Diamond Dogs Ink Dual Position Standout Justin Bussey
STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Mississippi State University has signed middle infielder/pitcher Justin Bussey of Dora, Ala., to a national letter of intent in baseball, MSU head baseball coach John Cohen announced Friday.
Bussey is a 5-11, 163-pound baseball standout from Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he helped lead coach Bobby Sprowl’s Buccaneers to a 49-19 record and a fifth-place finish in the 2008 NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
“In Justin Bussey we have found a talented young man that can fill needs created by the loss of drafted players Aaron Weatherford and Brandon Turner,” said Cohen. “He is a very athletic young man who can finish a game on the mound and defend the infield, and he will be a welcomed addition to our ball club.”
The MSU signee capped a two-year career at SSCC in 2008 by compiling a .300 batting average with 66 hits, 28 RBI, four home runs and 32 stolen bases in 35 attempts. On the hill, Bussey posted a 3-1 mark with two saves and a sterling 1.26 earned run average while striking out 33 in 28 innings pitched. He earned first-team All-Region and All-Conference honors and was named to the all-tournament team of the ACCC Tournament.
Bussey was a three-sport standout at Dora High School, where as a senior he set the school single-season record with 66 hits and helped lead coach Johnny Wright’s DHS Bulldogs to the Class 4A state quarterfinals. He concluded the year with a .413 batting average, 33 RBI and 28 stolen bases and compiled an 11-6 pitching record with a 1.89 ERA. For his exploits Bussey earned Class 4A All-State and All-Metro Birmingham honors and was tabbed the Daily Mountain Eagle 2006 Player of the Year.
Bussey is the son of Jimmy and Julie Bussey of Dora, Ala.