Mustang Gray Eubanks Signs With Southern Miss Baseball

HUNTINGDON (December 4) — A large contingent of family, teammates, coaches, classmates and supporters gathered in the Huntingdon High School library to see two-sport standout Gray Eubanks sign with Southern Miss Baseball.

The senior has played mostly shortstop for the Mustangs, but has played other positions at times, including pitching. He expects to play infield or outfield at Southern Miss.

Eubanks’ three-year statistics speak for themselves and point to a talented player who has also put in the work to develop and reach his full potential.

During his freshman season in 2022, his batting average was .250 over 40 at-bats with ten hits (all singles), nine RBIs, eight runs scored, one walk and five strikeouts. His slugging percentage was a low .215 with an on-base percentage of .315.

As a sophomore, with 73 at-bats, his average nearly doubled to .411, as did his on-base percentage to .515. His slugging percentage more than tripled to .658. His 30 hits included eight doubles, two triples and two home runs. He drove in 23 runs, scored 20, drew sixteen walks and struck out 13 times.

Having greatly improved in most metrics in one year, in the next, he added to those gains and made huge leaps in two additional areas.

As a junior, he more than doubled his walks drawn to 33 and slashed his strikeouts in half to just six. With 88 at-bats, Eubanks raised his average to .545, on-base to .664 and slugging to .977. He had 48 hits with eleven doubles and nine home runs. He drove in 42 runs and scored 42.

Principal Porche McClerking expressed the school’s pride in Eubanks, who he described as “one of the hardest workers I know.” He said, “He out-worked everybody. He’s going to make his family and his community super proud.”

Gray’s father and HHS head baseball coach Alan Eubanks spoke about the senior, first as a coach, then as a father.

“It’s a memorable day for him, but for me it’s also a special day for Huntingdon High School. We expect you to go down there and represent Huntingdon well.”

As a dad, he expressed his pride on behalf of himself and Gray’s mother, Kelly. He added, “As proud as we are of him, we’re equally thankful for everybody that’s here. Today is more than signing a piece of paper. It’s a culmination of a lot of years of hard work, for sure on his part, but also from those around him. We want our boys to understand that when you accomplish individual things, you’ve got to have a support system around you. Yes, Gray’s name will be on the piece of paper, but we understand that it’s all of you signing as well. Because all of you played a major role in impacting him to help him get to this point, whether you realize it or not.”

He thanked a great many groups and individuals. He especially noted the contributions of the late Jimmy Cary, for “treating him like he was his own and teaching him to be a good hitter.”

Gray told The Banner he chose Southern Miss “for the town, the culture, it’s a baseball school, and I love the coaches too.”

Eubanks will major in Business.

The University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Golden Eagles compete in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference.