DP Info

Taylor Hollifield is a Boiling Springs, SC native. He played baseball at Boiling Springs and was a member of the 2008 State Championship team. After graduation, he attended North Greenville University as an infielder.  After his time at North Greenville, he coached at Limestone University for one year where he worked with infielders, hitters, and coached first base. After the one year at Limestone, he began coaching at Palmetto High School in Williamston, SC where he worked with infielders and hitters. During this time, he coached with the Upstate Mavericks for five years in the summers. After two years at Palmetto, he then moved back closer to his stomping ground and landed at Byrnes High School where he was the assistant coach for 5 years. In June of 2022, he was named the head coach at Byrnes High School. He has been part of the DP staff for four years where he works as an Upstate Scout. Hollifield currently resides in Spartanburg, SC with his wife Samantha, sons: Riggins (3) and Reese (1). In his free time, Hollifield enjoys playing golf, doing yard work, and spending time with family.

Jason Kullman was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a kid he split his time growing up between Allentown and Pittsburgh where he played football, basketball and baseball through high school. Kullman pitched and played quarterback before shoulder injuries forced him to stop playing competitively in high school. After high school, Kullman made his way to Conway, SC enrolling at Coastal Carolina University in 2005. In 2009 he earned his bachelor’s degree in English along with a minor in Journalism from CCU. In addition to playing baseball and basketball, he also has worked as an umpire and referee. In January of 2010 Kullman began working for Diamond Prospects as an editor while living in Myrtle Beach, SC. After nearly six years in Myrtle Beach, he moved back to Allentown, Pa with his dog Bailey and is currently working for the Hartford Insurance Group as a customer service consultant while continuing his duties with DP. In addition to editing the game recaps, he also selects the Uncommitted Players of the Week and spearheads the DP All-Academic Team.

Coach David Beckley brings 26 years of coaching experience, including 16 years at the Division I level to the Diamond Prospects. Beckley spent 11 years as the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for The Citadel Baseball Program. Beckley recruited hundreds of high school student-athletes during his tenure, and was an integral part of The Citadel’s Southern Conference Championships in 2002, 2004, and 2010. Coach Beckley was directly involved with recruiting, scholarship offers, academic programming, NCAA rules and regulations, admissions, camps, fund raising, public speaking, sales and game day operations, corporate sponsorships, management of the program’s booster club, and even served as the program’s military liaison. Coach Beckley helped support the development of 27 professional players, including four big leaguers (Asher Wojciechowski, Michael Clevinger, Chris McGuiness and JP Sears). Additionally, Beckley has coached a combined 10 years in the high school ranks of South Carolina. Serving as an assistant coach at James Island HS and Barnwell HS, along with a three-year stint as Berkeley High School’s Head Baseball Coach. Since 2017, Beckley has also coached while also serving an administrative role with the prestigious SC Diamond Devils Organization. David Beckley also enjoyed a very successful playing career graduating in 1996 from The Military College of South Carolina. As a member of the 1994 and 1995 Southern Conference Championship teams; Beckley graduated as The Citadel’s all-time leader in hits, stolen bases, and games played! While also graduating as the Southern Conference’s all-time career leader in stolen bases. Beckley prepped at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, SC where he flourished in both baseball and football; earning All-State in both sports. Beckley was also selected to play in the North/South Baseball Game and the NC/SC Shrine Bowl Football Game in his senior year and was named Stratford High School’s Athlete of the Year. During his coaching career Beckley learned what it takes to build and run a successful program. He has taken those lessons and turned them into two separate businesses. E4 Consultants serves student-athletes, travel teams, high schools and school districts with support in NCAA Academic Eligibility. To compete and earn a college scholarship, you must first be academically eligible. E4 makes sure players and their high schools are meeting the ever changing standards of the NCAA. Beckley also owns mPower6 Fundraising, an online platform designed to help student athletes or teams raise funds for player fees, facility upgrades, or day-to-day operations. mPower6 has a unique model that connects each campaign to a charitable organization – giving our youth an opportunity to give back.

