Justin Smoak is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2008 Dick Howser trophy.

May 15, 2008

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina junior first baseman Justin Smoak is one of 16 players in the nation to be named a semifinalist for the 2008 Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Smoak is among the SEC and nation's leaders in several offensive categories as he enters this weekend with a .388 batting average, 20 HR and 59 RBI. His slugging percentage is also at .771 with an on-base percentage of .508.

Smoak has compiled 59 career home runs in three seasons at Carolina, tying him for seventh on the SEC All-Time Career List. He is eighth on the USC All-Time career list for hits with 234 in his career and a tie for fifth on the career list in doubles (51).

Twice this season, Smoak tied a school record with three home runs in one game. He accomplished the feat in a 10-1 win over Wofford on April 23 as well as on April 14 in a 14-4 victory over USC Upstate.

Smoak is considered one of the top prospects in that nation for the 2008 MLB Draft. He was a freshman All-America in 2006 and a third team All-America selection by Baseball America as a sophomore after the 2007 season.

2008 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Pos. Name, School
Ike Davis, UT, Arizona State
Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona State
David Cooper, 1B, California
Buster Posey, C, Florida State
Gordon Beckham, SS, Georgia
Chris Shehan, OF, Georgia Southern
Sawyer Carroll, OF, Kentucky
Collin Cowgill, OF, Kentucky
Jemile Weeks 2B, Miami (Fla.)
Aaron Crow, P, Missouri
Johnny Dorn, P, Nebraska
George Brown, P, St. John's
Brian Matusz, P, San Diego
Stephen Strasburg, P, San Diego State
Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina
Shooter Hunt, P, Tulane

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award.

Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus is named for Howser.

The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg - home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four - along with several other locations. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 109th year of existence in 2008. The organization has long been a vital force in the baseball affairs of the city, both in spring training and during the pursuit of a major league baseball franchise for the Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg area and continues its solid role in the 21st Century.

NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.