The University of South Carolina Gamecocks will land one of the more recognizable names in baseball when
Ryan Ripken, son of Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., signs his letter of intent in a ceremony at
Gilman (Baltimore) on Monday.
Ryan Ripken, Gilman
Photo by Ed Rohde
Ripken, a first baseman who also pitches for Gilman, batted .353 as a junior and earned a spot in the Under Armour All-American Game. A three-year varsity starter for the baseball team, Ripken has also been a standout on the hardcourt. A 6-foot-6 forward, Ripken averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Thanks to a 3.7 GPA, Ripken attracted several schools, including Coastal Carolina, Maryland and Wake Forest, before ultimately choosing South Carolina.
According to Gilman coach Larry Sheets, a former teammate of Ripken's father with the Baltimore Orioles, the younger Ripken will be an asset to the Gamecocks due to his ability to think on the field.
"Ryan is good, because he's one of the best first basemen I've ever seen at this level that thinks through the game," said Sheets in a
MaxPreps interview from last spring. "Ryan can analyze the game, a lot like his father. Ryan was always around the game and his father has worked with him quite a bit, but he understands the game at a very high aptitude."
In an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Sheets added, "He's been terrific for us and it's a wonderful opportunity for him and I'm sure he'll make the most of it. He had a few choices, quality schools who pursued him. Who wouldn't want to go to school of the caliber of South Carolina?"