Ben Waddle is a 1982 graduate of Jonesville High, Jonesville S.C. While at Jonesville, he participated in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Coach Waddle attended the University of South Carolina and received a BS in Education in 1986. While at South Carolina he served as equipment manager for the Gamecock Baseball team. In 2000, Ben completed his Masters Degree in Administration at Furman University. Coach Waddle has coached at Lockhart High (1 year), Jonesville High (6 years), Union American Legion Post 22 (3 years), USC-Spartanburg (3 years), Spartanburg Methodist College (1 year), Campbell University (3 years), Golden Strip American Legion Post 176 (1 year), Mauldin High (6 years), Dorman High (12 years), Georgetown High (4 years) Union County High (1 year), Spartanburg Spartanburgers of the Coastal Plains League (Summer of 2021)  and currently at Broome High. Coach Waddle has served as an associate scout for the Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.  At Broome High Coach Waddle teaches Human Geography. Coach Waddle’s overall high school coaching record is 481 wins and 275 losses. Coach Waddle has been awarded Region 1 AAAA Coach of the Year 5 times, Region II AAAA Coach of the Year 5 times, AAAA Coach of the Year (SCBCA) 2001, AAAA Co-Coach of the Year (HSSR) 2001, AAAA Coach of the Year (HSSR) 2000, and served as a SCBCA North-South All-Star Assistant Coach in 2002, Head Coach in 2008, and South Carolina Select Team Coach 2015. The Union Post 22 the team won 3 Region titles, Golden Strip won 1 Region title, Mauldin High won 5 Region titles, 2 Upper-State titles and 1 State title, Dorman High won 5 Region titles and two Upper-State titles. Ben is married to Mrs. Lisa Burke Waddle and lives in Roebuck, S.C. They have two children, Cameron and Makenzie Horton and two Grandchildren, Avery Holcombe and Grady Horton.

Jon Helsabeck is a native of Rural Hall, NC where he was an All-Conference baseball selection at Parkland High School during his junior and senior years. Helsabeck played two years at Mars Hill University before a brief Spring Training stint in the Frontier League cut short by a back injury. Helsabeck was the Assistant Baseball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Stanly Community College in NC for five years before moving to SC to head the Murrells Inlet Tide in The Beach Collegiate Baseball League along with creating his travel program Diamond Wizards Baseball in Myrtle Beach. Jon and family moved to the Lowcountry in 2021 and he is now the Head Baseball Coach at Fort Dorchester High School and is the commissioner of the Diamond Prospects Grand Strand Fall League. Helsabeck currently lives in Summerville, SC with his wife Megan and children Braiden, Kaylei, Paisley, McKinley and Oaklei.

Derick Urquhart is a native of Florence, SC, attending South Florence High where he was a three time All-State outfielder and three time All-Region player. He was also named the Bruins Offensive Player of the Year twice, helping lead the Bruins to a #7 national ranking as a senior.  After high school Urquhart signed with the University of South Carolina, where he was a four year starter for the Gamecocks. As a senior, he led the team in HR’s (20) and RBI’s (79), helping the Gamecocks peak at #3 in the country. He finished his career in the top five all-time for many of USC’s records, including runs scored (1st), hits (2nd), home runs (7th), RBI’s (5th), total bases (2nd), doubles (3rd) and games played (3rd). Honors include being team captain, winning the Coaches Award, named to NCAA Coral Gables All-Regional team, named a finalist for the SEC Sportsmanship Award, winning USC’s male sportsmanship award and, more recently, being named to two different USC All-Era teams. After college, Urquhart was taken in the 16th round by the Montreal Expos. He spent six seasons in pro ball with the Expos and Anaheim Angels that included being named to the Texas League All-Star game in 2002 and reaching Triple-A in 2003. Following his playing career, Urquhart settled back in Florence where he now leads the Florence American Legion 1 baseball team. In his 14 seasons, he is the program’s all time winningest coach in its 85 year existence, with an overall record of 392-117.  His 392 wins is good for 2nd all-time in South Carolina legion baseball history. Florence has advanced to a state record 6 consecutive state title games, winning it all 4 times (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017). In 2012, Urquhart led Florence to its first state and regional title since 1943, and its first ever appearance in the American Legion World Series, finishing 5th in the country. 11 former players have gone on to play professionally while 27 have signed to a DI school. In 2010, Urquhart was inducted into the Florence Athletic Hall of Fame, serves on the Hall of Fame committee and was its president 2015-2016. He began work with Diamond Prospects in 2010 as an area scout in the Pee Dee and eastern part of the state. He is married to wife Amy and they have a daughter Cate (8) and son Fisher (1).

Austin Smithwick was a standout catcher at Western Carolina (1995-99). After leaving Cullowhee, he immediately began his coaching career at Georgia Southern University under his former head coach Rodney Hennon. He currently serves as an assistant coach for Cade Hoggard at Oxford High School in Oxford, MS where he moved in 2021. Smithwick began coaching in South Carolina 2006 at Lander University after serving as the head baseball coach at Wake Forest-Rolesville (NC) High School for three years. After moving to Conway in 2009, Smithwick helped Anthony Carroll at Conway High School and began assisting DP with both showcases and serving as a Recruiting 101 counselor.  Smithwick’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Division I Georgia Southern University in 2001, then served as the recruiting coordinator for junior college powerhouse Young Harris College for two years. After his three year stint at Wake Forest-Rolesville HS (NC), he coached at Lander University, serving the Division II Bearcats program as recruiting coordinator and was in charge of the offense. In all, Smithwick has coached numerous drafted players, eight major leaguers, and while at Young Harris he worked with former Atlanta Brave Nick Markakis. A native of Coleridge, NC, Smithwick earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina in 1999 and his master’s in sports management from Georgia Southern in 2002. He graduated from Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur, NC in 1995. Smithwick is married to the former Jessica Broome of Raleigh, NC. They have two children, Tucker (19) and Campbell (17).

