NICEVILLE — Growing up, Florida State University was Deacon Avery’s dream school.
His grandfather played football for the Seminoles. His mother is an FSU alumna. And that drive on I-10 was a frequent one for the Avery family, who routinely attended Seminoles baseball and football games.
Avery was once again making that drive Monday, only this time as a Seminole.
Niceville’s five-tool star committed over the weekend to FSU and immediately signed up for a couple of summer classes, Avery wasting no time in his quest to start as a freshman for a program ranked second all-time in wins.
“As soon as I got on campus for my visit, it just felt like it was the right place for me,” Avery said. “The coaches, the atmosphere, the conference … it just felt like this was a place that I could develop and really compete at the highest level.”
The love was reciprocated. FSU coveted Avery’s 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame and his versatility, telling the big man he could play anywhere in the infield and outfield from Day 1.
“They said they could see me starting If I did what I needed to do,” Avery said.
Now Avery is in Tallahassee lifting weights and getting acclimated to college pitching, looking to build on a prep career where he was named Daily News Hitter of the Year and helped lead the Eagles twice to within a win of the Final 4. This past season the five-tool slashed .464 OBP/.677 slug/1.141 OPS with 7 homers, 22 stolen bases, 38 runs and 31 RBIs.
“I’m grateful and excited for what’s in front of me,” said Avery who wants to major in either sports management or business. “
FSU baseball is coming off a 40-19 season where it finished 19-11 in the ACC and hosted a regional. Avery has no doubt his family will make the trek to see him play every chance they get.
“They were beyond excited,” he said of his family’s reaction to him choosing FSU over UCF. “My grandpa, I went over to his house and he had all his FSU gear on. So I guess I’m carrying on that legacy. He’s super excited that they can all come watch me play.”
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Florida State baseball next stop for Niceville’s Deacon Avery
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News | USA TODAY Network
