Several factors worked in Clemson’s favor in the recruitment of Matthew Cooper, the second prospect to commit to Monte Lee.

“First of all, the ACC is a conference that I wanted to play in. The education at Clemson is just outstanding and that’s something that was really important to me and my parents, so that came first in choosing Clemson,” Cooper said, during an interview with TheClemsonInsider.

The 6-3, 210-pound rising junior from Norfolk Academy-Virginia Beach is impressed with facilities in Tigertown, both current and future.

“It’s incredible what they’re doing with the field, all the new additions down firstbase side with the new player development center,” he said.

Cooper is also a “big” Clemson football fan, so that was a factor. As were his future coaches.

“And the coaching staff is pretty cool, coach Lee and coach (Bradley) LeCroy,” Cooper said.

Contact with Clemson began, just before the end of Jack Leggett’s tenure.

“I had been in touch with coach LeCroy and I had been making phone calls with them every now and then I scheduled a visit,” Cooper said. “Right before I was able to schedule that visit, coach LeCroy saw me down at Perfect Game Junior Nationals. After that, things really started to go up. They wanted to get me down there as soon as they could.”

Lee and LeCroy see Cooper playing corner infield or corner outfield position.

Virginia Tech, ECU and West Virginia also offered.

“Once Clemson offered, I knew that was the place I wanted to be,” Cooper said. “Going down there on that visit, it felt right. That’s when I kind of knew that the rest weren’t as good as Clemson was.”

As a sophomore, Cooper hit .415 with three homers, 25 RBI and seven stolen bases.