Diamond Prospects All-Decade Team: 2000 – 2009
It’s only every ten years that an opportunity arises to assemble an All-Decade Team. It has been our privilege to sift through a ton of deserving players to finalize a 1st and 2nd Team! Each one of the nominees were worthy of the ‘Holy Grail’ but we were forced to narrow it down to 30 very prominant people, plus the teams and coaches that made the biggest impact on the years between 2000-2009 in each classification. Our process of labeling any one of these individuals to a team of this magnitude has been a humbing honor for DP! But so much fun to assemble too…
-First Team-
Pitchers (5)
Matt Campbell – Hillcrest HS, South Carolina: 1st Round Draft pick by the Kansas City Royals. Had a 28-7 record at Hillcrest and posted a 20-11 record at USC.
Brett Harker – Hillcrest HS, College of Charleston: C of C’s all-time leader in saves with 29. 5th Round pick by the Phillies. 4.14 career Minor League ERA. Currently in Triple-A with the Marlins.
Steven Jackson – Summerville HS, Clemson: USA Today Honorable Mention selection at Summerville. 19-8 career record at Clemson. 10th Round pick by the D-Backs. Debuted in the Major Leagues with the Pirates in 2009 and posted a 3.14 ERA.
Jordan Lyles – Hartsville HS, South Carolina signee: Won a State Championship in 2007. 1st Round Draft pick by the Houston Astros out of Hartsville. Named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2009. Rated the 3rd best prospect in the Astros organization in 2009.
David Marchbanks – Mauldin HS, South Carolina: Named Mr. Baseball in SC in 2000. High School record of 23-6. Posted a 24-7 record at USC. Was a 7th Round pick of the Florida Marlins. Won a State Championship in 2000.
Catchers (2)
Dock Doyle – Conway HS, Coastal Carolina: Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee. MVP of North/South game. Hit .370 with 16 HR in his senior season at Coastal. Was a 5th Round pick by the New York Mets in 2008. 
Named Big South MVP in 2008.
Doug Hogan – Irmo HS, Clemson: Captain at Clemson during his senior season where he hit 25 homeruns in his career. 18th Round pick by the Rangers in 2008. Played in the Arizona Fall League in 2009.
First Base
Justin Smoak – Stratford HS, South Carolina: Co-Mr. Baseball in 2005 with Havens. Baseball America High School All-American. Named MVP of the Cape Cod League. Hit 62 homeruns in three seasons at USC. 1st Team All-American in his Junior season. 11th overall pick by the Texas Rangers in 2008. MVP of the gold medal winning Team USA in the 2009 World Cup. Rated as the #4 prospect in the minor leagues by Baseball America. Won a State Championship in 2005 at Stratford.
Middle Infield (2)
Reese Havens – Bishop England HS, South Carolina: Won two State Championships (2003, 2005). Co-Mr. Baseball in 2005 with Smoak. Baseball America High School All-American. Hit .359 with 18 HR in his junior season at USC. 22nd overall pick in 2008 by the New York Mets.
Christopher Owings – Gilbert HS, South Carolina signee: Won two State Championships (2006, 2008). 1st Round pick (41st overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. Two-time AA Player of the Year. Batted .306 in his first professional season.
Third Base
Brandon Waring – Airport HS, Wofford: 7th Round pick by the Reds out of Wofford after setting several school records including 27 HR in 2007. Named the Carolina League (A+) MVP in 2009. Also named the Baltimore Orioles Minor League Player of the Year in 2009.
Outfield (3)
Brad Chalk – Riverside HS, Clemson: Won two State Championships (2003, 2004). 2004 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. Preseason First Team All-American at Clemson in 2007. Career .357 hitter for the Tigers. 2nd Round draft pick by the San Diego Padres. Hit .301 this season with the Lake Elisnore Storm (A+).
Tyler Colvin – North Augusta HS, Clemson: 13th overall pick by the Cubs out of Clemson in 2006. 1st Team All-American in his Junior season with the Tigers. Debuted in the Major Leagues with the Cubs in 2009.
Brett Gardner – Holly Hill HS, College of Charleston: 3rd Round pick by the Yankees out of C of C. All-time record holder in runs at C of C. Led the SoCon in stolen bases in 2005. Debuted with the Yankees in 2008 and helped win a World Series in 2009.
Utility
Matt Wieters – Stratford HS, Georgia Tech: All-American selection at Stratford in 2004. Two-time All-American at Georgia Tech. 5th overall pick in 2007 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2008. Rated the top prospect in the MLB in 2009. Debuted with the Orioles in 2009 and hit .288 in his rookie season.
-Second Team-
Pitchers (5)
Drew Cisco – Wando HS, Georgia signee: Ranked as the 38th best prospect in the nation for the 2010 class by Perfect Game and #1 in South Carolina by DP. Won PG World Woodbat with the Diamond Devils and was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Pitcher… Member of 2009 Wando’s State Runner-Up team.
