Recruiting and the State of Tennessee

#28
#28
BruinVol said:
Good post. The issue I see is that schools like UGA have their pick of a number of can't miss recruits. For every Sonny Gray or Daniel Norris in Tennessee my perception is there is 5 of those type kids in just the greater ATL area. That does bring in serious draft issues but a school like UGA would seem to have a huge advantage over Tenn due to instate talent.
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I can name more than 5 guys from South Doyle alone from the 05 and 07 class that got drafted.

Bryce Brentz
Cody Hawn
Chad Zurcher
Ryan Holland
Chad Bell
Lance Mcclain
Chris Kirkland


That is just one school too. The talent has gone down though, but there is definitely talent.
 
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#30
#30
StlCardinals2618 said:
I can name more than 5 guys from South Doyle alone from the 05 and 07 class that got drafted.

Bryce Brentz
Cody Hawn
Chad Zurcher
Ryan Holland
Chad Bell
Lance Mcclain
Chris Kirkland


That is just one school too. The talent has gone down though, but there is definitely talent.
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That Brentz, Bell, Hawn class is almost hard to imagine. But with that said, Bryce was not the kid he turned out to be while he was in high school. He blossomed at MTSU. The same thing happened with Rex Brothers, who was mentioned earlier. I remember him touching 90-91 in a game the summer after his senior year and the whole team wondering where all this velocity was coming from. The kid gained 7-8 MPH in college. No way to see that coming.
 
#31
#31
Also, we don't compete a whole lot directly with Vandy. Their leg up on some of our potential guys, especially east Tennessee guys, is that we had a terrible coach... or we fired their dad. I don't know Pfeiffer personally or really know anything of his story, but I assume if this coaching change had happened 2 years ago, he would be at UT and not Vandy. But guys that want to go to Vandy are going to still go. And guys that want to go to UT will now show up. Vandy relies a lot on the North East and I don't see us changing that. They don't need as many in state kids as we do. Memphis kids are real hard to even draw to Nashville, much less all the way to Knoxville, but I'm sure we will slowly start to take guys away from the Mississippi schools. But east of Memphis, I think we should be able to get almost everyone. And I think there is almost enough talent to keep us competitive in the SEC. To be great, we HAVE to steal guys from surrounding states.
 
#32
#32
BigOrange51 said:
That Brentz, Bell, Hawn class is almost hard to imagine. But with that said, Bryce was not the kid he turned out to be while he was in high school. He blossomed at MTSU. The same thing happened with Rex Brothers, who was mentioned earlier. I remember him touching 90-91 in a game the summer after his senior year and the whole team wondering where all this velocity was coming from. The kid gained 7-8 MPH in college. No way to see that coming.
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Bryce was the best hitter in east Tennessee hands down. His stats senior year were off the charts. He had double digit homeruns and over a 400 batting average in a very tough division.
 
#33
#33
Tennessee's problem is most of the talent is in west Tennessee. MS State and Ole Miss steal a lot of talent because they are closer to home. Delmonico was fired because all the summer coaches in Memphis knew he was a d-bag and pushed their kids to the MS schools and away from TN.
 
#34
#34
StlCardinals2618 said:
Bryce was the best hitter in east Tennessee hands down. His stats senior year were off the charts. He had double digit homeruns and over a 400 batting average in a very tough division.
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I'm a Nashville kid, and am a year separated from that class, but my understanding is that his performance in college was a surprise and he wasn't even the best hitter on that South Doyle team. Obviously, with Hawn hurt his senior year, he was. But prior to that, I was under the impression he was not projected to be arguably the best hitter in the nation. Since baseball players sign in November, their senior years usually don't play into their signing. I don't know details of Brentz's high school career, but my point was more generalized in that people that you wouldn't expect can turn into great players in college.
 
#35
#35
BigOrange51 said:
I'm a Nashville kid, and am a year separated from that class, but my understanding is that his performance in college was a surprise and he wasn't even the best hitter on that South Doyle team. Obviously, with Hawn hurt his senior year, he was. But prior to that, I was under the impression he was not projected to be arguably the best hitter in the nation. Since baseball players sign in November, their senior years usually don't play into their signing. I don't know details of Brentz's high school career, but my point was more generalized in that people that you wouldn't expect can turn into great players in college.
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I was on that team and even the coaches would tell you that Bryce was the best player on the team. Bryce hit 9th his junior year, but quit football and wrestling to focus solely on baseball and it payed off big time. Everybody saw his talent, it was mental mistakes that got him in high school. Sometimes he would just try to kill the ball when he got mad and his swing would suffer. Hawn may have been a better hitter, but Bryce had a better arm, was a better fielder, and was faster. Bryce was the complete package.

