Neil Giesler Class: Senior Hometown: Jasper, Ind. High School: Okaloosa Walton CC Height / Weight: 6-5 / 210 Position: INF Birthdate: 11/06/1983 Bats/Throws: L-R

OUTLOOK - Slow start in 2005 but did hit .300 in the SEC season ... Has won the starting job at third base and is the type of player who can be an All-SEC performer.

2005 - Coming off a strong second half to the 2005 season in which he held the team's longest hitting streak of the year in 14 games ... Named to both the 2005 NCAA Atlanta Regional All-Tournament team and the 2005 SEC All-Tournament team ... Batted .254 (35-138) with six home runs, five doubles, one triple and 24 RBI ... Five of his six home runs came in the final third of the season in which he hit .294 ... Collected a career-high four hits as well as two runs scored and two doubles in 12-2 win over Tennessee at SEC Tournament (5/2805) ... Hit pinch hit grand slam to help USC come back from four-run eighth inning deficit in 12-9 win over Kentucky (5/21/05) ... Hit solo HR and collected two hits in 8-7 win over Auburn (5/1/05) ... Hit first homer as a Gamecock in 8-3 win over Niagara (2/25/05) ... Above 3.0 GPA in fall of 2004 ... Named to 2005 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll.

JUNIOR COLLEGE - Batted .417, six homers, 43 RBI as a freshman and .432-8-32 as a sophomore at Okaloosa-Walton Community College under Coach Ken Griffin ... Twice drafted by the Chicago White Sox, 29th round in 2002 and 37th round in 2003 ... Two-time NJCAA All-District and two-time FCCAA All-State selection ... His .432 batting average his sophomore season was a single-season record at Okaloosa-Walton.

HIGH SCHOOL - Played four years at Jasper High School under Coach Terry Gobert with .400 average, six home runs ... Also played basketball and tennis.

PERSONAL - Born Neil Martin Giesler 11/6/83 ... Parents are Stan and Nancy Giesler... Father attended Murray State University where he played baseball ... Mother attended Indiana State University ... Has an older sister, Erin, who played tennis at the University of Indianapolis ... Chose Carolina because of Coach Tanner and baseball tradition ... Favorite food is steak ... Favorite actress is Jennifer Aniston ... Favorite actor is Edward Norton ... Pronounces name (GEESE-ler).