OXFORD, Miss. The Rebels continued to put together what could be one of the top signing classes in the country with the signing of catcher Taylor Hightower and pitcher Brett Huber, the Rebels announced on Thursday.
The duo are the latest announced signees for Ole Miss and join twin brothers Matt and Mike Snyder as a part of the 2008 signing class. They will be join the Rebels for the 2008-09 academic year.
Hightower is a 6-0, 190-pound catcher from Cartersville, Ga., where he plays for Cartersville High School. The senior has been rated as one of the top 50 prospects in the nation and the second-rated catcher in the nation. He also competed in the AFLAC All-America game in San Diego in a game that showcases some of the top high school talent in America.
As a junior, Hightower hit .525 with five home runs and was an All-State selection as he helped lead Cartersville to a Regional Championship, the third straight for the program.
“Taylor is an unbelievable catch and throw guy,” said Ole Miss assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Rob Reinstetle. “That’s one of the things that sets him apart. He has got an amazing arm and is a very good defensive catcher with some pop in his bat. We expect him to be drafted highly, possibly in the top 10 rounds. He’s one of the top catchers in the country and definitely the best catcher on the east coast.”
Hightower selected the Rebels over Auburn and Virginia.
Huber, a 6-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher, comes to Ole Miss from Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois. As a junior, Huber posted a 7-2 record as he earned All-Conference and All-District honors. He throws 88-91 mph and also has command of an 83-mph slider.
“Brett is a big, strong and physical player,” Reinstetle said. “He throws a fastball and a power slider. His bother was a draft pick last season out of Eastern Illinois so baseball is something that is in his family. We expect him to be able to come in and pitch right away and see him as a potential weekend starter down the road.”
Huber selected the Rebels over Virginia, Clemson, Missouri, Missouri State, College of Charleston, Michigan State and South Carolina.
Continue to check OleMissSports.com throughout the afternoon and the rest of the week as more signees are expected to come in.