Jay Jackson – Christ Church HS, Furman: Named All-State in 2005. Led the SoCon with 9-1 record in 2008. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 9th Round in 2008. Was tabbed by Baseball America as the 9th best prospect in the Cubs organization in 2009.
Kevin Pucetas – Broome HS, Limestone: Drafted in the 17th Round by the San Francisco Giants. Has dominated the Minor Leagues to the tune of a 42-13 career record and a 3.20 ERA. Participated in the 2008 Futures Game. Currently in AAA with the Giants and on their 40-man roster. 
Aaron Rawl – Lexington HS, South Carolina: All-State at Lexington. Finished with a 35-15 career record at USC. Drafted in the 21st Round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005. Won a State Championship in 1999.
Adam Westmoreland – Brookland-Cayce HS, South Carolina: Named Mister DP in 2008. AAA All-State and Player of the Year. Drafted by the Dodgers in 35th Round but elected to attend USC. Had a 4-2 record in 2009. Won a State Championship in 2008.
Catchers (2)
Richard Jones – Wilson Hall HS, The Citadel: Hit 43 homeruns in three seasons at The Citadel. 
Drafted in the 9th Round by the Chicago Cubs in 2009.
Charlie Lisk – Fort Mill HS, South Carolina signee: Named All-State in 2001. Drafted in the 24th Round by the Chicago White Sox. Currently playing in the Frontier League and has hit 95 HR in professional baseball.
First Base
David Anderson – White Knoll HS, Coastal Carolina: Named Big South Player of the Year in 2009. Hit .377 with 21 HR in his senior season at Coastal. Coastal’s all-time leader in homeruns. Named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American in 2009. Signed a Free Agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009.
Middle Infield (2)
Taylor Harbin – Travelers Rest HS, Clemson: Was named Mr. Baseball in 2004. Holds the state record for career homeruns with 52. Hit 30 HR in three seasons for the Clemson Tigers. Was drafted in the 8th Round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007. Finished this season in AAA with the D-Backs.
Steven Tolleson – Dorman HS, South Carolina: 3-year starter at USC. Drafted in the 5th Round in 2005 by the Minnesota Twins. Has worked his way up the ladder to AAA for the Twins and is currently on the 40-man roster.
Third Baseman
Lee Curtis – Eastside HS, Spartanburg Methodist/Collge of Charleston: Hit .399 with 11 HRs his junior season at C of C. Named SoCon MVP in 2003 & 2004. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 8th Round in 2003.
Outfield (3)
DeAngelo Mack – Airport HS, South Carolina: Named All-State his senior season at Airport. Named 2nd team All-SEC in 2009. Led the SEC in hits. Drafted in the 13th Round by the New York Yankees in 2009. Named to the NY-Penn League All-Star team in his first Pro season.
Jason Place – Wren HS, South Carolina signee: 1st Round (27th overall) pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2006. Named the 10th best prospect in the Red Sox organization in 2007 by Baseball America. Currently in AA with the Red Sox.
Sonny Meade – Stratford HS, The Citadel: 4-time All- SoCon at The Citadel. Hit .397 with 5 HR and 67 RBI for the Bulldogs in 2009 and during his four-year collegiate career he led The Citadel to two Southern Conference Tournament Championship games. Won a State Championship in 2005 at Stratford.
Utility
Marty Gantt – North Augusta HS, Spartanburg Methodist/CofC signee: 2007 Diamond King of the Year. Hit .410 with 21 HR, 70 RBI in his Freshman season at SMC. Was also 8-2, with a 1.39 ERA on the bump en route to being named DP’s JUCO Player of the Year. Led SMC to JUCO World Series where he won their only game on the mound and hit 3 HR in one game.
Criteria: Player had to play at least one prep season in South Carolina during the decade. Emphasis placed on performance on the field during the high school career combined with a heavier emphasis on his career beyond high school, their entire body of baseball work to date is what we focused on.
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-Player of the Decade-
Matt Wieters – Stratford, Georgia Tech – Baltimore Orioles
-Pitcher of the Decade-
Steven Jackson – Summerville, Clemson – Pittsburgh Pirates
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-Team of the Decade-
| Class | High School |
| 4A | Mauldin Mavericks |
| 3A | Riverside Warriors |
| 2A | Bishop England Bishops |
| 1A | Landrum Cardinals |
-Coach of the Decade-
| Class | Coach | School |
| 4A | John Chalus | Stratford |
| 3A | Chris Bates | Riverside |
| 2A | Ashley Burnett | Gilbert |
| 1A | Travis Henson | Landrum |
DP Note: To view a list of All-Decade nominees, click here.