Baseball’s opening day in February 2013 might be a long way away, but Belton-Honea Path’s Andrew Coxmade his plans to be there. A talented centerfielder, Cox recently madehis verbal commitment to South Carolina after an offer was extendedjust days before his high school State Championship series.
Coxwas riding high with his B-HP team set to take on Camden in a threegame series to determine the best team in AAA. The Bears hadn’t won atitle since 1991 and were just two wins away from the ring.
Just before game one, associate head coach Chad Holbrook came forth with some big news. Cox had his first scholarship offer and it was a big one.
SouthCarolina came through but it was Clemson that Cox grew up a fan of. Hisfather, Jimmy, played two seasons at Furman before transferring to playhis final two seasons as a Tiger. Growing up around orange, Cox was aClemson fan until changing his colors on June 12 with his commitment tobecoming a Gamecock.
“Mydad told me to do whatever I felt was best,” Cox said. “We’ve alwaysbeen Clemson fans but we never had a problem with the Carolina baseballprogram. We knew from the start they were top notch in the state. Iloved the visit and that persuaded me to go ahead and commit now.”
Coxvisited the school just two days prior to committing. After taking acouple of nights to sleep on it, he decided to pull the trigger. Nowaiting for other offers, before ever attending his first prom, Coxdecided where to spend his college life.
“Itwas just everything,” Cox said when asked why he chose the Gamecocks.“The coaches were great, the hospitality, and the facilities aretop-notch. We went for a visit on Tuesday and I knew that’s where Ineeded to play.”
This isn’t the first time that a player with Clemson bloodlines has committed to play baseball for South Carolina. Both Matt Campbell and Scott Wingo had deep Tiger ties, while commitments Jordan Scott and Wil Leathers grew up fans of the orange and white.
However, like the others, Cox saw something in the USC program that turned him.
“It’sjust a real different way of recruiting,” Cox said. “Carolina goes hardfor the players instate and that’s one of the biggest differencesbetween them and Clemson.”
Afterpitching for two seasons at Florence-Darlington Tech, Andrew’s brotherJake will enroll at Clemson this fall as student. While Jake will belong graduated by the time Andrew reaches school, the Gamecocks don’thave to worry about a last-second change of heart from the talentedleft-hander.
“I’m not going to just give them the shoulder andnot acknowledge them but I’m going to play college baseball at SouthCarolina,” Cox said. “Clemson showed interest in the fall a little bitbut I haven’t spoken to them or heard from them, not once since then.”
As for that statechampionship, yeah, they won it. In game three of the three game set,B-HP dropped a suicide squeeze to win 5-4 over Camden. How’d Cox do?Well, let’s just say he showed why the Gamecocks showed him the earlylove.
“I had a real good run in the playoffs,” Cox said. “I think that factored in a little bit as my recruitment went along.”
Inthe playoffs, he hit .393 with a double, ten singles, five walks, andseven runs scored. On the season, he hit .317 with six doubles, a pairof triples, and more than 20 runs and runs batted in.
All of that as a high school freshman.
Whilecompeting against players three years ahead of him in high school, theage difference is lessened a bit playing on the U16 team of theCarolina Cyclones. Most are a year ahead of him but that doesn’tconcern Cox.
“Iset my goals high,” Cox said. “I know these guys are a year ahead of mebut that’s not going to stop me from doing what I do. I set my goalshigh and I’m not happy until I exceed them.”
Frombaseball to video games, school work to the weight room, Cox has thedrive to be the best. He attributes that trait to his father, but it’sa refreshing characteristic for a rising high school sophomore.
“I’ma competitive guy,” Cox said. “I never have liked losing and I alwaystry to succeed and be the best I can be. I hate losing no matter whatit’s in.”
That is another reason USC liked him enough to offer him.
Standingat 6’0” and 175 pounds, Cox played centerfield, along with first base,for the Bears last season. However, the speedster will patrol theoutfield when he puts on the garnet and black SC jersey.
“Theylike the way I handle the bat at the plate and the way I play theoutfield,” Cox said. “I’m definitely not a power hitter. I’m a singlesand doubles hitter. I put the ball in play, line the ball somewhere andtry to use my speed.”
Cox will be around plenty of Gamecocksthis summer. As a member of the Carolina Cyclones, he’ll play on theU16 team with fellow commits
Alex Pridemore and
Alex Satterfield. The older teams also have a handful of commitments and signees.
“I’m comfortable around them and I know them pretty well,” Cox said.
He’s comfortable around his future teammates and despite growing up orange, he’s comfortable as a Gamecock.
