Before USC Upstate: Was a four-year starter as part of the varsity baseball team at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville, S.C… Finished prep career with 115 hits… Named All-Region final three seasons at Wade Hampton HS… Was a three-time South Carolina All-State Team selection (2009, 2010, 2011)… Batted .419 as a senior and served as a team captain… Was named the school’s Wendy’s Heisman winner and picked up National Scholar-Athletic honors from the U.S. Army Reserve following senior season… Posted a .491 batting average as a sophomore, 50 points better than sophomore campaign (.441)… Finished rookie season with a .407 batting average and earned All-State Rookie Team honors… Was a member of the cross country team for four years… Served as the Student Body President as a senior and graduated Summa Cum Laude after posting fifth-best GPA in senior class.

Personal: Born on Feb. 17, 1993 in Atlanta, Ga… Son of Glenn and Terri Samples… Has two sisters… A biology major… Enjoys hanging out with friends and playing baseball… Favorite movie is “Hall Pass”… Favorite TV show is “Two and a Half Men”… Favorite season is winter… Likes eating Mexican food… Hero growing up was his father… Favorite sports figure is Chipper Jones… Favorite quote is “shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”… Aspires to play professional baseball.