Chad Holbrook took Marcus Mooney on a tour of the campus and Carolina Stadium, which left a lasting impression on the final Mooney brother.
“Coach Holbrook took me on a tour around the school and it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” Marcus Mooney said. “I knew it was the school I wanted to go to after Palm Beach. That, and Peter told me it was the best time of his life made me want to go there.”
Marcus Mooney chose the Gamecocks over Florida State, N.C. State, Florida Atlantic and Miami.
24/7 Sports Article Link
This post was edited on 7/1/13 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 7/1/13 at 4:44 pm to ConwayGamecock
Insider Notes on Mooney:
This coming from JW on TBS/247
Personally happy with this pickup, odds on favorite to win the SS job & if he's anything like his older brother he will be a great addition.
quote:
Marcus Mooney is a player that South Carolina has kept tabs on since he visited with his older brother, Peter, in Fall 2010. They’ve kept in contact and thought it would be a good fit for both sides if a spot was available in the future. Recruiting coordinator Sammy Esposito scouted him earlier this season at PBCC and certainly liked what he saw.
He will compete with DC Arendas and Jordan Gore at shortstop this fall. He will be the odds on favorite to win the position with Arendas right there with him, in my opinion.
Mooney, as he says in the story, is an aggressive hitter but his primary skills are defensively. Really quick feet, quick hands and release.
This coming from JW on TBS/247
Personally happy with this pickup, odds on favorite to win the SS job & if he's anything like his older brother he will be a great addition.
This post was edited on 7/1/13 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 7/3/13 at 12:14 am to CayceCock13
Gamecocks land top 2015 target: Danny Blair
quote:
The Gamecocks won the recruiting battle over Florida for Blair, who also had offers and interest from Miami, Virginia Tech, Maryland and others. Recruiting coordinator Sammy Esposito made the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder one of his top priorities.
“Coach Esposito was awesome through the whole recruiting process,” Blair said. “He came to some of our games last weekend when we were playing. I know all the coaches came out and all really liked how I played. They wanted me to stop by again for another visit. They were all a big part of my decision. They’re all great coaches and I really feel comfortable around them.”
“I came down for a baseball game and loved the atmosphere,” Blair said. “It reminded me of a football game and I really liked that about South Carolina. We went through the campus and I really loved doing that. It was in the city, it’s an old campus, and I loved the Horseshoe.”
Blair throws left-handed and also hits from the left side. One of his main tools is his speed, which sees him impact the game both offensively and defensively. He typically mans centerfield for his high school and showcase team and also hits in the leadoff spot in the order.
“The first thing coaches always love is my speed,” Blair said. “It’s one of the biggest parts of my game. It helps me out in the field running balls down in the outfield. Even if I don’t hit a ball hard, I can do some damage on the bases with my speed.”
Blair is ranked as the No. 11 outfielder in the country by Perfect Game for the 2015 class. He’s also considered the No. 53 prospect nationally regardless of position.
“I have a little bit of power for a leadoff guy,” Blair said. “I will usually hit gap-to-gap though. As a leadoff hitter, I like to see pitches for the rest of my team. can see myself as a leadoff hitter in college but it’ll be whatever can help the team win.”
“It’s definitely exciting. We have a great team now and we compete nationally,” Blair said. “I think we can really do some damage. In the recruiting process, it did have an effect. South Carolina, there are three or four guys I already know who are committed there and it impacted my decision.”
Posted on 7/3/13 at 12:24 am to CayceCock13
JW Everett Eynon Insider Notes:
quote:
South Carolina picked up a commitment late last week from second baseman Everett Eynon, a member of the 2014 class, from A.C. Flora High School. His commitment came as a bit of a surprise to me last week. I'm not sure what other programs were recruiting him. I've been on kind of a working vacation up here in the Cape for the last nine days. I'm going to bounce on over to A.C. Flora to speak with Eynon in person this week.
I've had a chance to watch him play probably 10 times over the last few years. He's gotten a lot more physical over the years even though he still has a very slight build. He's smaller in stature but the ball flies off his bat really well. He's a definite second baseman at the next level. Has some good savvy about him and is solid defensively.
Growing up, Eynon was a bat boy at South Carolina for Ray Tanner. He is a diehard South Carolina fan and has been to Omaha for the College World Series. I know he'd have the chance to get scholarship offers at smaller schools, if he doesn't have them already, but he wants to try his luck at South Carolina as a walk-on. He's going to be a player who, as things stand right now, is going to have to redshirt his first year. We'll see how he develops. He's going to be a player who is always giving 100 percent and will do everything asked of him. Watching him mature over the last few years, I wouldn't put anything past him. I think he can be a contributor after a couple or few years in the program.
Posted on 7/8/13 at 10:33 am to CayceCock13
Ryder Ryan a top target for the class of 2014 committed to UNC yesterday.
