One of Texas’ best sophomore high school baseball players said he will play college baseball at Arkansas.
Texarkana Pleasant Grove infielder/outfielder Brenton Clark (6-0, 165 pounds) committed to the Razorbacks on Monday over Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Houston and others.
The 2024 prospect, who bats left handed and throws right, said his visit to Fayetteville last week sealed the deal.
“I went down there to Arkansas this past week and just fell in love with it and all the coaches, the town and just everything about it,” Clark said. “When I saw all of that, I just knew where I wanted to go. It’s just a special place.”
Arkansas’ recent success and the program's reputation for sending players to professional baseball factored into Clark’s decision.
“Their player development is better than any I have ever seen,” Clark said. “They really get you ready for the next level and they take a lot of pride in that.”
Clark is coming off a summer during which he shined for the Arkansas Sticks.
“I feel like I developed by being smarter on the base paths, hitting the ball really well and seeing it better than I did in the past," Clark said. "Also, my defense became a way bigger part of my game and I don’t think everyone thought I had that.
“It all just kind of came together.”
Clark played second base and center field for his high school team, but only played center field for the Sticks. According to the UIL page for his high school team, he batted .385 as a freshman.
“I think I am a lot better outfielder and that is where I will end up in college, but I will still play infield in high school, too," he said.
Sticks coach Chase Brewster, whose organization has had more than 40 members commit to the Razorbacks, praised Clark’s athleticism.
“He is just a high-level athlete that was a freshman on a 4A state championship team and also played some varsity football in the state playoffs...for one of the more respected high school football programs in the state of Texas,” Brewster said. “He’s just a big-time, big-time athlete.
“Both of his parents are coaches, so he gets the mental side of things quicker than some of the other young kids.
“He can play anywhere on the field and I think he will have a chance to play early once he gets to Arkansas.”
Brewster said the Texarkana area has split allegiances, including a lot of fans for some of the teams that recruited Clark.
“He could have went a lot of different ways, but I think playing on our ‘24 team all summer with (Springdale Har-ber standout Ross Felder, who is an Arkansas commit)...and other guys on that team that Arkansas is recruiting — such as Mark Brissey (of Batesville) who just committed to the Razorbacks — made for a big family," Brewster said, "and some guys who want to play together and have visions of playing together for a long, long time. That kind of sold Clark on the whole Razorback experience.”