Prep Baseball Report

Inside the Recruitment: '19 RHP Nick Hoffmann commits to Clemson



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Nick Hoffmann, RHP, Centerville HS, Class of 2019

PBR: Why did you choose Clemson?

Hoffmann: Clemson has both great academics and great baseball.  They have a winning tradition and play in the ACC, which many people consider to be the best conference in the country. The coaching staff is awesome! It is a beautiful campus with an emphasis on student life.  There was just something special about it from the first time I stepped onto campus.  

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Hoffmann: Louisville, UNC, Cincinnati, Virginia, VCU, Indiana, Coastal Carolina, Purdue

PBR: You are only a sophomore, how important was it for you to commit early and are you finished with the recruiting process?

Hoffmann: It was very important for me to commit early.  It has allowed me to set my future goals for baseball as well as advancing my academic career. I can now focus on completing my high school career without the worry of the recruiting process.  I feel blessed and extremely appreciative to those that supported me in my development and guided me through the numerous relationships with coaches over the past few months.  While the recruiting process was a lot of fun, it is very time consuming with the NCAA regulations on contact with coaches as a sophomore.  I am so happy to be a Clemson commit and I am done with the recruiting process.

PBR: How much did playing down south play a part in your decision?

Hoffmann: While playing in the South did play a part in my decision, the school academics and baseball program were ultimately the deciding factors.  Clemson offers me the opportunity to gain a great education and play baseball under outstanding coaches and with other top players in the country. 

PBR: How does it feel to be a part of a Division1 baseball program?

Hoffmann: I am very excited to be a part of the Clemson program. I know my teammates and coaches will push me to become a better player. It is an honor to be playing in one of the best conferences in the country.

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?

Hoffmann: I will be playing for the Cincinnati Spikes 17u team this coming summer.  My most memorable event of this past year was winning the  WWBA Underclass World Championship in Ft. Myers Florida with the San Francisco Giants Scout Team - Christman.

PBR:  What person has the greatest impact on your baseball career and why?

Hoffmann : There really isn’t one person.  My parents gave me the opportunity to follow my dream of being a baseball player.  They support me in both my success and more importantly in my failures.  The other major influence in my baseball career is my long time coach, Mr. Scott Lieberman.  He started coaching me at age 4 in t-ball and continued to coach me through my freshman year of high school.  Coach Lieberman taught me about the game, the right way to play it, and the importance of having fun while I am out on the field.  He has always been there for me.