TWINSBURG - It isn’t often that a sister is of assistance when it comes to playing college baseball. But that has been the case for Reggie Bussey.

“I’ve been working on my speed with my sister,” the Twinsburg senior said in reference to his older sibling, Nya, who was part of two state champion 800-meter relay teams, including the 2019 team that ran the second fastest relay in state meet history. “She runs track at Ohio State. She’s preached to me that it can really make things happen.”

Oakland head coach Jordan Banfield was quick to notice that attribute in the sixth-rated 2022 outfielder in Ohio, who has been timed in 6.59 running the 60.

“He likes how I’m a good leadoff guy and work my at-bats,” Bussey noted. “He likes that I’m a fast runner and when I get on base I can be dangerous.”

The 6-2 185-pound left-handed hitting southpaw impressed enough to get an offer from the Horizon League school and a commitment came soon after.

“June was when I first had contact with them,” Bussey reflected. “Once I was in contact with them it started getting deeper with me and coach Banfield. He wanted to see me one more time and had me come up for a visit. I got an offer two or three days after that. A few weeks later I went to the Senior Games with PBR and on Aug. 30 is the day I committed to Oakland.”

Ohio University was among the other colleges showing an interest in the 55th-ranked senior in the Buckeye state, but a connection with Oakland made the decision an easy one for Bussey.

“I love how coach Banfield showed how he really wanted me,” Bussey explained. “I want to go to a college where I’m loved and it feels like home and that’s what I felt at Oakland. I just want to be a part of that.”

It was only a little more than a year ago that the third-rated uncommitted 2022 in Ohio prior to his commitment began to consider the idea of playing baseball after high school.

“It was the summer of 2020 when I started talking to schools,” Bussey related. “It was like, ‘this is what I want to do for my next four years.’ Then at the end of fall to the start of summer season it became realistic. I was talking to different coaches who were telling me how I have a chance to play in college.”

Bussey had plenty of aid along the way.

“I went to a lot of PBR showcases which helped get my name out there to coaches and get video out there,” Bussey noted. “There were a lot of coaches there at the Top Prospect Games and the Senior Games. That all helped. At first I was nervous with all the coaches watching, but once I settled in I felt comfortable and it really can help you.

“My parents, my sister and my family also helped by pushing me. There were two coaches that also were big. Ken Erdmann has been my coach my whole life. He’s the first person that told my mom I’d play college baseball and not basketball, which was my first love. Coach (Matt) Rosinski (with Release) is another who got me out there for exposure and helped with my recruiting.”

Still, the process was far from easy according to Bussey.

“Before I got my offer it was kind of stressful,” Bussey admitted. “I was thinking … ‘will I be able to play in college.’ But once my first offer came in all that stress went down. Once I committed any doubt in my mind went away.”

With an immediate future now determined, the 17-year-old is confident about being a major asset to the Oakland program.

“I will definitely bring someone with speed that can create things on the bases and track things down in the field,” Bussey said. “I’ll be a good teammate that will help us win as much as we can.”

Sports medicine and physical therapy are majors being considered by Bussey, who carries a 3.3 GPA at Twinsburg.

“I was sitting in class once I announced it and felt both relief and excitement,” Bussey said of making the commitment official. “Now it’s time to put in the work and get ready for college ball.”