Inside the Recruitment: '16 RHP Cameron Junker commits to Notre Dame
December 23, 2014
Cameron Junker, RHP, Moeller, Class of 2016
PBR: Why did you choose Notre Dame?
Junker: Notre Dame is the perfect fit for me. The unique combination of education and athletics is top notch and it is impossible to give up a Notre Dame education. I also wanted to be apart of the rich tradition that Notre Dame has. Finally, it isn't too close to home but at the same time it is a good distance away. I liked the fact that my family could come up and watch me play whether it was a week day game or on the weekends.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Junker: I was also considering Duke, Wake Forest, Miami (OH), and Stanford
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you and how did your relationship develop?
Junker: I believe the first time the coaching staff saw me was at the PBR Future Games. On September 1st, Coach Woods called me telling me they were interested and would like me to visit. Also, they saw me pitch again when I went to Fort Meyers with Ohio Elite. After Fort Meyers, we talked more frequently until I made me commitment.
PBR: Was the recruiting process what you expected?
Junker: NO! Coming into the recruiting process I felt like it would be awesome and I would enjoy it, but that was the complete opposite. This process was the most stressful thing I have ever went through. Yes, I am lucky to be in that situation, but at times I just wanted it all to be over.
PBR: You are only a junior, how important was it to commit so early in your high school career and are you finished with the recruiting process?
Junker: I don't feel like my commitment was that early. I feel like I had all the schools I wanted to choose from and it was just of matter of narrowing it down to where I wanted to go. Wanting to go to a very academic school, I felt like there were no better schools to choose from than Notre Dame, Duke, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Harvard. I am completely done with the recruiting process and like I said earlier it is a perfect fit for me.
PBR: Moeller is one of the top baseball programs in the country. How does it feel to wear the same jersey as some of the all-time greats?
Junker: Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, David Bell, Mike Bell, Buddy Bell. It is an honor to be in the same uniform as these players. It is crazy to think of all the great players that have been through the same training as me, working in the same cages as myself. I am just trying to pass along the hard work ethic and the rich Moeller tradition to the future generations of Moeller baseball players so that we can pass on what these greats have started.
PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?
Junker: I play for the Cincinnati Flames in the summer, my most memorable experience this summer would be going down to Joplin, MO and playing against some of the top teams in the country a year above us. In that tournament we played 2 of the top teams in the country including 12 Baseball which had 14 D1 commits at the time, and Houston Kyle Chapman. Each of these teams had a National All-American, and a member of Team USA.
PBR: What person has the great impact on your baseball career and why?
Junker: My dad has had the greatest impact on my baseball career. My dad, who played college basketball, has always been my biggest fan, but hardest critic. If I pitch well, or if I have a rough game, he will always tell me something I did well, or something (Mostly many) that I did not do well. He has taught me to always work for what I want because nothing will ever be given to you. He keeps me level-headed through it all, and I always know that he will be there for me.
PBR: What were your stats last spring season at Moeller?
Junker: In the spring I was 4-0 with a 2.1 ERA. Also, I had 1 No-Hitter in the middle of the season.
PBR: Who is the toughest hitter that you have faced in Ohio?
Junker: The toughest hitter that I have faced in Ohio would be Midland MIF/OF Kyle Butz. I feel that no matter what you throw at him, he is always able to barrel it up. He is unique with his exceptional plate discipline, power and blazing speed.
Junker: Notre Dame is the perfect fit for me. The unique combination of education and athletics is top notch and it is impossible to give up a Notre Dame education. I also wanted to be apart of the rich tradition that Notre Dame has. Finally, it isn't too close to home but at the same time it is a good distance away. I liked the fact that my family could come up and watch me play whether it was a week day game or on the weekends.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Junker: I was also considering Duke, Wake Forest, Miami (OH), and Stanford
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you and how did your relationship develop?
Junker: I believe the first time the coaching staff saw me was at the PBR Future Games. On September 1st, Coach Woods called me telling me they were interested and would like me to visit. Also, they saw me pitch again when I went to Fort Meyers with Ohio Elite. After Fort Meyers, we talked more frequently until I made me commitment.
PBR: Was the recruiting process what you expected?
Junker: NO! Coming into the recruiting process I felt like it would be awesome and I would enjoy it, but that was the complete opposite. This process was the most stressful thing I have ever went through. Yes, I am lucky to be in that situation, but at times I just wanted it all to be over.
PBR: You are only a junior, how important was it to commit so early in your high school career and are you finished with the recruiting process?
Junker: I don't feel like my commitment was that early. I feel like I had all the schools I wanted to choose from and it was just of matter of narrowing it down to where I wanted to go. Wanting to go to a very academic school, I felt like there were no better schools to choose from than Notre Dame, Duke, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Harvard. I am completely done with the recruiting process and like I said earlier it is a perfect fit for me.
PBR: Moeller is one of the top baseball programs in the country. How does it feel to wear the same jersey as some of the all-time greats?
Junker: Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, David Bell, Mike Bell, Buddy Bell. It is an honor to be in the same uniform as these players. It is crazy to think of all the great players that have been through the same training as me, working in the same cages as myself. I am just trying to pass along the hard work ethic and the rich Moeller tradition to the future generations of Moeller baseball players so that we can pass on what these greats have started.
PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?
Junker: I play for the Cincinnati Flames in the summer, my most memorable experience this summer would be going down to Joplin, MO and playing against some of the top teams in the country a year above us. In that tournament we played 2 of the top teams in the country including 12 Baseball which had 14 D1 commits at the time, and Houston Kyle Chapman. Each of these teams had a National All-American, and a member of Team USA.
PBR: What person has the great impact on your baseball career and why?
Junker: My dad has had the greatest impact on my baseball career. My dad, who played college basketball, has always been my biggest fan, but hardest critic. If I pitch well, or if I have a rough game, he will always tell me something I did well, or something (Mostly many) that I did not do well. He has taught me to always work for what I want because nothing will ever be given to you. He keeps me level-headed through it all, and I always know that he will be there for me.
PBR: What were your stats last spring season at Moeller?
Junker: In the spring I was 4-0 with a 2.1 ERA. Also, I had 1 No-Hitter in the middle of the season.
PBR: Who is the toughest hitter that you have faced in Ohio?
Junker: The toughest hitter that I have faced in Ohio would be Midland MIF/OF Kyle Butz. I feel that no matter what you throw at him, he is always able to barrel it up. He is unique with his exceptional plate discipline, power and blazing speed.