Posted on 7/8/13 at 4:31 pm to CayceCock13
Q&A Session between John Whittle of TheBigSpur & 2013 RHP/1B Commit Taylor Widener:
quote:
Take us back to recruiting - why did you pick South Carolina? … I was talking to some smaller schools and some bigger schools but Carolina just stood out to me. They’ve always had a top notch program and I’ve always wanted to play for a big school like that.
When you look back at your recruitment, is there any crazy story or behind-the-scenes story or secret that you haven’t told before? … Not really. The only school I ever visited was South Carolina.
What are your goals for your first season at South Carolina? … My goal is to get into the starting lineup.
What have they told you about how you fit in to the program as a freshman? What do they see your role? … They told me they’re just going to let things fall into place. They just want to get me there and see what happens. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to win.
What is it going to be like to play for coach Holbrook? … I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. I know he’s a really good guy. I love the whole coaching staff. I know we’re going to have to work really hard, but we’re going to have a lot of fun. It’s all going to be worth it.
Who are some guys you’ve gotten to know in this class or already on the team? … Jordan Gore. We’re pretty close. I’m not really close with anybody else. I’ve played against most of the guys.
What are some of the things you’ve been doing to prepare yourself before you enroll?… I’ve been working out, running and trying to be in shape.
What are the goals for this 2013 class? … We haven’t really talked about it a lot. I know we have a great class coming in though.
Do you have a message to the fans? … I don’t really have any kind of message other than, “Go Cocks!”
Posted on 7/15/13 at 1:00 am to CayceCock13
Morris a top priority for the Class of 2015
quote:
“I can be low 90s on the mound with a good changeup and a pretty good curve ball that is still developing,” Morris said. “I kind of have a slurve, but in the future, I think I’ll throw a hard, tight slider. My fastball has run on it, so I get a lot of ground ball outs. Coaches think I will throw mid-90s in college, which is something I’d like.”
“I want really good baseball, obviously, and good academics,” Morris said, when discussing what he will look for in a school. “Weather is a little bit of a factor. I live in Maryland and the cold isn’t good baseball weather. The coaches are going to be a huge factor.”
Morris finished the season with a 6-2 record and 1.30 earned run average. He had 89 strikeouts and 10 walks during his sophomore season at Reservoir High School leading his team to the Regional Semifinals.
Morris picked up a win on the mound against James M. Bennett, class of 2013 South Carolina right-handed pitcher signee Canaan Cropper’s school, in the playoffs.
“I had a good game that day,” Morris said. “I was 89-91 and I had really good stuff and our team played well.”
Morris, following his victory on Saturday in Georgia, detailed what he likes about the schools, which are listed in alphabetical order, that he’s considering. There were around a dozen college coaches at his game, including South Carolina pitching coach Jerry Meyers.
South Carolina: I really, really like the coaches. I like coach Holbrook. He seems like the kind of coach I would like to play for. The facilities there are insane. The tradition and program in general is really special and something I’d want to be a part of. The town - being a baseball player in Columbia is unexplainable.“I think probably in the next month, I’m going to commit,” Morris said. “If I don’t feel 100 percent sure, then I’m going to wait.”
Morris is ranked as the No. 147 player in the country in his class regardless of position by Perfect Game. He is the No. 49 right-handed pitcher in the 2015 class.
Posted on 7/22/13 at 12:30 am to CayceCock13
Morris Pledges to SC
Insider Notes:
quote:
Class of 2015 right-handed pitcher Cody Morris (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) made a verbal pledge to South Carolina on Sunday afternoon and becomes the seventh commitment in his recruiting class.
Morris chose the Gamecocks over a who’s who in college baseball. He had offers from North Carolina, Florida, Miami, Clemson, and Kentucky, among others. He has canceled remaining visits to see the Gators, Hurricanes and Vanderbilt and is fully committed to South Carolina.
“I love coach Holbrook, coach Meyers and Espo,” Morris said. “The program is outstanding and so are the fans and tradition. The stadium and campus is incomparable to anything else anywhere. I just knew South Carolina was the place.”
“When I showed up, all three coaches were there. It meant a lot to me that all three of them showed up,” Morris said. “They told me I’m their guy and I really believe that. I knew I was really wanted there and it helped me make my decision.”
“They made a huge difference,” Morris said. “LT, Kaleb and Danny, especially. I love playing with those guys and want to continue to play with them and room with some of them when we get to school.”
Morris will also be active in recruiting players for South Carolina saying, “Anything it takes to help win a national championship.”
“I’m pitching off of my fastball really well and getting a ton of movement,” Morris said. “I’ve had really good command of my changeup and curve ball. Pretty much in any count, I can throw my changeup right now. That’s been my go to pitch lately.”
