Aspen Boulware reclassifies to enroll early with South Carolina softball

The No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class will start her journey with South Carolina softball a year early.

Gray Collegiate five-star shortstop Aspen Boulware announced on Saturday night that she’ll enroll with the Gamecocks in the class of 2026, meaning she’ll join the team next summer.

As the No. 1 player in the class of 2027, according to Softball America/On3, Boulware was also the No. 1 middle infielder in the class and the No. 1 prospect in the state of South Carolina. She has not yet been re-ranked with her new class.

The local star chose South Carolina over Oklahoma, Florida State, Georgia, Florida, and Texas Tech, and had offers from pretty much the entire country.

“First of all, the coaches, I really enjoy them,” Boulware told GamecockCentral of why she chose the Gamecocks. “They’re very sweet. And just like staying home. Whenever I was in Oklahoma (for an event) for like two weeks, my parents didn’t stay with me the whole time, they came during the games, so I was here like five days by myself. And it was just like, ‘Dang, I really miss them,’ so just being able to find a school that I really enjoy and that is close to home is definitely what made me really consider the school.”

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Growing up in the Midlands, Boulware has always been familiar with the South Carolina program and certainly took notice of the team’s run last year that finished one out away from the College World Series.

Boulware told GamecockCentral last month that her camp experience at South Carolina this summer helped her become more familiar with the program.

“There’s a lot of girls there that I knew just from like, there was a girl from Lexington, Karley (Shelton), and then Precious Bross,” Boulware said. “She transferred from Georgia. She played at Irmo. And so just being able to have conversations with those girls while I’m in the camp was very nice. I could ask them questions and stuff like that. And so I really like that it was very homey. Whenever we go, they’re saying’s like, ‘Welcome Home,’ and so that really transferred into the camp. But yeah, I really enjoyed it. They let me be myself there, and the team, they’re really nice.”

Boulware comes from an athletic family, to say the least.

Her mom, the former Jessica van der Linden, was an All-American and one of the most accomplished softball players in Florida State history.

Those who have followed Palmetto State athletics for years will recognize her dad, Michael Boulware, and uncle Peter. The two brothers starred at Columbia’s Spring Valley High School before starring at FSU and then in the NFL.

Now, Aspen is making her own path as the top softball prospect in the country — and now a South Carolina commitment.

The 2024-2025 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, Boulware had an incredible sophomore year leading Gray to a state title under coach Doug Frye.

Boulware batted .573 with 22 home runs, 67 runs scored, and 44 RBI. She added nine doubles and eight triples, with 34 walks and 26 stolen bases, compiling a .696 on-base percentage and an incredible OPS of 2.379.

At the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals last week, Boulware made the All-World team, hitting .588 in six games with two home runs and an OPS of 1.926, while playing center field.

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