Smoke received verbals from 2 kids from Haughton HS(my wife's old school). I'm friends witha couple of the assistant football coaches at the school & will try to get some info on the 2 kids. This article is from today's Shreveport Times. Neither Jacob Rhodes nor T.J. Forrest took much time to make this decision. Though the two Haughton students haven't played high school baseball for over a year, both have been offered scholarships by LSU. Both have accepted. The two seniors-to-be have one season remaining but will sign during November's early signing period. Their commitments are not binding. "I'm sure about it," Forrest says. "I've been going to all the LSU baseball camps, and I like all the coaches. That's where I really wanted to go. They wanted me, so I wanted to go there." Forrest and Rhodes played two years at Benton before transferring to Haughton after the 2004 season. They sat out 2005 and will play for the Bucs as seniors. Currently, they are playing on the Haughton team in American Legion baseball. The team is 21-1 and begins the district playoffs tonight. "I'm happy as I can be for them," Haughton coach Glenn Maynor said. "To have two kids off the same team go, I think that says a lot about our program." Both were members of The Times All-City Baseball Team after helping their Benton Tigers squad to the Class 3A state semifinal round of the playoffs in 2004. This summer, Forrest has a 0.18 earned run average in 38 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run. He has struck out 54 batters and given up 14 hits. He believes LSU's interest came "since I throw the ball pretty hard and try to spot it as good as I can." The right-hander is throwing from 88 to 92 miles per hour. Rhodes is batting .509 with 28 runs batted in and six home runs in summer ball. He has been walked 21 times. "I've always wanted to go there since I was a little kid," Rhodes said. "I figured it would be the best school for me. I like the atmosphere." Rhodes expects to play first base for the Tigers. Having two players sought by perennial power LSU gives the Bucs high hopes for the 2006 season. "I think that, if we hit the ball like we've been doing this summer. we'll be hard to beat next year," Forrest said.
In his press conference announcing the signings, Smoke said that Turtle Thomas assured him that these guys really suck, so there's no danger of their getting drafted.
I know them both... I've known them both for years. They are gifted athletes. Forrest is 6'6" and is very slim. Scouts see him and drool because his fastball is low 90s and the guy can't weigh 180 pounds. One scout told me an added 50 pounds would mean 5-6 mph. If he can hit mid 90s by this time next year, well you do the math. As for Rhodes, he is a hitting machine. He led the state in homers as a sophomore. He is about 6'4 230. The ball just seems to jump off of his bat. Both guys are ready for big time baseball. :tigbas:
