Kennedy Jones breaks down why he picked South Carolina
All Kennedy Jones was trying to do after entering the transfer portal was go to the batting cages to take a few hacks. College coaches–including those at South Carolina–had other ideas.
Jones couldn’t consistently take batting practice because his phone was ringing off the hook about coaches recruiting him to their schools. But one school–South Carolina–ultimately stuck out.
The Gamecocks called Jones 15 minutes after he entered the portal with recruiting coordinator Monte Lee emphasizing to Jones that he was one of the staff’s top priorities.
It worked, and Jones committed to the Gamecocks last week, one of the bigger pickups in the portal so far.
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“Their message to me was that I was one of their top priorities. I opened up my college career at South Carolina my freshman year and played really well. They got to see me then. They were saying how much they liked me as a player and a person and they think they can help me and thought I could help them, also,” Jones told GamecockCentral.
“I knew coach Monte already. He recruited me a little when he was at Clemson so we had a bond. I knew of him. He coached with my assistant coach at UNCG and he had nothing but good things to say about him. That was all I needed to hear.”
Jones is coming off a very productive two seasons at UNC Greensboro where he was a career .362 hitter in 117 games with a 1.028 OPS and 25 career home runs.
The right-handed outfielder is coming off his best overall season with the Spartans, slashing .357/.445/.598 with 14 doubles, 14 home runs and one fewer RBI (43) than strikeout (44) on the year.
Jones already showed what he could do at Founders Park to start the 2022 season. As a freshman in his first college games, Jones finished the series 5-for-14 (.357) with three doubles, three RBI and four runs scored.
Now he’ll come in with a chance to compete for a spot at the top of the order.
“They think I can come in and fill one of those roles,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t consider myself a veteran yet but I’m getting older and I’m somebody that’s been around for two years. I’ve seen most of it. I can come in and help mentor those younger guys.”
He’ll likely settle in the outfield for the Gamecocks after improving in left field this past season.
After making six errors in left as a freshman with a .940 fielding percentage, Jones made just one error in 2023 and saw that fielding percentage jump up to .991.
He’s trying to continue to improve there while in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer. So far in the Cape, he’s 10-for-45 with five doubles, a home run13 RBI and seven walks to 11 strikeouts.
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“I feel like my game grew tremendously defensively. I made a good amount of errors in the outfield and struggled a little bit. Last year I had a ton of chances and only made one error and it was towards the end of the season,” Jones said.
“Coming to the Cape, I feel like I’m becoming a much better player when it comes to seeing pitches. I’m facing everybody’s weekend rotation and closer with their best stuff. The biggest thing is being able to see those offspeed pitches and see the 3100 RPM breaking balls and not chasing then being able to handle the velo. That’s the biggest adjustment I’m making out here.”
Lee and head coach Mark Kingston went up to the Cape to visit with Jones and other targets out of the portal. That went a long way with Jones, who committed soon after that trip.
“It was pretty cool. They were able to come out and see me play. That showed a lot when I was in the portal when they came down to see me. That says a lot,” Jones said. “That’s not an easy drive or flight. It was cool to meet them, chop it up and talk hitting and just talk about life. You want to really know who you’re playing for.”
He comes to South Carolina hoping to help the Gamecocks get back to the College World Series for the first time since 2012 and hopefully win a national title.
“I was able to win a conference championship my freshman year,” Jones said. “I can’t imagine the feeling of being able to win a national title. The thought of it just gives me goosebumps.”
