Personal Statement
Dear Coaches,
I graduated from Farragut High School in 2021. Farragut has a very prestigious baseball program, winning numerous State Championships over the past 10 years. During the summer, going into my senior year it was discovered that I had a talent to pitch. I participated in a PBR Showcase and displayed some good velocity along with the ability to throw some off speed and breaking balls. I then got to pitch in a few Perfect Game tournaments and had a top velocity of 92 mph. Although I was a new pitcher, I started to receive some attention from various colleges, ranging from D-1 to Juco. The pandemic made the recruiting process very difficult with all the Covid restrictions placed on college campus visits. Many schools that showed an interest in me would only make a commitment if I was able to throw a bullpen session in person on campus. As time passed into my senior year, there was a real uncertainty of when the Covid restrictions would be lifted. I continued to train and conducted zoom meetings with several coaches and provided some videos.
I hastily made a decision to attend Charleston Southern University because of an uncertain future of when campus visits would resume. They were willing to take me based on the zoom meetings and videos that I provided. That decision turned out to be a mistake because when I finally was able to attend orientation in July prior to the start of school, I realized that the institution would not be a good fit for me. I discussed the situation with my family and decided to de-commit from attending. With little time to apply to another school, I registered at Roane State Community College and played baseball during the fall season. I was then recruited by Christian Brothers University and offered a full scholarship to attend immediately for their spring season.
My baseball career has taken a few unexpected turns, however I still have a strong desire to compete. For a few reasons, some having nothing to do with baseball, I have decided to leave Christian Brothers University and entered the transfer portal. My desire is to study engineering and have an opportunity to be a part of a competitive program that will provide some strong coaching and support in order to reach my maximum potential as a student athlete.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Jake
