A Strong Will
𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞 
𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Will Hampton played football as a youngster and was a defensive lineman on a team at Richmond Hill Middle School that won a championship when he was in eighth grade. At a solid six-foot-two and 195 pounds, the Calvary Day School senior looks as though he’d still be right at home on the gridiron.

Hampton is even more comfortable around home plate. Having switched from football to baseball, the left handed first baseman is one of the top hitters in the state and earned a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, where he’ll be part of a storied program while receiving a quality education and pursuing his dream of playing professional baseball.

Hampton, 18, is showing why he was recruited by Vanderbilt and a number of other colleges, batting over .400 during his final year of high school and well over .300 in previous years. He had scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Georgia State and Baylor and said he would have likely received offers from other larger schools if he had waited longer to make a decision. Although Hampton said he liked Georgia State's program, the chance to play at Vanderbilt was too good to pass up.

“I’ve always dreamed about playing at Vanderbilt,” said Hampton, who signed in August 2022. “I never thought I’d make it there. It’s everything I wanted and more. It’s a great program to be part of. It gives me the best opportunity to compete further than college.”

Vanderbilt hitting coach Mike Baxter said they generally don’t speak about incoming signees on the record until they arrive on campus in the fall. He did note Hampton is a great kid and they are excited for him to be part of the program.

Hampton’s mother, Melissa, said her son fell in love with baseball as a child and never missed a practice or game. As a mother, Melissa noted, she knew he had a God-given talent.

𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Faith is important in the family’s life. Melissa said she and her husband raised Will and his siblings to put God first. Will would draw inspiration from Bible scriptures if he didn’t produce in a game, according to his mother. A lack of production was rarely a problem, resulting in Will earning a coveted scholarship to Vanderbilt.

“Vandy was his dream school and ours, too,” Melissa said. “He was so excited to be asked. We all had tears of joy.”

Describing her son as driven, Melissa said he believes he can make the starting lineup. “Will knows the hard work will begin in August at Vanderbilt,” Melissa said. “He believes all things are possible through God and is taking it one day at a time.”

That mindset also applies to playing baseball beyond college. “If Will had the opportunity to make it to the MLB,” his mother said, “he would take the offer anywhere.”

Hampton’s father, Will, gave his son some advice that applies to baseball as well as life. He told him to aim for the fences, everything will be alright, and don’t ever look back but look forward. The elder Hampton didn’t stop there.

“God gave you a talent,” he said. “Use it to the fullest. You will have bumps in life, but that builds character. I will always have your back.”

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

Football was Hampton’s first love. He started playing when he was 5 to 6 years and continued to the age of 8, when he switched to baseball and competed in Little League.

“I enjoyed baseball more,” said Hampton, who played wiffle ball and football before taking up baseball. It touched me in a different way.”

In high school, Hampton played first base and pitched. “First base is my spot,” said Hampton, who refers to himself as a power hitter who also puts the ball in play, hits a lot of doubles, and doesn’t strike out much.

Calvary baseball coach Phillip Lee described Hampton as an extraordinary leader on and off the field. He added his work ethic is second to none and his competitive nature is exciting to experience each day.

Hampton has played for Calvary since eighth grade and earned all-region and all-state honors going back to his freshman year. According to Lee, he’s excelled on the mound, first base, the outfield and at home plate.

“Because of his flexibility and willingness to play multiple positions, Will became such a high recruit for Vanderbilt,” Lee said. “They loved seeing him being able to play multiple positions at a high level as well as swing it with some of the best in the country.”

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜

Lee said Hampton’s work ethic, competitiveness and determination will help him succeed at the next level and potentially beyond.  As the stakes rise, he noted, so does Hampton’s level of play, making him a leader at Calvary.

“He has absolutely left a positive impact on others throughout this program and campus,” Lee said, “and his legacy at Calvary Day School will forever be remembered.”

Hampton isn’t the first player from the Savannah area to sign with Vanderbilt. Carter Holton is from Effingham County and is a pitcher for the Commodores.

“I think Will is going to fit in great with this program,” Holden said. “He will get to learn a lot and have experiences here that he will never forget. He’s going to grow as a baseball player and person in his time at Vanderbilt.”

Caden Keller is a high school pitcher who lives in Effingham County. Although he’s never faced Hampton in a game, they played on the same summer travel team and worked together in the batting cage.

“He’s never an easy out,” Kessler said. “If there are runners on second and third, you don’t want to see him on deck. Will has a great approach and hunts fastballs early in the count. He gets up there and knows what he’s looking for.”

Kessler added that Hampton has really good power, noting you don’t want to leave it over the plate, and is great defensively as well.

Hampton stood out on a summer team against some of the top players in the country, Kessler said, and he expects him to excel in college and beyond.

“He’ll do just fine and will adjust well to playing at Vandy,” Kessler said. “His work ethic will help him. I see him going a long way. Will has major league ability. He has a great mindset and is ready to go to war at all times. He’s not going to give up to anyone.”

𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Even if a major league career doesn’t work out, Hampton will still have a quality education from Vanderbilt, which combines an excellent baseball program with a academics about as well as any school.

“It’s a high ranked school on education,” said Hampton, who has a 3.7 GPA and is undecided on his major in college. “It’s hard and will be a struggle, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Before he hits the books, however, Hampton will be hitting the diamond and ball as he prepares to make the big jump from high school to Division I college. Hampton said everyone at that level is good, and the pitchers have 90 mph.-plus arms. To prepare for hitting against that kind of pitching, Hampton is working on “being short on the ball” on a pitching machine. “It’ll be an adjustment getting used to the pitching speed,” he said. “I’m getting used to it on the pitching machine. I want to start as a freshman.”

Hampton will play his last year of summer travel ball before heading to West Palm Beach and competing on his college team and “getting reps.” He said he’ll have to play three years in college before he’s eligible for the major league draft.

“Playing in the major leagues is the goal,” Hampton said. “My goal is to be drafted after my junior year. With my experience at Vandy, I will have a great opportunity. I like the Braves, but I’ll play for any team. It doesn’t matter to me.”