When Austin Overn is hitting house runs within the main leagues, catching passes within the NFL or dunking throughout a star basketball recreation, somebody will inevitably ask him how he did throughout his senior yr at Santa Ana Foothill Excessive.
The reply will outcome on this gorgeous response, “Actually?”
Not for the reason that days when Giancarlo Stanton was often called Mike Stanton and incomes All-CIF honors at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in soccer, basketball and baseball has there been an athlete fairly like Overn, who's 6 ft, 170 kilos and headed to USC.
In soccer, he was a star receiver, catching 68 passes for 1,407 yards and 20 touchdowns. In baseball, he’s a star heart fielder, hitting .344 with 13 stolen bases in 14 makes an attempt — “I used to be protected,” he stated of his solely failed try. He performed basketball till this season and is glad to dunk for his associates within the health club.
His most audacious instance of athleticism got here final month in his monitor debut. He ran 10.73 seconds within the 100 meters with only a week of coaching get out of the beginning block. Since then, he lowered his finest time to 10.49 seconds, went 23-1 in his first try at lengthy leap and certified to compete in final weekend’s prestigious Arcadia Invitational.
“He’s a freaking nice athlete,” stated his future USC classmate, sprinter Max Thomas of Anaheim Servite.
USC soccer coach Lincoln Riley has agreed to let him be part of the soccer crew in June as a walk-on. After that, his focus shall be baseball, for which he’ll be on scholarship. Who is aware of if he’ll have time to run 100 meters for the Trojans’ monitor crew however don’t ever doubt what he’s able to doing.
This spring, his precedence stays baseball, and if there’s a battle between the baseball playoffs and competing within the Southern Part monitor and discipline prelims and finals, he stated, “If it overlaps with monitor, I’m going to go to baseball for positive.”
This has been a spring like no different for Overn.
“I wished to return out right here and show some extent that I'm quick,” he stated, “Now it’s gotten to the purpose I’m truly having fun with it and getting myself in place the place I might win CIF or state.”
He confirmed up at Arcadia Excessive final Saturday carrying the best sun shades as if he wereready to go catch fly balls within the solar. He was going in opposition to the very best athletes within the state and picked up good preparation for the long run. He completed ninth within the 100 and fifteenth within the lengthy leap in a setting that featured greater than 7,000 spectators.
What he’s been capable of accomplish in such a brief time period is just wonderful contemplating he’s going in opposition to seasoned monitor athletes.
Requested which sport is probably the most difficult, Overn didn’t hesitate.
“Baseball for positive,” he stated. “You possibly can’t actually depend on athleticism, which I really feel is my sturdy level. Generally you go 0 for 4 on the plate and may’t present your pace. Within the outfield, generally you don’t even get a ball. With soccer, each different play you may present it.”
Overn got here out to run the 100 simply when Servite’s Thomas began to dominate, and Overn’s presence helped speed up Thomas’ progress to the purpose he received the 100 and 200 on the Arcadia Invitational.
“At a few of these meets, there’s actually nobody there to push me,” Thomas stated. “He’s been there to push me.”
And Thomas has been motivating Overn.
“He’s a cool man,” Overn stated. “We’re associates. He’s one of many causes I’ve been coaching much more as a result of I’ve by no means been crushed in a race earlier than and this child has crushed me thrice. Hopefully I can get him again.”
Foothill monitor coach EJ Phifer stated he had heard of Overn, “however till he reveals up he’s simply one other quick child on campus.”
Now he is aware of he’s bought one other Bo Jackson. Properly, perhaps not.
“I’m teaching Mo Jackson,” he stated. “Bo Jackson did two sports activities. This child did 4.”
Overn stated he has all the time identified he was quick however wished to show it to others.
“I simply found out how I’m able to doing what anybody else can,” he stated. “I really feel once I dedicated for soccer, a bunch of individuals have been doubting me since. I really feel popping out right here and displaying that I’m one of many quickest children within the state proves a strong level it might probably correlate to the soccer discipline as nicely.”
So everybody get pleasure from this extraordinary instance of teenage athleticism on show in baseball and monitor this spring, or watch for soccer within the fall. Simply know that Overn goes locations and nobody will ever once more doubt his pace.
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