In-State Legacy Recruit Would Relish Opportunity to Play for Bakich, Clemson

Growing up a fan of Clemson, Luke Young has always dreamed of playing baseball at Clemson. His dad played football for the Tigers in the 1990s, and he has always seen himself following in his father’s footsteps.

However, the high school junior, out of Clinton, got to realize another dream this summer, as the catcher got the opportunity to play in the Senior League World Series, with the games being broadcast by ESPN. It was an experience like no other and something Young will never forget.

“It was really cool,” Young told The Clemson Insider. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball. I can tell you that. The people on my team, it was fun hanging out with them every day. Getting to meet people from all around the world, talking to them and learning more about their life. It was an experience, definitely something different.”

However, with that experience behind him, Young is looking towards the future and playing at Clemson is the next dream he is looking to fulfill.

“Ever since I was a little kid I have always wanted to play at Clemson,” he said.

Over the summer, Young attended a camp at Clemson, coming away with offensive MVP honors. While there, he got to start building a relationship with head coach Erik Bakich.

Watching Bakich during his first two seasons at Clemson has only made his determination to play at Clemson even stronger, and watching the head coach go to bat for his players during the Super Regional loss to Florida only reinforced that feeling.

“I’ve gotten to know him pretty well,” Young said. “We talked every day at the camp and the last day of camp he told me to go into his office and we got to talk a little more. He’s a great coach and a great person and I would love to play for him. Having a coach that has your back like that, that is a good thing to have.”

While the Tigers have yet to offer, it feels like a pretty good bet that one is coming at some point and Young says playing in the electric atmosphere at Doug Kingsmore Stadium just might be too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“That would mean the world,” Young said. “Because my dad played at Clemson and I have always wanted to follow in his footsteps and I have always waned to play there. We went to a game last year, a night game and it was electric. It was intense. And ever since that game I knew I wanted to play there.”

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