June 5, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Keith DePew, an infielder from Hewitt-Trussville High School, has committed to play baseball at UAB as announced by UAB head coach Brian Shoop Thursday. DePew was both a baseball and football standout at Hewitt-Trussville.

"Keith is an outstanding athlete having excelled in both baseball and football at Hewitt-Trussville," Shoop said. "His athleticism and positive attitude are what drew us to him. Keith will be a great teammate and will bring a positive energy to the field that is contagious to all around him. We believe he will be able to play any infield position which also made him very attractive."

DePew hit .434 with 18 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI this past season. He was 20-for21 on stolen base attempts and had 20 walks, while striking out just eight times.

The Trussville native played as a defensive back on the football team and recorded 60 tackles and had six interceptions his senior season.

"Keith is another gifted student who we are confident will excel in the classroom," Shoop said. "He is exactly the type of young man we are trying to build this program around. Keith played for a former player of mine (Jason Estabrook) and he knows what we are looking for in a player and a person. Keith fits that bill on both accounts and we are thrilled to add him to our baseball family."