He definitely wasn't considered a big time prospect before the senior season. Im sure other coaches were surprised by Bryce's success senior year because he did bat 9th junior year and didn't have a great season, but South Doyle coaches knew how talented he was. Everyone who played against him or watched him play knew that him and Cody were going to make it to at least the minors.
 
#36
#36
Tennessee does have good talent, enough for 2-3 signees a year if not more. But I think establishing pipelines in the Atlanta area and Miami area would be huge. Delmonico got some good talent from Miami. Also with Serrano's conections to Cali, he could pull some players from there, but it's tougher being across the country.
 
#37
#37
BigOrange51 said:
Also, we don't compete a whole lot directly with Vandy. Their leg up on some of our potential guys, especially east Tennessee guys, is that we had a terrible coach... or we fired their dad. I don't know Pfeiffer personally or really know anything of his story, but I assume if this coaching change had happened 2 years ago, he would be at UT and not Vandy. But guys that want to go to Vandy are going to still go. And guys that want to go to UT will now show up. Vandy relies a lot on the North East and I don't see us changing that. They don't need as many in state kids as we do. Memphis kids are real hard to even draw to Nashville, much less all the way to Knoxville, but I'm sure we will slowly start to take guys away from the Mississippi schools. But east of Memphis, I think we should be able to get almost everyone. And I think there is almost enough talent to keep us competitive in the SEC. To be great, we HAVE to steal guys from surrounding states.
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I agree the two schools don't go head to head very often but that needs to change IMO. There should be a fight over the top 2 maybe 3 players in the state every year. Those have been going to Vandy and yes the state of the program has something to do with that but the Sheffield kid from Tullahoma is discouraging. He was committed to the previous coach and decided against DS and has now switched to Vandy. That started off the 2013 class on the wrong foot and tells me it isn't going to be easy to win those battles going forward.
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#38
#38
Vols4us said:
Not a HS baseball coach like S_K_U, but played at that level in the 70s, still follow, and have a passion for the game. There is ample high level talent available. Some of it needs 1-2 years development. They are not all ready to turn pro coming out of HS. Like what football and basketball had to do, CDS has to rebuild the roster and build a tradition of taking the high level TN kids. That means rebuilding relationships with S_K_U and other HS coaches around the state, getting in with the kids sooner, doing clinics, making visits, scouting - being seen. All of which he will do. I know of one D-1 local prospect that has a bright future that will not go to either one because neither school offers his major. He will go to Belmont instead. They got in on him when he attended their camp as a junior. He knows it is too early to tell if he will get drafted so he wants the education that will tie to his future career.
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What major does Belmont offer that either Tennessee or Vandy does not?
 
#40
#40
Farragut High School produces 2-3 D1 prospects a year alone. 4 consecutive state championships in the largest classification...perennially in the nations top 50.
 
#41
#41
BruinVol said:
I agree the two schools don't go head to head very often but that needs to change IMO. There should be a fight over the top 2 maybe 3 players in the state every year. Those have been going to Vandy and yes the state of the program has something to do with that but the Sheffield kid from Tullahoma is discouraging. He was committed to the previous coach and decided against DS and has now switched to Vandy. That started off the 2013 class on the wrong foot and tells me it isn't going to be easy to win those battles going forward.
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Good for him but we win the War if we sign little brother and Stone from Columbia. Two of the best pitchers in the state right now hands down! And one is 2014! The other just as good as big Sheffield as a 2013.
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#42
#42
spinmove said:
BruinVol said:
I agree the two schools don't go head to head very often but that needs to change IMO. There should be a fight over the top 2 maybe 3 players in the state every year. Those have been going to Vandy and yes the state of the program has something to do with that but the Sheffield kid from Tullahoma is discouraging. He was committed to the previous coach and decided against DS and has now switched to Vandy. That started off the 2013 class on the wrong foot and tells me it isn't going to be easy to win those battles going forward.
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Good for him but we win the War if we sign little brother and Stone from Columbia. Two of the best pitchers in the state right now hands down! And one is 2014! The other just as good as big Sheffield as a 2013.
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Stone is ready to get D1 hitters out now and the older sheffield isn't. However, sheffield has first round ability and stone is destined to be a bullpen guy for the Vols from what I hear about them. Stone is a one pitch guy in the slider with FB that has topped out at 86-88 and Sheffield is already mid 90's. You tell me who got the better deal.

