ROCHESTER HILLS - Making a college commitment change can be a burdensome task, but that was not the case for Jack Crighton.

“It wasn’t that difficult for me,” noted the 18th-rated 2022 third baseman in the nation, who recently decommitted from Michigan and soon after made a commitment to Clemson. “My parents wanted me to play for coach Bakich and obviously I wanted to play for coach Bakich and coach Schnabel. That was the main reason to go to Michigan to play.”
But when the former Michigan mentors, Erik Bakich the head coach and Nick Schnabel the assistant head coach, jumped at an opportunity to coach at Clemson, Crighton had a decision to make.

“After I decommitted, I went on a visit to Clemson and everything was amazing,” the recent graduate of Orchard Lake St. Mary's related. “It seemed like a better opportunity for me. I think I’m going to be a better ballplayer going to Clemson.”

There was a lot to like for Crighton at what proved to be his new college home.

“I’d never been there before and it was the nicest campus I’ve ever seen,” Crighton noted. “I feel I was wanted by coach Bakich and coach Schnabel and obviously they want me to go there.”

But there was more that Crighton took from it all.

“At Clemson they care about baseball and do things for the baseball team unlike some others,” Crighton explained. “They take care of the baseball players there. It’s just a better fit for me.”

Crighton is not the only player to make the tough decision of decommitting since the coaching change in Ann Arbor.

“It helps to know some guys going there,” pointed out Crighton, now one of seven former Michigan commits headed to Clemson along with Joe Allen, Nolan Nawrocki, Drew Titsworth, Dillion Head, Brendon Bennett and, most recently, Jarren Purify. “It helps not being new and knowing some of the others.”

The seventh-ranked 2022 in the state of Michigan saw a lot of plusses in going to Clemson.

“I’ll miss being around family the most, but not much else,” Crighton said of going to school close to 12 hours from home. “It’s going to be a lot more fun in the fall not playing in freezing weather and to be able to play home games at the beginning of the year.”

The 6-3 180-pounder is being looked at as a third baseman with potential to also see time in the outfield as a freshman.

“I’ll bring versatility to play where I’m needed in the field,” Crighton said. “I can hit and do everything that is needed for the program.”

The desire to improve never goes away for the top-rated 2022 third baseman in Michigan.

“Right now I’m focusing on gaining weight to physically be able to play Division I baseball and improve my power,” the 18-year-old explained.  

Playing for the undefeated high school national championship team at St. Mary’s has been helpful in the eyes of Crighton.

“It’s super beneficial,” Crighton said. “I’ve been pretty much playing on a D-I college team. It’s nice to compete with the others on the team and push ourselves to be better. It’s a big help in the long run being with all these great players.”

Now Crighton looks forward to the same type of feeling to go along with new challenges playing at the Atlantic Coast Conference school in South Carolina.

“At St. Mary’s we beat just about every team handily,” noted Crighton, who plans to major in business at Clemson. “What I’m looking forward to is the competition, not only the teams we play against but to  compete with kids on my own team fighting for a spot.”