The nation’s No. 1 softball prospect in the 2027 class, Aspen Boulware, is getting an early start on her Gamecock journey — officially reclassifying to join South Carolina softball in 2026.
The five-star shortstop from Gray Collegiate Academy announced Saturday night that she’ll enroll a year ahead of schedule, making her part of the Gamecocks’ 2026 class and joining the team next summer.
Ranked as the No. 1 overall player, No. 1 middle infielder, and top prospect in South Carolina by Softball America/On3, Boulware hasn’t yet been re-ranked since her reclassification. But her résumé already speaks for itself.
The local phenom chose to stay home, picking South Carolina over powerhouse programs including Oklahoma, Florida State, Georgia, Florida, and Texas Tech — along with interest from virtually every top school in the nation.
“First of all, the coaches, I really enjoy them. They’re very sweet,” Boulware told GamecockCentral when explaining her decision. “And just like staying home. Whenever I was in Oklahoma for an event for like two weeks … I was there by myself for about five days and I was like, ‘Dang, I really miss them.’ So just being able to find a school that I really enjoy and that is close to home is definitely what made me really consider the school.”
Growing up in the Midlands, Boulware has always been close to the Gamecock program and followed last year’s dramatic postseason run that ended just one out short of the Women’s College World Series.
She also credited her camp experience this summer at South Carolina for solidifying her connection with the program.
“There’s a lot of girls there that I knew,” Boulware said. “There was a girl from Lexington, Karley (Shelton), and then Precious Bross… she played at Irmo. So being able to talk with those girls at camp was really nice. I could ask them questions, and it just felt very homey. Their saying is ‘Welcome Home,’ and that really came through at camp. I really enjoyed it — they let me be myself, and the team was really nice.”
Athletic excellence runs deep in Boulware’s family. Her mother, Jessica van der Linden, was an All-American and one of the most decorated players in Florida State softball history. Her father, Michael Boulware, and uncle, Peter Boulware, were both standouts at Spring Valley High School, Florida State, and later the NFL.
Now, Aspen is blazing her own trail as the top softball recruit in America and a proud South Carolina commit.
Named the 2024-25 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, Boulware delivered a dominant sophomore season, leading Gray Collegiate to a state championship under coach Doug Frye.
She posted eye-popping stats — a .573 batting average, 22 home runs, 67 runs, 44 RBI, 9 doubles, 8 triples, 34 walks, and 26 stolen bases — with a .696 on-base percentage and a staggering 2.379 OPS.
Her dominance also extended to the international stage. At the WBSC U-18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals, Boulware earned All-World honors, hitting .588 in six games with two home runs and a 1.926 OPS while showcasing her versatility in center field.
Now, the future face of South Carolina softball is coming home — a year early.