Morris joins Bowman as one of two right-handed pitchers for South Carolina in the 2015 class. Left-handed pitcher Kyle Anderson is the only other player recruited as a pitcher in the class.
Insider Notes:
quote:
The Cody Morris commitment is certainly a big one for South Carolina for a lot of reasons. The biggest reason is he’s really, really good. He’s got great movement on what is already a pretty powerful fastball. He gets some sink and run so he typically breaks some bats when he pitches in wood bat tournaments. He’s got the quick arm and frame that projects to add some miles per hour to his fastball.
South Carolina made a very strong impression when it had all three coaches there to greet him after his visit. On Friday, after winning the national championship in Marietta, Ga., Morris went to visit Clemson. Head coach Jack Leggett was unable to be there. When he visited North Carolina, Morris did meet with all three coaches. The Gamecocks rolled out the red carpet though and both Morris and his parents had a great impression after the visit.
As far as how he will be used, there are still two years before he gets to campus, so it’s hard to project a freshman role. What I do like about him is he is versatile. He can come in as a freshman and gain some experience in relief with a power fastball and breaking ball. Long term, I definitely think he’s a starter though. He’s got three pitches right now he can throw for strikes and I’ve seen him do it three times against good competition.
Posted on 7/22/13 at 4:11 pm to CayceCock13
Updated on Whittles Insider Notes on each recruit of 2014/15 Class on 2nd & 3rd Post.
Posted on 7/28/13 at 9:50 pm to CayceCock13
Are you going to put up these prospects position ranking or overall ranking? If so, which sites scouts do you trust the most?
Posted on 7/29/13 at 1:55 pm to CockInYourEar
I've heard Perfect Game has the best rankings, but you have to have a premium account which costs $$$.
Not sure where else you could get rankings on prospects besides Baseball America I guess?
Not sure where else you could get rankings on prospects besides Baseball America I guess?
Posted on 7/29/13 at 2:16 pm to CayceCock13
Your posting/info is usually very thorough, so I thought you must have already had a membership to one of the sites for baseball recruiting. Fooled me! 
Thanks for keeping us up to date on what's going on with it, I know it gets a fraction of the coverage football does.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on what's going on with it, I know it gets a fraction of the coverage football does.
Posted on 7/29/13 at 2:42 pm to CockInYourEar
Posted on 7/29/13 at 3:27 pm to CockInYourEar
I also agree, thanks for the great baseball info, CayceCock!!
Posted on 8/1/13 at 10:35 am to ConwayGamecock
Posted on 8/10/13 at 5:53 pm to CayceCock13
South Carolina Commits playing in the Palmetto Games this weekend:
Clark Scolamiero
O'Kevious Conway
Jared Williams
Tyler Romanik
Everett Eynon
Kep Brown
Palmetto Game Rosters & Palmetto Game Schedule
Clark Scolamiero
O'Kevious Conway
Jared Williams
Tyler Romanik
Everett Eynon
Kep Brown
Palmetto Game Rosters & Palmetto Game Schedule
Posted on 8/14/13 at 12:38 am to CayceCock13
Gamecocks Land In-State Talent from Wando
quote:
South Carolina baseball has made its name largely on in-state players and another one joined the fold on Monday night. Class of 2015 right-handed pitcher Harrison Smith (Mount Pleasant/Wando) made a verbal pledge to Gamecocks head coach Chad Holbrook becoming the eighth member of the recruiting class.
Smith was receiving interest from a lot of in-state schools, including Clemson, The Citadel, and Winthrop.
“I’ve always been waiting for that opportunity,” Smith said. “It’s the best baseball program in the country. The coaching staff is great and everything is just real appealing to me. I fell in love with everything when I visited.”
“We walked around The Horseshoe and we were talking the whole time about my future there and everything that they expected of me,” Smith said. ”We went to the stadium, the locker room, met with the coaches and I just loved everything about the visit.”
“I’m very aggressive as a pitcher,” Smith said. ”I like to work inside a lot. I like to get ahead of hitters so I can throw my breaking ball. I like to blow my fastball by people.”
“I want to become a more complete pitcher,” Smith said. ”I have to master all my pitches and be able to throw them all for strikes. I need to develop my changeup more, because that’s my weakest pitch right now. I still have work to do.”
Smith is the eighth member of the 2015 class and is the third right-handed pitcher joining Cody Morris (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) and Kaleb Bowman (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove).
Posted on 8/14/13 at 12:48 am to CayceCock13
Also updated OP.
1) Ran out of room so I just put up a link that takes you to the 247 website that has our whole recruitment list for the 2013 class.
2) Updated both commits & targets for the upcoming 2015 class.
1) Ran out of room so I just put up a link that takes you to the 247 website that has our whole recruitment list for the 2013 class.
2) Updated both commits & targets for the upcoming 2015 class.
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