BRADENTON, Fla. - A new high school home is just the start for Drew Graham. In two years the 12th-rated 2024 left-handed pitcher in the nation, who has moved from Avon Lake to attend IMG Academy in Florida this year, will be wearing the black-and-gold colors of Vanderbilt.

“We started talking two years ago,” Graham explained. “They saw me at the Future Games in eighth grade. That was the first time they reached out. After that we talked here and there and then they saw me at the Future Games a second time.”

That was the summer of 2021. A year later, the top-ranked LHP in Ohio has committed to play in the Southeastern Conference.

“I played in a tournament last year in Nashville and was able to be in the city for a week and check out the facilities,” Graham reflected. “Nashville is a good city and the Vanderbilt campus is nice. The coaches and trainers have all bought into it. Everyone wants to win and get drafted.

“I want to be the best baseball player I can be and I want to be around guys that push me,” Graham added. “That’s why I’m going to IMG. It’s going to make me more ready to go to Vanderbilt.”

The 17-year-old understands what the university in Tennessee means when it comes to the sport of baseball.

“The name Vanderbilt comes with a lot of respect for the way the program is run,” Graham said. “Going there has been a dream of mine since I started playing baseball and it’s great to see me fulfill that dream. But there is more to that dream.”

Vanderbilt sees a lot of promise in the 71st-rated 2024 in the country.

“They like my projectability,” the 6-1 185-pounder noted. “I’m still a little skinny and I don’t move perfectly. There are things to clean up but they see me as a Friday night guy that can go do his thing for the program.”

Virginia and Ohio State were other schools that were under consideration by Graham.

“I just knew I wanted to go down south,” the IMG Academy junior said.

The hope is that it has Graham on the right path for his future.

“I always knew I wanted to play college baseball and professional baseball,” Graham related. “When it became real to me is when I started getting recruited at 13 or 14. I was 81-83 at a PBR event and started getting phone calls. It felt unreal. I had to bring myself back to earth.”

Admittedly, the process was a long one in the eyes of Graham.

“I wanted to be ready and make sure I found the spot I really liked,” Graham explained. “After my first PBR I started talking to a lot of schools. I went to the Future Games two years in a row and that opened up my exposure to a lot of bigger schools. It was great to talk to coaches, build relationships and learn things from them. To meet people and go places was great for me. It just came down to ‘I think I’m ready’ to commit.”

The road to Vanderbilt did not come without plenty of help for Graham, who pointed to his mother, Suzanne Bellis, along with Simon Lowe, Brad Stillings and Zack Bires as playing key roles in the process.

“Simon taught me how to pitch, not just go out there to throw,” Graham noted. “It’s about learning to be comfortable in situations.”

It has the second-ranked 2024 in Ohio confident about what he can provide a college program that has won nine NCAA Regional championships in the last 13 years.

“I’ll bring good energy when I’m not playing, and support my teammates to be their best,” Graham said. “On the field I’ll be the best Drew Graham I can be, go out and play like I did as a kid and work my way up to be a Friday night guy and, hopefully, a first-round draft pick.”

While a college major is still an uncertainty, Graham, who had a 3.7 GPA at Avon Lake, is considering business or sport management. No matter the major the southpaw, who has topped at 91 with his fastball, is ecstatic to call Vanderbilt his college home.

“I wouldn’t say relieved, I was just excited to tell Scott Brown I want to wear that Vandy uniform,” Graham said in reference to the Vanderbilt associate head coach and pitching coach. “It was exciting to say and hopefully exciting for him to hear. This is everything I’ve worked for but there is always something I can do better to be the best me I can be.”

Graham has a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to looking ahead at his future on the field.

“I’m excited for the people I’m going to meet and to play in the SEC and those fans,” Graham concluded. “I’m looking forward to being  in Nashville with teammates that will be your brothers for life. I can’t wait to compete with those people and see us grow.”