Vanderbilt Commodores pitcher Donny Everett, 19, dies of drowning
Vanderbilt freshman pitcher Donny Everett died Thursday night in a drowning accident, a spokesman at the Coffee County Sheriff's Department confirmed Friday. He was 19.
According to the Coffee County (Tennessee) Sheriff's Department, dispatchers sent a deputy and an ambulance to Normandy Lake just before 5 p.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a "subject that had gone underwater."
Coach Tim Corbin told players and coaches of Everett's death on Thursday night, according to The Tennessean.
"We learned last night of the tragic death of Donny Everett, an outstanding young man who exemplified the best of our university," Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams said Friday. "As you can imagine, the team, the athletic department and the university are trying to come to terms with this tragedy. His parents and loved ones are on our minds and in our prayers as we share in their grief."
The Commodores are scheduled to play in an NCAA Regional game against Xavier on Friday night. The NCAA said Vanderbilt is having a meeting at 11 a.m. ET to determine if they will play.
Sheriff's department spokesman Edward Knott said Everett had come to the lake to fish with two teammates and two other people, and all four said Everett was attempting to swim from the west side to the east side of Fire Lake Bridge.
The sheriff's report said Everett made it halfway when he began asking for help, but all four people said they thought Everett was "just joking around" because he did not seem to be in distress.
"One person did enter the water and pulled Everett several feet but stated that he is not a good swimmer and was struggling to stay afloat," the report said. "He stated that Everett did not seem to be struggling. The friend stated that he let go of Everett and swam back to shore still thinking Everett was 'joking.' He stated that when he looked back, Everett had gone under and did not re-surface."
Coffee County Rescue Squad divers found Everett's body 15 feet from the shore at 6:49 p.m., the report said.
Everett, who was a standout at Clarksville (Tennessee) High School, was considered to be a potential mid-first-round pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft -- Baseball America had ranked Everett 21st among prospects -- but remained steadfast in honoring his commitment to Vanderbilt.
The Milwaukee Brewers, however, still took a chance, selecting the right-hander in the 29th round.
Everett finished his freshman season at Vandy with an 0-1 record and a 1.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings, and he pitched one shutout inning in the SEC tournament on May 24.
Vanderbilt won the College World Series in 2014 and was the runner-up in 2015.
At Clarksville High, where he was named the 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year in Tennessee, Everett threw a fastball that could hit 99 mph. ESPN Scouts Inc.said Everett had "the most pure arm strength of any high school arm in the class" and called him "the rare innings-eater who misses bats" and that "there's a strong possibility he becomes a reliever."
