Previous Q&As:
For Q & A on Aaron Roberts, Click here.
For Q & A on Bryce Robison, Click here

PBR Nevada forges ahead in its series with some of the top prospects in the state discussing their college selections.  Today's feature includes Jesse Pierce (2019, SS) from Arbor View High School that found a home at the University of Arkansas. Pierce is one of a handful of players to sign with an institution in a Power 5 conference and the lone SEC signee in the state of Nevada.

PBR: Why did you choose Arkansas?  
Pierce: I chose Arkansas because I felt it was the best fit for me personally. As soon as I got out of my car on my visit the first thing I saw, in between the gates to Baum Stadium, was the whole coaching staff waiting to greet me, that said a lot to me about the program. I wanted to feel welcome and feel like I was a part of the family and they did that right away. I loved the facilities both for athletics and academics. They were above anything I’d ever seen before. Also, they are a very competitive program. Being in the SEC you play the best of the best every week and have a chance to compete for a National Championship every year. Arkansas felt like home to me from the second I arrived on campus until I left. I knew it was a place I wanted to be. 

PBR: What coach on staff was your primary recruiter and how it that relationship? 
Pierce: All the coaches were involved with the recruiting process but the one I developed a relationship with immediately is the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach, Coach Thompson. He was awesome to talk to on the phone and text before I met him and just gave off a good vibe that I could feed off of. We would talk about baseball and just life in general on and off the field. He wanted to help me in any way he could as well as all the other coaches did. Coach Thompson and I still have a very good relationship I call or text him whenever I’m in a slump and need some advice or if something doesn’t feel right I’ll send him some video and he’ll do whatever he can to help me. He wants the best for me and for me to succeed. 

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Pierce: I was considering a couple schools, for example my hometown school of UNLV. Utah, Pepperdine and UNR were some of schools on the list. I was in contact with more schools but nothing too serious. Once Arkansas came into the picture I pretty much zoned in on Arkansas and never looked back.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
Pierce: The Arkansas coaching staff contacted my coach and asked to see video of me because they were hearing things about me. So, I put together about a 3-minute video of at bats from tournaments, showcases and workouts that I had participated in over that summer. After they watched the video i was put in contact directly with the coaches and that started my journey with Arkansas 

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Pierce: I have two significant people in my life I would say helped me get to where I am today. One being my mom and the other being Coach Chase Brewster. My mom has been my rock, she has made everything I’ve accomplished possible. Whether it is paying for my equipment, tournaments or driving me all around so I can play. My mom is as hard on me as anyone I’ve ever met. She constantly pushes me to work hard and makes sure I never settle on being average and to always try to get to the next level. She’s instilled in me a competitive spirit and a desire to win and I can’t thank her enough for that. Coach Brewster has done so much for me I can’t even put it into words, to start he asked me to play in a tournament on a team that was absolutely loaded with a roster of 22 kids and 18 of them being Division 1 commits. At the time I was one of four uncommitted players on that team. He saw potential in me and gave me a shot to prove myself. He took me under his wing after that. He later invited me to one of the biggest tournaments of the year in Georgia. Which was my first time playing in front of multiple schools and people I never dreamed of playing in front of. He believed in me told me I had a chance to be special if I worked hard and did things right. I now have played for his team for the past two years and without him I would not be anywhere near where I am right now and words cannot express how grateful for that I am. 

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer/fall and what has that experience been like? 
Pierce: In the summer I play for Sticks Baseball Academy out of Arkansas. That team is coached by Chase Brewster. The team is loaded with talent and more importantly genuine kids. It’s pretty special when a group of 18 or so guys from all over the country can come together and bond within a day. I’ve created lifelong friendships and bonds with all my teammates who live all over the country. Playing for the Sticks is exciting because we play in the most prestigious events. We compete with any team in the country and that makes it fun. We’re just a group of guys playing for the same reason and trying to win baseball games. I couldn’t be more proud to wear “Sticks” across my chest. 

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have for you during your freshman year?
Pierce: Regarding my freshman year at Arkansas the coaches have told me to be ready to come to campus and compete right away. Compete in the weight room, the classroom and on the baseball field. During my freshman year I’m going to try to contribute to such a great team in any way I can. Whether it is in a big role or a small role I’m going to do my part. 

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Pierce: My most memorable baseball moment was hitting a homerun for my grandpa when he was fighting cancer. My grandpa and I had a really good relationship and he used to love to come watch me play baseball. After he was diagnosed with cancer, he couldn’t come watch me anymore because he was getting very ill very fast. I visited him in the hospital one day and he asked me about baseball and if I’d hit any homeruns lately and my answer was no, but I told him I would hit one for him in the next game. During my first at bat of my next game I hit a homerun and it was a feeling words couldn’t describe. After the game I went and got the ball and I signed and dated it and the next time I went to visit my grandpa I gave him the ball. The ball stayed in the hospital until he passed, now I have the ball in my room and every time I look at the ball it reminds me of him. That without a doubt is my most memorable baseball moment.

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher/hitter you have faced in Nevada?

Pierce: The toughest pitcher I’ve faced in Nevada is Dutch Landis. Dutch has a very good arsenal and doesn’t care who you are or what you did the at bat before he’s going to come right after you and try to get you out. He has 3+ pitches that he can get you out with. His fastball is his most electric pitch and also a good breaking ball to compliment the fastball. While facing him he’s hard to predict or pick up tendencies because he will throw all pitches at any time during the at bat.