The MLB Draft resumed Monday afternoon with Clemson quarterback signee/RHP prospect Bubba Chandler selected by the Pirates with the first pick of Round 3. the 72nd pick overall. Chandler responded with a tweet that read, “Let’s get to work,” indicating his plans to sign with the Pirates and not enroll at Clemson. The Tigers’ other quarterback/baseball combo signee, OF Will Taylor, remained undrafted Monday and reportedly plans to remain in school and play baseball and football for the Tigers. He enrolled this summer.
USC signee RHP Hunter Parks of Florence-Darlington Tech was taken in the 8th round by Cincinnati.
Clemson and USC each had a 2021 baseball signee drafted Sunday night in the first round of the MLB Draft. Catcher Joe Mack signed with Clemson and was taken with the 31st pick by the Marlins. Third-baseman Cooper Kinney was a USC signee and was taken with pick 34 by the Rays. Both are expected to sign pro contracts.
USC coach Shane Beamer put out another commitment alert Sunday with his “Welcome Home” tweet. According to a source, the prospect is expected to announce on Wednesday and wants his identity protected until he releases his news. The source said the prospect will be one of the highest rated commitments in the Gamecocks’ 2022 class, if not the highest rated commitment. This private commitment means the Gamecocks have filled 18 of their 25 slots for the 2022 class.
Clemson is in the top five with SAF Zion Branch (6-2 190) of Las Vegas. He also named Alabama, Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Ohio State on his short list. He took official visits to Southern Cal, Oklahoma and Ohio State in June. He is scheduled for official visits to Alabama November 5th and Clemson November 12th. Branch is rated a four-star and is ranked the #4 safety nationally and the #1 prospect in Nevada in the 247Sports Composite.
Clemson is in the top 10 with four-star DT Hero Kanu (6-5 293) of Rancho Margarita, CA. The others on his short list are Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Washington, Texas, Southern Cal, Georgia and Ohio State. In June he took official visits to Georgia, LSU Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
USC is in the top 7 with three-star LB Tyler Banks (6-3 230) of Crewe, VA. The others on the list are Ole Miss, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Cal, Vanderbilt and Michigan. He officially visited Vanderbilt, Michigan and Virginia Tech in June.
Clemson and USC made the cut to the final 12 with 2023 five-star LB Drayk Bowen (6-2 215) of Merrillville, IN. He also named in his dandy dozen Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, NC State, Auburn, Texas A&M and LSU. In June Bowen visited Clemson, Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn and LSU. Last season Bowen had 80 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. He’s rated a five-star and ranked the #1 linebacker nationally for his class, the #25 overall prospect, and the #1 prospect in Indiana in the 247Sports Composite.
DB Kaleb Hutchinson of Augusta and ATH Christian Ellis of Jacksonville committed to Coastal Carolina.
Former Hilton Head QB Gaston Moore, who was a walk-on quarterback at UCF, is transferring to Tennessee Hilton Head coach BJ Payne confirmed for VolsWire.
Hilton Head LB Jaylen Sneed is set to announce Monday night. Notre Dame and Oregon have been his top two.
Gray Collegiate OL Alec Johnson committed to Georgia State.
USC offered 6-8 Elijah Saunders of Phoenix. Some other offers are UNLV, New Mexico, San Deigo State, San Francisco, UTEP, Saint Louis, Fresno State, Boston University and Montana.
USC offered 4-star PF 6-7 Malik Reneau of Montverde Academy in Florida. He’s ranked the #7 power forward nationally and the #12 prospect in Florida in the 247Sports Composite. Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss and Washington are some other offers.
USC offered 2023 6-4 Marquavious Brown of Covington, GA. He also has offers from Missouri, UAB, Kansas State and George Washington.
2023 6-5 Caleb Foster of Oak Hill Academy was offered by USC. He’s a five-star prospect and ranked the #3 point guard nationally in the class, and the #1 prospect in Virginia. He’s a native of Harrisburg, NC. Some other offers include College of Charleston, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
LHP Ethan Darden of Northwestern committed to Clemson.
2023 SS/OF Tryston McCladdie of Harlem, GA committed to Clemson.
