The Recruiting Trail: Behind the commitment with Cooper Fandel
October 18, 2016
By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC
Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC
Name: Cooper Fandel
High School: Independence
Summer/Fall Team: DeMarini Stars NC
Position: C/CIF
Grad Year: 2017
PBR Events: Triangle Prospect Open – Holly Springs, NC – 08.23.16
Scouting Notes: Physically strong at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds and produced an exit velocity of 86mph. Tall stance and slightly barred at foot-strike, Fandel produces an aggressive, flat stroke with average to above bat speed in a gap-to-gap approach. From the infield, produced a positional velocity of 78mph with a short, high-3/4 slot. Accuracy and carry flashed. Hands worked well and he caught balls within his range. Sixty time measured at 7.73.
Interview with PBR:
PBR: What factors lead to your commitment to King?
CF: The coaches were great and I liked their style of baseball, the campus and location was what I was looking for also.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
CF: Mars Hill, Montreat, Surry
PBR: Where there any coaches, during the recruiting process, that you built a relationship with?
CF: Coach Ennis, Coach Gload, Coach Charzuk (all with DeMarini Stars NC) and my Independence coaches… They all helped me out in many ways from baseball to becoming a man.
PBR: Where did the coaches at King see you?
CF: At a showcase event at Radford.
PBR: When did the recruiting process begin to heat up for you -- was there a particular event or game?
CF: Towards the end of my fall season this year.
PBR: What are your goals for this upcoming fall and spring?
CF: Get stronger faster and better. Hit for more power in games as well as win states.
PBR: Who are some of the coaches, or people, that have helped develop you on the baseball field?
CF: My parents really helped me with the game taking me to tournaments as well as staying in hotels with me, they were a big help. Also the coaches listed above helped me astronomically with skills and recruiting.
PBR: You attended a PBR event this past summer... What are your thoughts on PBR NC, the event, and the coverage of HS baseball in NC?
CF: The event was great, it really exposed me with the large data base PBR has and the coaches are amazing.
PBR: Any advice for the players in the 2018 & 2019 classes that are beginning their process?
CF: Trust what your coaches are doing, they know best and also stay working, work hard in the weight room, classroom and on the field. The effort you put in are a direct result in what you get out.