It’s every high school athlete’s dream to be recruited and deemed such a good fit for the university’s athletic program that a scholarship offer is extended.
And then, when the player pulls the trigger and commits… well, it’s the reward of thousands of hours of hard work that is recognized and appreciated to get to that point.
But what if something doesn’t feel right? What if the player who verbals decides that maybe it’s not where she should be after all?
Mia Cantu from Spring, Texas had an outstanding 2018 season both in high school and club and was described by one coach as “maybe the biggest surprise of the summer.”
A triple threat lefty who’s a dangerous leadoff hitter, she sparked her Firecrackers team coached by Kyle Sewell to 3rd at PGF 16U Premier Nationals and batted .544 for her Georgia-based squad and was consistent in that she led off more than half of her games with a hit.
In this exclusive profile of the standout junior from the Lone Star State, we hear about why she committed, why she had second thoughts and ultimately decided to re-open her recruiting again recently.
It was a tough call, as she admits, but schools are starting to show interest including coaches from Power 5 Conferences like the Big 12… here’s a closer look at the fast-rising prospect who we’ll be hearing about a lot over the next two years of club and high school ball!
NAME: MIA CANTU
Hometown/State: Spring, Texas
Grad Year: 2020
Position(s): OF/1B
Club Team: Georgia Firecrackers – Sewell
High School (City/State): Klein Collins (Spring, Texas) High
GPA: 4.3
College: Decommitted from the University of New Mexico on Sept. 14, 2018
When committed: November 19, 2017
Height: 5-foot-10
High School Stats:
Sophomore: .521 BA .538 On-base percentage (75 hits 58 runs scored, 45 RBI, 45 singles, 22 doubles, six triples and four home runs in the leadoff spot.
Club Stats: 2018: hit .544 with 15 doubles, seven triples and four home runs (led off most of the year)
Top High School Honors/Accomplishments: 2018: Texas Class 6A 1st Team All-State; 1st Team All-District (15-6A) honoree as infielder; All-District Academic selection; Klein Collins Co-Offensive Player of the Year; 2017: District 15-6A Newcomer of the Year; All-District Academic Selection.
Top Club Honors/Accomplishments: 2018: Extra Inning Softball “Extra Elite 100” (#79); PGF Nationals 16U Premier All-Tournament Team (as selected by Extra Inning Softball & SoCalSidelines.com); two-time Offensive MVP of the Year with the Texas Bombers.
Preferred College Major: Sports Medicine
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You’re in an interesting position of having been committed but now are back on the recruiting market… walk us through the process of re-opening your recruiting.
I verbally committed to the University of New Mexico in November of 2017. When I visited the campus in September of that year, I fell in love with it… at least I thought I did. The campus, the community, the team and the coaching staff were all so awesome and Albuquerque is beautiful.