McClellan Finds What He Was Looking For At South Carolina

Maximus McClellan RHP / RHP / St. Edward, OH / 2024

AVON LAKE - When Max McClellan reopened his recruitment there was no problem finding schools that had an interest in the 6-7 200-pound right-handed pitcher.

“I didn’t have to do much for self promotion,” the St. Edward senior admitted. “Matt Rosinski and the Phillies’ organization helped and Mississippi State reached out to Jordan Chiero at PBR once my profile was updated, so that helped.”

Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State and TCU were among the other schools that McClellan entertained interest from after decommitting from Central Florida, before eventually taking visits to Clemson and South Carolina.

“I originally committed to Central Florida last fall,” McClellan reflected. “The pitching coach was amazing but he ended up leaving and the head coach got fired so I had my doubts. I didn’t think it was the place for me so I reopened my recruiting process and had a good amount of schools that reached out. It was tough because I liked UCF, but any decision you have to deal with has positives and negatives.”

For the sixth-rated 2024 RHP in Ohio, the positive was finding a home at South Carolina.

“Coach Monte (Lee), the recruiting coordinator, knows as much as most pitching coaches,” McClellan noted. “With (pitching) coach (Matt) Williams, I had a question about my delivery and he called that night and told me about what to do. It was just the casual conversations I had with them, but that’s what I was looking for.”

Thus, the 17-year-old made the decision to commit to the Southeastern Conference university located in Columbia, S.C.

“I planned visits to go to Mississippi State and TCU, but thought what else am I going to find,” McClellan said. “South Carolina’s awesome. In the back of my mind I always thought I could pitch at the highest level, but I still have to work.”

That is what the 11th-ranked senior in the state has been doing to improve enough to have Power 5 schools enamored with his potential.

“I was 90 last year and 92 early this season but had a really inconsistent breaker and my fastball velo was very inconsistent,” McClellan explained. “But I’ve found a tight slider now. The curve I’ve always had, my fastball’s in the low-90s and I still have a change to throw to lefties. It’s just the complete package that I attribute to high school. I had to learn to compete while playing on a national level and now I can compete.”

It has McClellan excited about what he can do at a national power program like South Carolina.

“I hope to be the positive figure I am today and see a smile on my face,” McClellan said. “But on the mound I’m a competitor. I just have to keep working and I think it will all play out.”

Though less stressful than the first round of recruitment, McClellan is pleased to have his recruiting process come to an end and find a future home.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” noted McClellan, who carries a 3.7 GPA taking IB level courses at St. Ed’s. “My family has always supported me and this cuts the distance in half from Florida so my mom likes that. I’ll be a little closer, eight hours, but all they wanted was what’s best for me. Once I found that it’s been a real joy.”

Business will be the college major for McClellan, who is looking forward to the days ahead at the SEC school.

“I love basketball but in the last year it’s been wake up, lift and throw,” McClellan related. “I’m excited to have that routine, to put on that Gamecocks’ jersey and to just go out and compete. I’m excited to be in a baseball-only mode. I’ve never had that. I think that will help in my development.”