Q&A With Kansas State Commit: '18 Daniel Powers, RHP, Davenport Assumption

February 17, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

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Name: Daniel Powers
Position: RHP
Class: 2018
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds
High School: Davenport Assumption

PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
POWERS: I chose Kansas State University because I felt that the coaches and staff at the university will look out for my best interests. They want me to be the best possible pitcher not only for the university while I am there, but also working on a bigger goal, to get drafted.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
POWERS: I went into the fall of 2015 playing with the Perfect Game team, Iowa Select, with an open mind and didn’t really care where I would end up as long as I would play college baseball. I was being recruited by Stanford, University of Alabama-Birmingham, and Liberty University.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
POWERS: The pitching coach from Kansas State saw me pitch for the first time at Illinois State University. Coach Kincaid couldn’t contact me directly because of NCAA rules, but he did speak with my coach leaving him with contact information and instructions for me to reach out to K-State. I called him and that’s how our relationship started. During the first phone call I was asked to come to the next prospect camp to be put in front of the head coach. During my visit at Kansas State I was able to tour the campus, meet with the coaching staff, and played well during the camp which led to the scholarship offer. I felt that Coach Kincaid’s method and approach to pitching suited me very well. I enjoyed being around him because he knew more than I had ever heard or thought about pitching.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
POWERS: Although the recruiting process is over for me, I still have to focus on many more things besides getting better at baseball. I am focusing more and more on my schoolwork, because I would like to earn an academic scholarship. I also play basketball so I am not doing the same thing all year round getting tired. Overall it is very nice to not worry about my final years of high school since I have selected where I will be attending college.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
POWERS: There were many factors in my decision, but the part to me that took it over the top was the individual ideas that Kincaid had. He said that every player should be treated differently since all of us are different. Each pitcher on the staff has their own unique practice and training plan.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
POWERS: I didn’t really have any expectations and was not sure what to expect during the recruiting process. My success in getting recruited was about being on the right team and getting in front of the right coaches. Once you are noticed or have a school interested the recruiting process is simple. However, being recruited as a sophomore in high school is a good thing, but frustrating at the same time because the college coaches can’t initiate any contact.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
POWERS: Freshman season really all depends on how I develop in the future years. As a player you always want to be the go-to-guy on a Saturday or Friday night game and that will be my goal until college. It all comes down to work ethic. In my freshman year at K-State I will primarily work out of the bullpen until I am able to earn a starting position.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
POWERS: My most memorable moment was probably during my first season of high school baseball. Our high school sophomore team would clinch the Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC) title if we were to win. I was fortunate enough to get the start. I threw a no-hitter to clinch the conference. In the seventh inning I got two outs, and being myself, I was smiling and laughing so hard that our coach had to call time-out to talk and calm me down. After it was over we were cleaning the field and I walked out behind the dugout to get my stuff and my teammates gave me a Gatorade bath. This was when I realized that I want this to be my future.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
POWERS: I am not sure who the best player is that I have competed against. However, I have played on several teams at the national level. Playing in the best tournaments and competition has allowed me to develop and get noticed by college coaches. I have been fortunate enough to have teammates that have also committed to Division I programs such as Louisville, Missouri, Illinois State University, University of Iowa, and Xavier.

Q&A With Kansas State Commit: '18 Daniel Powers, RHP, Davenport Assumption

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