Interview: 2018 Arkansas ATH Jaden Hill Talks LSU Baseball Commitment

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

One of the toughest choices any athlete will have to make is picking which college to attend. For an all-around athlete like Jaden Hill, not only did he have to make a decision about which college to attend but had an even more difficult decision to make, which sport he wanted to play at the next level.

Having options is always good, but sometimes having great options can present difficult choices.

Hill took big strides during his junior season with Ashdown High School on the gridiron. The Panthers went 7-4 with their dual-threat signal caller passing for 2,617 yards with 26 scores while running for 386 yards off 41 totes with four more scores posted. The 6-3.5, 206 pound, talent already had early offers from teams like Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, and Missouri to play football in college. Trouble for those hopeful teams, Hill is also a beast on the mound.

For Hill, the diamond proved to be tougher than the gridiron, and who can blame him? Hill hits 93 on the radar gun promising to have Major League Baseball scouts checking him out before he even graduates from high school. In addition to the offers extended for football, skippers for collegiate baseball teams were dropping offers too with Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and LSU hoping to pull Hill their way.

On Dec. 22, Hill gave LSU (preseason No. 2) an early Christmas present verbally committing to play baseball for the Tigers. The joy given to LSU fans was not without a lot of hard choices for their newest recruit. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hill after his commitment to the Tigers to find out about his decision process and how LSU won him over.

Interview

Jaden, you had a fantastic junior season on the football field. How did you feel about the season overall?

“It turned out good. Individually it was a good season. I stepped up as a player and as a teammate. As a team, we improved. We grew up as a team together. We realized we had something special. Sadly, at the end we were upset (lost 23-22 to Ozarks in the playoffs). Maybe it was not our day to win.”

How did your game improve in 2016?

“It improved a lot. The game slowed down. I improved my passing and my running. I had around 400 yards rushing and over 2,500 passing yards. That was an improvement over last year.”

Let’s get into your commitment. You had five baseball offers, did any of the schools that offered you make your decision to commit to LSU a tough one?

“Yes. Oklahoma and Arkansas.”

How did LSU sway you to become a verbal commit to the Tigers?

“I really enjoyed talking to Coach (Alan) Dunn, their pitching coach. We clicked. I liked the entire staff. Everything about the place itself. The campus was beautiful. It felt like home there. With sports at LSU, you cannot go wrong and in the classroom. They have everything you need to be successful there.”

How did the commitment take place?

“I called Coach Dunn and Coach (Paul) Mainieri (head coach) and committed to then. Then I had family and friends over for a get together. Then I committed to them. I laid hats out gave a speech and told them I was going to LSU.”

What was the reaction of Coach Mainieri and Coach Dunn when you committed?

“They said it was an early Christmas gift.”

Do you know how they will use you once on campus? Will you be a starter, long reliever, or closer?

“I don’t know. It all depends on how I develop through the years. I still have a young arm. Maybe this year or this summer we’ll figure it out.”

Since you are a big recruit in both baseball and football, what was that process like deciding to play one sport over the other at the next level?

“It was very hard. The love I have for both sports and the love I have to compete in both sports – I’ve been playing both my whole life. Baseball will give me a better opportunity to become successful in the long run.”

Will LSU let you walk-on the football team?

“I have not asked. I think it is difficult to do both. I will stick to one sport and focus on my education.”

When did you take an unofficial visit to Baton Rouge?

“I was there on Dec. 5.”

What was your lasting impression of the school or program from your visit?

“When I walked onto the field I could just image being on the mound with the crowd yelling. The field caught my eye. Everything there caught my eye. I liked everything.”

Do you have another unofficial set for LSU coming up?

“I will try to catch a game or a series this spring or summer. Nothing is for sure yet. I want to see a couple of games this year.”

In light of your decision, are you planning on playing football during your senior season?

“I plan on it.”

Do you plan on attending football camps this off-season?

“I’m not sure. It depends where it falls in with summer baseball. Baseball is first. If there is a camp I can attend afterwards then I will attend it.”

How does your spring and summer look with baseball?

“I’ll play with my high school team and a team out of Little Rock called Extra Innings Sticks with Chase Brewster (coach).”

Switching topics, did you have a good Christmas?

“Yes, sir. I spent time with the family.”

Are there any bowl games you are excited to see coming up?

“Yes. The Alabama-Washington game and the Clemson-Ohio State game for sure. I may watch Arkansas against Virginia Tech.”

Do you have a National Championship pick?

“Alabama. The only other team I would choose is if the Patriots were in it.”

Jaden, thanks for your time today and congratulations on your commitment to LSU.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Hill family; Jaden Hill at LSU.

Photo credit: Hill family; Jaden Hill with Coach Mainieri