Daz Cameron of Eagles Landing Christian (McDonough, Ga.) is a five-tool player who hit .438 this year for the 20-5 Chargers. Photo: Photo: Jeff Hurndon
Daz Cameron made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and has bolstered his case for the postseason team, leading Eagles Landing Christian (McDonough, Ga.) to a 20-5 record. He hit .438 with eight homers, 32 RBI, 37 runs and 19 steals. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.
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Name and school: Daz Cameron, Eagles Landing Christian, McDonough, Ga.
Height, weight: 6-1, 186
Bats/throws: Right/right
Baseball future: The senior center fielder has signed with Florida State but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.
Daz Cameron has an all-around game that would make him a natural in several sports. He could be a wide receiver or defensive back in football. In basketball, he can dunk with either hand. But not surprisingly, because his father was former Major League outfielder and one-time All-Star Mike Cameron, he’s focused on baseball.
“I have been around (baseball) since I was out of the womb,” Cameron said. “I just loved the atmosphere of coming to the ballpark when I was young. I just got used to being around it. Now, when I’m home, I’m watching baseball, looking for the little things that could make you a better player. I could have played football or basketball, but I wanted to work on one sport.”
What’s making scouts drool is there is no glaring weakness in Cameron’s game. His glove and speed are good enough that he’s will likely stay in center field in college or the pros.
Cameron hit leadoff for the Chargers and even on those rare occasions when he didn’t hit, he usually managed to reach base and somehow score a run, scoring in all but five games this season.
“I tried to do whatever I could do to help my team,” Cameron said. “I felt like if I didn’t get a hit, I would get on base somehow. If I’m not hitting, I’m trying to play hard and make plays in the field.”
In a 6-4 defeat of Hebron Christian Academy (Dacula) in March, Cameron made his most memorable catch of the season.
“I was playing a little bit shallow and the ball was hit over my head,” he said. “I went straight back, put my head down, then looked left and right and made the catch and hit the wall hard after that. I was worried that I hit my head, but I was excited because I love making good catches.”
“I’ve seen a couple of catches he’s made that have been tremendous,” Eagles Landing coach Doug Campbell said. “He glides when he runs but he gets a great jump on the first step. He doesn’t look like he’s putting that much effort, but he’s moving and is very smooth.”
Though Cameron stole 19 bases, that’s one area where Campbell could see some room for improvement.
“I think his strengths are his natural ability,” Campbell said. “His speed and his arm and his ability to hit just come natural to him. His batting is his strongest point as far as his being a good contact hitter. He doesn’t strike out much at all. If he has something to work on, it is his instincts on the bases. He’s as quick as anybody, but that extra instinct that makes you a dangerous runner.”
Cameron agrees with Campbell.
“I feel like I need to learn to run the bases a lot more and knowing situations better,” Cameron said. “My dad is working with me a lot with that. I never got the chance to focus on that part of the game.”
Cameron has had the attention of scouts since he was 14 and went down to play summer baseball at a tournament in Jupiter, Fla.
“That was what got me on the map a little bit,” Cameron said. “That’s when I started seeing good pitching. Obviously, baseball is hard and gets harder at every level. I just have to get acclimated. I feel like I am confident enough to compete and stay within my game.”