Chalk Up Another Recruiting Success for the Tigers |
Q & A with Clemson baseball signee Brad Chalk
Bio:
Height: 6'1'
Weight: 175
Position: Centerfield
Accolades: All-Region, past three years, All-State past two years, Gatorade State Player of the Year, 16-under Team USA, 18-under Team USA, All-tournament selection both years playing for Team USA, Second highest batting average in Team USA history, Second highest stolen base total in 16-under Team USA history, lettered four years for back-to-back South Carolina AAA State Champions, Riverside High School.
Q: What is your height and weight? A: I’m 6'1' 175
Q: Where do you stand regarding the possibilities of being taken in the draft? A: It depends if someone is willing to take a risk on me, especially after this back problem I’ve been having. I think my status has dropped a little bit, but when my back is better it will probably shed a little more light on that. I think it’s every kid’s dream to play professional baseball, but then again its also a lot of kids’ dreams to play ball in college, especially Clemson. It would probably take some really good money.
Q: Is there a certain threshold that you’d say it would take for you to decide to forego college and enter the draft? A: I’d say at least in the top ten rounds, that sounds like a good range.
Q: Do you know any of the current signees? A: I know Taylor Harbin really well, but I also know Neil Walker, I roomed with him on Team USA. He’s a switch hitting catcher from Pennsylvania. Really good.
Q: What other schools did you look at? A: A lot of people think that it was only Carolina and Clemson that were after me, but Carolina didn’t look at me much, and I don’t like Columbia, I think it’s a dirty place. I was looking out west in California. Places like Stanford and Cal. State-Fullerton were both recruiting me pretty hard, but both backed off after I verbally committed to Clemson.
Q: What professional baseball player do you model your game after? A: I’d say Johnny Damon.
Q: Describe how Clemson’s atmosphere contributed to your decision to play there. A: I think everyone around the country knows that Clemson is a college town. I didn’t want to go to a place that was a big city. Clemson is more of a town, and its more of an open area. They take their sports very seriously, football obviously, but they are really serious about baseball as well. They love baseball. They’ve got dedicated fans who show up every series. And during post-season time you won’t find it much better.
Q: I’ve got to ask at least one silly question. Here it goes. What is your favorite food? A: Country fried steak.
Q: Who would you say has been the most influential person in your life? A: Probably my mom. She’s always been there. She was always the one throwing baseballs to me when I was young. I wouldn’t be anywhere I am now without my parents.
Q: What would you say are your strong points and weaknesses? A: My strong point would probably be hitting, speed, getting on base, just producing runs. I’m good at defense, but I think college baseball is really becoming more of a hitting game. As far as weaknesses go, I’m not going to put up 13 home runs on the board like a guy like McCann, I’m not big on power.
Q: When you had the second highest batting average in Team USA history, what was it? A: .552.
Q: What did you hit this year? A: .350 or something like that. It was a pretty bad year. It was pretty rough.
Q: Describe the recruiting process. A: I think it started off when I went to camp, my Freshman year. I think I caught some people’s eyes that year, and later letters started coming in, I started getting phone calls. I took some unofficial visits and hung out with some of the guys I already knew on the team. Me and Taylor Harbin probably committed a week between each other, the summer before our junior years. The coaching staff at Clemson is so honest. Some coaches for college baseball teams just tell recruits what they want to hear. Clemson on the other hand give you realistic expectations on what you’re going to see your Freshman year. They give it to you and you can take it or leave it. That’s the way they are.
Q: Have you ever been to TheTigerNet.com? A: No, but I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m going to check it out.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
