COLLEGE RECRUITING WATCH
ATHLETE: Matt Davis, shortstop, Cumberland Valley
COLLEGE: Virginia Commonwealth
THE DETAILS: With more than a dozon interested parties, Cumberland Valley senior shortstop Matt Davis gave his verbal commitment to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond recently.
The 5-10, 165-pound Davis, mulling offers from St. Joe's, the University of Richmond, Bucknell, Navy and a host of other Division I baseball programs, will join skipper Paul Keyes and the Rams for the 2013-14 season.
THE DECISION: "I was talking to VCU throughout the high school year and really liked everything they had when I went to visit," said Davis, among the region's best at his natural position. "I thought it was a good fit all around. VCU has a good coaching staff and it all seemed well-rounded."
Steered by Keyes for the last 18 seasons, the Rams just capped their final run in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 34-25 mark, dropping its finale to Hofstra in the conference tournament. VCU officially joined the ultra-competitive Atlantic 10 Conference on July 1.
Keyes, VCU's all-time winningest coach, has amassed a sterling 605-428 overall record and pushed the Rams to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
PROJECTED MAJOR: Engineering.
THE ATHLETE: Sharing the Mid-Penn Conference MVP award with Cedar Cliff's Tyler Orris last season, Davis hit .348 with five home runs and 21 RBIs to lead the Commonwealth Division champs.
The Big 11 pick also garnered attention as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox. Davis bumped his stock over the summer, turning his decision between recent showcase events in Georgia and Florida.
The slick-fielding shortstop also gained attention from Division I outfits Mount St. Mary's, Monmouth and Army.
"It's kind of like a weight off your shoulders. Now, I can focus on school and getting my work done off the field," Davis said. "I weighed a lot of different options, but I want to focus and be ready for the next level."