Kameron Bryan knows he is going to college this fall. He wants to major in secondary education and one day, teach U.S. history — maybe even coach football or baseball.
The only question for the former New Hope High School standout is whether he will attend college as a student or as a student-athlete.
Bryan is one of several local athletes who will attend baseball tryouts this summer in an attempt to attract the attention of a junior college that needs a 5-foot-11, 225-pounder with a hot bat and a strong arm who is maturing as a defensive catcher.
Bryan”s journey already has taken him to East Mississippi Community College, Itawamba C.C., and the University of West Alabama, a Division II school. Bryan also plans to work out at Southwest Mississippi C.C., Hinds C.C., and any other program that recognizes his upside and dedication to the sport.
“I might not like the driving, but it”s going to pay off,” said Bryan, 17. “I always knew it was going to be tough, but there”s nothing I can”t do.”
Bryan will try to shine at tryouts and earn a scholarship, or at least have the opportunity to walk on to a program, like Hamilton High”s Parker Rye, who will play in the fall at EMCC.
But Bryan knows he faces a difficult task because, in many respects, he is just another talented-yet-overlooked teenager amongst the dozens of players that attend each tryout.
So far, Bryan feels he has been close, but like the plays he makes at home plate, close isn”t close enough.
The sheer numbers involved and the lack of remaining scholarships at this time of year decrease the odds he will get an opportunity. Others might fall short because of a bad day at the park — perhaps their one and only chance to impress.
“That”s the only thing I hate about tryouts,” said Rye, who hit .415 with 19 RBI as a senior and was a first-team pick to the Class 2A All-State team. “(But) there”s nothing really colleges can do about it. They have tryouts and they have to go by what they see because they can”t see every high school team.”
New Hope High coach Lee Boyd feels Bryan eventually will find the right team. He saw Bryan mature from a player who hit .195 as a junior at Neshoba Central High in Philadelphia to one who hit .420 with three home runs in his lne season with the Trojans. His play was instrumental in helping New Hope reach the third round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State playoffs.
“I truly believe before it”s all over Kameron Bryan is going to be playing college baseball,” Boyd said.
Had Bryan focused on baseball earlier — he also played football in high school — or had more starting opportunities to work on his craft, Bryan might already have a college home.
***
By this time of year, ICC baseball coach Rick Collier said if he”s doing his job right he won”t have more than one, perhaps two scholarships left.
(At the moment, his last scholarship will go to an out-of-state recruit, likely a transfer from a Division I program Collier will sign after the fall semester.)
“Say I sign three catchers (during the early signing period),” Collier said. “It”s hard for me to take another catcher. I”ve got two first basemen; it”s hard for me to take another one of those.”
Other times, Hamilton High coach Lewis Earnest said, players don”t adjust to the difference between the early signing period and late spring/early summer tryouts: While schools are proactive in their pursuit of top area recruits like Chase Reeves (University of Mississippi) and Austin Braddock (EMCC), this time of the year, players must take the recruiting initiative.
“There are some that are like, ”Well, if he doesn”t want me, if I”m not good enough for him to come recruit me then I must not be good enough,” or they have a chip on their shoulder,” Earnest said.
“Guys like Parker are willing to work hard and prove himself.”
Rye played catcher at Hamilton because he was the best player for the job. After the Lions lost in the Class 2A North State title series, he switched back to the infield and to the outfield, positions more suited to his 5-6, 140-pound frame.
He received interest during the season from East Central C.C., and scheduled a workout with the baseball program this summer. His plans, though, changed after tryouts with Northeast C.C. and EMCC.
After an under-average tryout at Northeast — partly because of nerves — he recovered in time for his tryout at EMCC. He said he was told his name was at the top of a list of three to four players who would compete for one scholarship. Worst-case scenario, he”ll be able to walk on.
“You have one chance to kind of stand out with 50 people out there,” Rye said. “I think the thing with me was don”t press. Just go out there and do the things you”ve been doing all year, like you practiced — taking cuts, running 60 (yard dashes), fielding ground balls. It”s a little bit pressure, but you can”t put the pressure on yourself.”
***
There is hope for Bryan. After all, tryouts can be hard to judge. Some players perform better in a batting practice setting, while others excel in games.
Colleges aren”t perfect either. They often misjudge a player”s ability, or aren”t aware of them. That was the case two years ago with Tupelo High”s John Gatlin, one of Collier”s last summer signees of 2009.
Two years later, he is preparing for his first season of Division I baseball, starting this fall at Ole Miss. He is ICC”s 15th Southeastern Conference baseball signee in the past nine years.
“He”s one of those stories you like to talk about because that”s a kid that came in with a big heart and just got after it and proved some folks wrong,” Collier said.
Until that time, Bryan is playing tournament baseball this summer with the Mississippi Prospects and has attended tryouts with former teammates Zac Nagy and Josh Grimes. If he doesn”t find a new baseball home, Bryan will have to wait until next year to try out again, making his journey to college sports even more daunting considering he would have to stay in shape all year without regular game action.
This is about more than a free education. If that was all he wanted, he could participate in the EMCC Tuition Guarantee Program.
But that”s not enough for Bryan. He wants to continue playing baseball, the game he fell in love with at age 7.
“It will be worth it all,” he said. “I feel it in my heart, if I work hard enough, and I pray hard enough, I feel confident with the team I”m playing on and the hard work I”m going to put in this summer.
“I believe in my heart I”ll get picked up somewhere.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.