Intel: What Aspen Boulware's commitment means for South Carolina softball

South Carolina softball landed arguably its biggest commitment in the program’s history Tuesday afternoon when Gray Collegiate five-star shortstop Aspen Boulware committed to Ashley Chastain Woodard‘s Gamecocks.

GamecockCentral is breaking down the pledge and what it means for South Carolina below.

Generational talent

— You’ve heard the phrase man among boys. Aspen Boulware is a woman among girls on the field.

As one high school coaching source put it, if Boulware plays shortstop, which she does, she’s the best shortstop in South Carolina. If she played outfield, which she did for Team USA at the World Cup last week, she’d be the best outfielder in South Carolina. If she played catcher or pitcher, as she did earlier in her career… you get the point.

Boulware is a true generational talent and five-tool player who shines no matter where she is on the field.

The plan on the field at South Carolina

— As elite as Boulware is as a defender, she’s arguably even more special at the plate, where she is dynamic and reminds me of a softball version of Ronald Acuna Jr. in the way she can affect the game.

The Gamecocks plan to plug her into the leadoff spot, where she will bring high levels of power, contact, and speed.

As a sophomore in high school, Boulware had 22 home runs this past season, so she can leave the yard, but she also has blinding speed. She walked 34 teams, many of which were intentional, and then most of the time just easily swiped second.

One contact said Boulware is the fastest softball player they had ever seen at that age. She loves to hit, and it’s just a rare, rare combination of bat-to-ball skills, elite speed, and easy pop.

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.

— While Boulware could excel at a number of positions, including center field as she did last week, the plan is to play her at shortstop.

Her positional versatility is one of her many strengths, but the Gamecocks love the idea of plugging her into the middle of the diamond and letting her be the heartbeat of the defense at shortstop.

Again, she’s an elite athlete and that translates over to the defensive side of the ball too.

The recruiting battle

— I have been careful on my reporting of this recruitment, but South Carolina has felt really good here since she took her official visit to the school. But they had to hold off pushes from the other schools too.

The Gamecocks pulled out all the stops on her official visit with a highly detailed plan based on how she can be the next of the great in-state player to reach all of her goals on and off the field by “staying home.”

Shane Beamer was involved. She met LaNorris Sellers. Even the school President Michael Amiridis hosted her. Many of the current players, including local standouts like Lexi Winters and Precious Bross also did their part to make her feel comfortable.

The Touchdowns Five Points marquee, usually filled with messages for football and football recruits, got in on the action.

Ashley Chastain Woodard and her staff ultimately showed Boulware and her family that the multi-talented standout can reach all of her goals in Columbia. The two biggest competititors here, from what I’ve gathered, were Oklahoma and Florida State in that order.

Program changer

— This feels like the day Marcus Lattimore committed to Gamecock football — if Lattimore was as highly ranked as Jadeveon Clowney.

Described as a “once in a lifetime” athlete, Boulware’s commitment could be program-changing for South Carolina. As the No. 1 prospect in the country, the personable Boulware is the type of commitment that other prospects take notice of and the type of person and player that others want to play along with.

Part of what makes her special, is that despite her insane talent, she wants to fit in and be a part of the team and she wants to be pushed. She is a competitor and a tireless worker, I’m told, and knows how to lead without being too pushy either.

She loves the system that Carolina has in place for her and the Gamecocks plan to continue to push her when she arrives on campus.

Boulware has “face of the program” potential and will have every opportunity to create a legacy that will far outlast her time on the field at South Carolina.

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