As one of the premier two sport athletes in the state, Frances Howell's Brett Graves had an important decision to make prior to his senior year: to play football or baseball in college.  Despite an illustrious career as the high school's quarterback, Graves ultimately decided to sign a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for the University of Missouri.  And with his high school football career behind him, Graves is now focused on developing his skills on the diamond.  More importantly, he has his sights set on a Class 4 A State Title for Frances Howell.

As a junior last spring, the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder asserted himself as one of the top players in the state after excelling at both shortstop and pitcher.  He was a Post-Dispatch All-Metro second-team selection after hitting .477 with 52 hits, 40 runs, 26 RBI and 19 stolen bases.  On the hill, the right-hander had similar success, going 4-1 with a save and a minuscule 1.76 ERA.  Graves struck out 48 batters and walked 17 while tossing 47 2/3 innings for the Vikings (23-8), who went on to win the GAC South Conference.

 

In addition to the University of Missouri, Graves' junior campaign drew the attention of several other Division-I programs including Wichita State, Texas Christian University, Baylor and Kansas State. 

 

"I didn't want to base my decision on the reputation of the program," said Graves about his committal to Missouri.  "I also really like the degrees that they offer."

Although he is excited at the thought of playing for the Tigers in 2012, Graves refuses to get ahead of himself or take anything for granted.  Rather, he and his teammates are busy training for the upcoming season, a season that will mark the end of nearly a decade-long span of playing together.

"We want there to be no what ifs this season," asserted Graves.  "Lots of the guys on the team also play football, so we are really close and have done it all together over the last three years."

From an individual standpoint, Graves has dedicated his offseason to the development of his secondary pitches.  To complement a fastball that reportedly touched 91 mph this past summer, he has begun throwing his curveball with greater velocity and is also learning to throw a splitter with consistency.  Graves is also hoping to incorporate a change up into his arsenal this spring, a pitch that he has struggled to get a feel for thus far.

"It's something that I will constantly be working on," he said. "There are nights where I lay in bed holding a baseball, trying to get a feel for the grip."

Although he has already committed to Mizzou, Graves figures to be one of the most intriguing draft prospects in the state.  His 6-foot-1 frame and overall athleticism suggest that he will continue to physically develop in the coming years.  In addition to a fastball that has already cracked the 90 mph plateau, Graves? commitment to improving his secondary pitches has him poised for a successful 2011 season and beyond.

 

Written by Michael Rosenbaum. To read more columns by Michael, visit his blog The Golden Sombrero.