As baseball goes, Brookhaven native Corey Dickerson is makingplans just in case things don’t go his way. The talented,power-swinging NJCAA All-American has committed to MississippiState despite flirting with the possibility of signing a procontract with the Colorado Rockies who drafted him in June.

Dickerson, who hit 18 home runs as a freshmen leadoff batter atMeridian Community College last season, was drafted by the Rockiesin the 29th round. The Rockies have until August 17 to reach anagreement with him on a contract.

He was named an All-American last month by the NJCAA.

“Right now I’m just waiting and seeing how things play out,”said Dickerson, a 6-2, 205-pound centerfielder. “A week before Igot drafted I visited State. I like the coaches and the facilitiesthere. The commitment to State is just something to have in case Idon’t sign with a pro team.”

Despite being drafted, Dickerson, a Brookhaven Academy product,has had a busy offseason. He won the first annual South MississippiHome Run Derby two weeks ago at Franklin County High by belting 20home runs. Parklane rising senior Josh Armstreet finished secondwith four homers, while Co-Lin signee Zach Williams of West Lincolnwas a distant third with two dingers.

Dickerson is currently playing for the Louisiana Rockies out ofShreveport, La., in the NBC (National Baseball Congress) WorldSeries in Wichita, Kansas. The Louisiana Rockies is a summer leaguetraveling squad made up of MLB draft prospects ranging from theages of 18-21.

“I’m having fun up here,” said Dickerson. “I just love playingbaseball. Anywhere I go that’s all I want to do.”

Several Division 1 schools have showed a keen interest inDickerson such as LSU, Texas, USM, and Alabama. If Dickerson electsnot to sign with the Colorado Rockies by the deadline, he can signwith MSU in November and have the option to either play hissophomore season at Meridian Community College or report toMississippi State in January.

At Brookhaven Academy, Dickerson set records as a hitter innumerous categories. During his first year in junior collegebaseball, he also set records at Meridian C.C. for becoming thesecond player in MCC history to hit for the cycle in a game andfourth player in MCC history to hit 3 home runs in a game.