Gary Asbill is an area scout for the Aiken/Midlands area covering games and working a number of the DP showcases throughout the state.  Coach Asbill began his coaching career in 2011 at South Aiken High School following his playing career at USC Aiken from 2006-2010 as a catcher and designated hitter, coaching big-league talents Andrew Faulkner and Taylor Widener. Following South Aiken, he began teaching and coaching at Saluda High School before a stint at Port St. Lucie High School in Port St. Lucie, FL before returning to Aiken in 2015, serving as an assistant at Aiken High School. From 2016-2020, he served as an assistant coach at USC Aiken, coaching the catchers and hitters while serving as first base coach.  In the summer of 2020, Asbill was named the head baseball coach at Aiken High School. In the recent past, in both the fall and summer seasons, he has served as the head coach for Canes South 17U Prime under the direction of fellow DP Scout/Coordinator, Cory Welch. He was recently named the 16U Canes Scout head coach heading into the 2023 summer.  Asbill is a 2010 graduate of USC Aiken with a BA in English and a minor in Business Administration. He has earned Masters degrees in Education, one being in Curriculum and Instruction and the other being in Educational Leadership. Gary and his wife, Amanda, reside in Aiken, SC with their pup, Kallie. In his free time, he enjoys hunting and playing guitar, both in and out of their church, Cedar Creek Church. Asbill also serves as an employee for Atomic Turf, in Aiken, SC, performing fertilization and spraying duties for turf grass throughout the area. 

-Austin Alexander- Austin Alexander has been back in the Palmetto State since 2006 after spending three years at Elon University as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Before joining the Phoenix, Alexander served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Spartanburg Methodist College for three seasons. Prior to that stint, he spent one year apiece at Charleston Southern University and James Island High School in Charleston, SC. Alexander also spent eight summers as a coach with the South Carolina Diamond Devils, an elite AAU team based out of Charleston, SC. Alexander re-joined the Diamond Devils baseball program as a coach during the summer and fall of 2006-2007. He returned to coach the 18U team in 2008. He was named a charter member of the Diamond Devil Hall of Fame in 2023. All totaled, Alexander has coached and/or signed 63 pitchers and 54 position players that have been selected in the MLB draft, including eight in the 1st Round. He presently has 4 players still playing some form of professional baseball and twelve have reached the Major Leagues. MLB Players Alexander’s recruiting placed two teams in the NJCAA World Series (2001, 2003) while at Spartanburg Methodist and had two nationally recognized recruiting classes at Elon by Collegiate Baseball. His Phoenix also won the 2006 Southern Conference regular season championship and received an at-large bid into an NCAA Regional. Alexander began as an associate scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005-2020 under the late Hall of Famer Lon Joyce. Then an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves and area supervisor Billy Best 2021-2023. He recently accepted the same role with Aaron Jersild and the Philadelphia Phillies in January of 2024. Presiding over Diamond Prospects for the 20th year, Alexander is proud to include that the DP resume now boasts of having all but one out of 78 high school draftees from the Classes of 2007-2024 as alumni at previous events. Overall, 223 event alumni have been drafted, 29 Big Leaguers… To view alumni, click here. Starting in 2010, Alexander became a nationally accredited voter for ESPN’s Gatorade Athlete of the Year which is celebrated at the ESPY’s, this honor came after three seasons of selecting our state’s baseball winner. Alexander graduated from the College of Charleston in 1997 receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications-Mass Media and a minor in Psychology. He also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Spartanburg Methodist in 1995. While at C of C, Alexander also served two years as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, reporting directly to the president and athletic director of The College.  Alexander played baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College and the College of Charleston where he set each school’s single-season and career win records as a right-handed pitcher. While each feat has fallen by the wayside recently, he still holds the CofC mark for most innings thrown in one game (10). He also continues to lay claim as being a two-time All-Star and throwing a record 87.1 innings as a member of the Cohocton Red Wings in the New York Collegiate League, still an NCAA summer record. A little known fact about Alexander, he had a cameo appearance in “Major League 3: Back to the Minors”. The movie was filmed in Charleston, SC where he lived at the time. Alexander had three scenes in the movie as an opposing pitcher for the Riverdogs. Alexander, 50, is an avid baseball fan, historian of the game, collector of the National Pastime plus a huge follower of the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers. But his favorite thing to do is spending time with his family doing whatever they choose and watching his sons play baseball. On July 14, 2001, the Spartanburg, SC native married the former Rita Richardson of Conway, SC, she is a 6th grade Math teacher. The couple are parents of two sons, Nolan who was born on November 2, 2005 (a RHP at Lander University) and our youngest arrived on December 28, 2009, Banks (a freshman at River Bluff HS). The Alexander’s now reside in Lexington.