Scout.com > Ole Miss Named National Juco Player of the Year Story URL: http://mississippi.scout.com/2/397233.html Yancy Porter OMSpirit.com Jul 20, 2005 Kyle Mills (1B/DH, ICC, MS) - The American Baseball Coaches Association National Juco Player of the Year is ready to bring the long ball to Oxford next season.Mills hit .427 with 20 HR's and 97 RBI's this past year at Itawamba CC. Kyle will join former teammates, Jon Jon Hancock and Will Kline, at Ole Miss next year. Player Profile Height: 6' 0" Weight: 225 Position: 1B/DH Bats: Right Grades: Graduated from ICC From: Tupelo, MS Junior College:: Itawamba CC The following information was revealed during our interview with Kyle Mills : What were you recruited to play at Ole Miss? "I will DH mostly and play some first base." Where did you prep at in high school? "Tupelo High, from '99-'03." Tell us about your high school career? "I made All-Area and All-Region." Were you in the same class as Jon Jon Hancock and Will Kline? "Yes sir. We had a pretty good team." How did you end up at ICC? "I just got recruited by Rick Collier. He called and offered, and I signed." What are your strengths at the plate? "I am a gap hitter with a lot of power. I hit for average and power with men on base. I am good at getting people home, and I play pretty good first base." What do you most need to work on? "My speed. I have real good hand eye coordination. I just need to work on my speed." Tell us about your freshman season at ICC? "We went to Regionals. We won it and then we got put out in Sub Regional. I hit .365 with 7 Hr's and 63 RBI's." And this past year? "We made it to Super Regionals this year, and I hit .445 with 20 Hr's and 97 RBI's. I had a .887 slugging percentage." Any awards? "I was named 1st Team with all of these; Region, State, All-American, and I was the National Juco Player of the Year." Why did you choose to sign with Ole Miss? "I grew up rooting for Ole Miss. My whole family loves Ole Miss. That is all they care about. And getting to play again with Jon Jon and Will was also helpful. We are all real close. When I was offered by Ole Miss, that was probably the most excited I have ever seen my family. It was a special day." What are your personal goals for your first year at Ole Miss? "My first goal is to come in and get a spot in the line up. I want to show the coaches what I can do and prove to them I deserve to be in the line up. Then I will set some high goals, stats wise, and I am going to do my best to reach those numbers. In the fall, I will try to get faster, stronger, and bigger, so I can be ready for the Spring." When will you report to Ole Miss? "I am playing in North Carolina right now in a wooden bat league. I will be back on August 16th." Who do you play for? "The Thomasville Hightops." Anybody else we know on your team? "Will Kline." To view the list of Ole Miss baseball signees for the '04/'05 class, click here. Copyright © Scout.com and OMSpirit.com