As far as the younger Sheffield why do you think he will be a Vol when the older one said no thanks?
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#43
#43
BruinVol said:
Stone is ready to get D1 hitters out now and the older sheffield isn't. However, sheffield has first round ability and stone is destined to be a bullpen guy for the Vols from what I hear about them. Stone is a one pitch guy in the slider with FB that has topped out at 86-88 and Sheffield is already mid 90's. You tell me who got the better deal.

As far as the younger Sheffield why do you think he will be a Vol when the older one said no thanks?
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Don't know either of the kids, but we got the younger Wormsley. It happens all the time. We got the younger Williams with his brother at UK. We got the younger Forsythe. Vandy can be an intimidating place for a young kid. Look at Selman for Vandy... hasn't been able to barely touch the mound for 2 years and finally gets an opportunity to pitch and can't really get anything done. Hugely touted kid out of high school. Grayson Garvin had basically the same situation coming into last year, with obviously opposite results. Vandy has an opportunity to bring in another #1 class next year, loaded with arms, as always. There wont be a whole lot of room for the younger Sheffield. If he's as good as people think he is, he should have no problem, but he may have to sit for a couple years and only get a year to impress scouts or even play (Corbin will tell him that point blank). If we continue to show signs of improvement, I think he might be wise to choose us. I hope he does.
 
#44
#44
BigOrange51 said:
Don't know either of the kids, but we got the younger Wormsley. It happens all the time. We got the younger Williams with his brother at UK. We got the younger Forsythe. Vandy can be an intimidating place for a young kid. Look at Selman for Vandy... hasn't been able to barely touch the mound for 2 years and finally gets an opportunity to pitch and can't really get anything done. Hugely touted kid out of high school. Grayson Garvin had basically the same situation coming into last year, with obviously opposite results. Vandy has an opportunity to bring in another #1 class next year, loaded with arms, as always. There wont be a whole lot of room for the younger Sheffield. If he's as good as people think he is, he should have no problem, but he may have to sit for a couple years and only get a year to impress scouts or even play (Corbin will tell him that point blank). If we continue to show signs of improvement, I think he might be wise to choose us. I hope he does.
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Good points on williams, wormsley, and forsythe(I am not familiar with his situation). The big difference is Wormsley and williams both didn't have good experiences at candy or KY to share with their younger brothers. The sheffield boys are only a year apart and the younger will likely decide before his brother even finishes high school but as you point out anything can happen.


Regarding your statement about Corbin telling a recruit he will have to sit a couple years. I don't buy that at all. This is the same guy that can tell a kid that a million plus dollars isn't life changing money and coming to Vandy is better. Total BS. Ask Navery Moore if going to Vandy made him money or cost him millions!
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#45
#45
Stone's slider is one of the best I've seen at any level. And he has gained velocity on his ball. You will see Stone an Sheffield at the Area Code games this year.
 
#46
#46
I know he's only a Junior but I've been hearing a lot about the Trevor Clifton kid (RHP) in Blount County (goes to Heritage)

Has there been any buzz about his recruiting already?

He's been on radio as prep athlete of the week in Knoxville after a no hitter again Wm. Blount.

A google search shows 1.69 era in 16 and under national team in 3 appearance. And a Fastball at 91+ as a 16-year old.
 
#47
#47
fryeguy93 said:
I know he's only a Junior but I've been hearing a lot about the Trevor Clifton kid (RHP) in Blount County (goes to Heritage)

Has there been any buzz about his recruiting already?

He's been on radio as prep athlete of the week in Knoxville after a no hitter again Wm. Blount.

A google search shows 1.69 era in 16 and under national team in 3 appearance. And a Fastball at 91+ as a 16-year old.
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Not sure about his recruiting, but I'm sure he's heavy on everyone's radar. He was a PG Preseason 1st Team Underclassmen All-American. We need to not let kids listed in Knoxville to have other SEC programs listed in their commitment column. They need to be ours if we want them. I'm confident we want him. 6'4" 180lb with room to grow.
 
#49
#49
Hudson also has 1 win this season. If you cant beat Polk County or South Pitt, I don't think you can beat Florida, Vandy, USC, or UK.
 
#50
#50
thegreatwhite1 said:
Hudson also has 1 win this season. If you cant beat Polk County or South Pitt, I don't think you can beat Florida, Vandy, USC, or UK.
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If you saw the games you would see that Sequatchie had 8 errors against Polk and 4 against S.Pitt. Polk only had 5 hits and Pitt had 2. It also takes a team effort to beat quality teams. BTW he is only a junior.:hi:
 
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