With the start of the 2021-2022 school year, college recruiters are returning back to campus to get their respective teams ready to compete this upcoming spring.  In addition, many college staffs are starting to make moves on recruits that impressed over the summer.  Today, we spotlight one of the top outfielders in the 2022 class, in Crawford Courville of Barbe High School.  Fresh off of holding down centerfield for the LHSAA Class 5A State Champion Buccaneers; Courville has committed to LSU-Eunice, who is also coming off of a 2021 NJCAA DII National Championship.  Courville is the ninth player off the 2020 Louisiana Future Games roster to commit to play baseball collegiately.  Below, we discuss his recruitment process and advice for the next wave of prospects, what led him to commit to the Bengals, and what fans can expect from the Barbe Buccaneers next spring.  

 

-Congratulations on committing to LSU-Eunice.  What attracted you to the program and ultimately led you to committing?

What made me make the decision to commit to LSU-Eunice is that they have an expectation to win and they have a great program.  Every year their expectation is to win a national championship.  For me, winning is everything and having the opportunity to win a national championship when I am there means a lot to me.  Committing to LSU-Eunice is just another step in my baseball career and for me, coming here, will give me the best opportunity to make my dreams come true.  I will get the chance to make my game a lot better and get bigger, faster, and stronger.  When I went on my visit, Coach Willis told me that his ultimate goal was to make all of the guys on the team better men and that showed me how much he cares about his players.

 

-We all have a support system to help us get to where we are today.  Who are some people that you'd like to thank for helping you get to this point?

There are so many people to thank for helping me get to where I am today.  My grandparents have always been there for me and have done everything possible to make me a better person and player.  My dad has always cared for me and wants the best thing for me.  My brother, Presley, is my best friend.  We have been through everything together and he makes me better.  My coaches and teammates have meant the world to me and have always had my best interests.  The Cecchini family, Luke David, and Rene Gayo are the people that have impacted me the most these past four years.

 

-What advice can you give to the next generation of prospects that are about to enter the recruiting process?

The biggest thing I have taken away from the recruiting process is not to panic and go somewhere where you are wanted.  Not receiving offers early in my high school career bother me and caused a lot of anxiety.  I learned that everything is going to workout and you have more time than you think.  Going somewhere you are wanted is huge.  Obviously, anywhere you go you have to earn and compete for a position, but having a school show a lot of interest is a good feeling.

 

-You're coming off of a historical season at Barbe, where you played an important role in helping the Bucs go 39-2 and capture the Class 5A State Title.  What can fans expect out of Barbe in 2022?

People can expect the Barbe Bucs to be hungry.  Last year was great, but we want to go win another one.  We have a standard at Barbe and that is to win a state and national championship.  We have a lot of really good players and have a really good coaching staff.  We are chasing #12 and have all the things to do it.