SerpApi.Org
South Carolina has landed a commitment from Glenbrook North High School (IL) shortstop Ethan Bass, he announced on his Instagram account on Wednesday.
Bass is a late addition to the Gamecocks’ high school recruiting class for 2026. He becomes the fifth high school player to commit to the program from this year’s ranks, joining catcher Alain Gomez-Guidiño, infielder Miles Keogh, outfielder Slaide Burd, and right-handed pitcher Walker Cox.
Bass had been previously committed to Wake Forest since Nov. 15, 2024. Before that, he had been committed to his home-state school, Illinois, back in 2022. However, after not being selected in this year’s MLB Draft, he asked for and received a release from his national letter of intent from Wake Forest on July 18, reopening his recruitment with only a few weeks to go before classes begin in August.
The Northbrook, IL native becomes the first high school commit to follow Bill Cilento to Columbia. Cilento, who spent the last 17 years at Wake Forest, is the Gamecocks’ new associate head coach and hitting coach under head coach Kevin Schnall.
Bass is the fifth player with a Wake Forest connection to join the Gamecocks this offseason. Catcher Andrew Costello, shortstop JD Stein, left-handed pitcher Ryan Brennecke and outfielder Luke Costello all committed out of the transfer portal in June.
Bass, who’s listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, is the No. 2 player and No. 2 shortstop in the state of Illinois, according to Perfect Game. The outlet lists him as the No. 61 overall player and No. 21 shortstop in the country for the Class of 2026.
Perfect Game describes him as a “high energy athlete who can really play defense, big arm strength and top of the line agility, bat took a big step forward in 2024.”
