Burwell attended Coach Shep Jr.’s camp as an eighth grader and was immediately convinced that he wanted to play for the man who is now in his 40th year as a high school head coach, including 39 at The Prep.

“I went to his camp to see what Seton Hall Prep was all about and I loved it,” continued the Pirates’ 4-year starting first baseman. “After meeting Coach Shep I knew that I had found someone I wanted to play for.

“He pushes me hard - nothing is given - and it’s all about hard work and dedication to the team and the school which was what I was always looking for in whatever high school I would attend.”

A wide smile came across the face of Coach Shep when he was asked about the impact of his senior slugger.

"Jordan has worked extremely hard to become the player he is now and he has a very bright future ahead at the college level," said the legendary Pirates head mentor. "He provides a grat example on and off the field for our younger players and has been a great representative of Seton Hall Prep!"

Burwell and senior teammate JJ Drennan, the Pirates’ standout pitcher and second baseman who is set to play next year for Boston College, are a rarity in the SHP baseball program in that both are 4-year starters for the Pirates.

Even former major league pitcher Rick Porcello, who pitched a perfect game for SHP in the 2007 Greater Newark Tournament final, did not start as a freshman for the Pirates.

And, while there are two freshmen - in second baseman Noah Vargas and pitcher Ryan Depp - on this season;s SHP squad, over the years it has not been a common occurrence in the very tradition-rich Pirates baseball program.

“It’s been great to play alongside JJ the past four years, and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to wear the Seton Hall Prep uniform and play for a school and coach who are such a big part of New Jersey high school baseball history.

“Coach Shep reaching 900 wins this season is just an incredible accomplishment, and my goal now is to help bring home a state championship in my senior year for our great coaches and this terrific baseball program.

“I love The Prep and I have met classmates and teammates who will be friends for a lifetime. There is a great bond at our school and it’s been a tremendous high school experience that I am so happy I decided to be a part of.”

NOTES- The Pirate senior first baseman’s dad, Harold Burwell, works in the finance department for the National Basketball Association at their offices in Secaucus. Jordan’s mom, Liz, works as a secretary at a middle school in Pompton Lakes. Younger sister Madison is a freshman first baseman on the Pompton Lakes softball team and brother Nate is a junior at Passaic Tech in Wayne…Burwell continues to work on his hitting in the off season at locations including Hustle Baseball Academy in Fairfield and he also looks to perfect his swing with hitting coach Nick Camilieri, who has worked with several MLB players.  

JORDAN BURWELL EARLY SEASON HITTING HIGHLIGHTS
4/6 at Columbia - 2-3, 3 runs scored, 5-RBI, 2-run double, 3-run HR off of the house over right field fence. W-11-2
4/9 home - Columbia - 3-3, 1 run scored, 1 rbi - W-7-1
4/9 at Delbarton's Brian Fleury Field - Poly Prep 0-3 faced their #1 pitcher who threw over 95 mph at the Mid Atlantic Baseball Challenge - L-2-1
4/10 at Fleury Field - Don Bosco Prep - 3-4, 3-runs scored, 2-RBI including a solo HR over the centerfield fence - 380 feet, W-11-4
4/11 at Fleury Field - Ione Prep - 2-3, 3 runs scored 3 RBI. Trailing 8-2 in the 5th inning Burwell blasted a 3-run homer over the right field fence that hit a tree top to make the score 8-5. L-8-7
4/13 - at Millburn HS - 2-2, 3 runs scored 3RBI, 2 doubles. W-14-2, Shep's 900th career victory
4/15 home – Millburn - 2-4, 1 run scored. W-5-0
4/17 – home - Morris Knolls - 2-2, 2 runs scored 5-RBI, 3-run homer and 2-run homer, both to rightfield - W-9-7
4/18 – home - Old Bridge -2-3. With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 7th. Burwell's singled to left field to put Xavier McKnight who had walked on second to open the inning. After Devin Aiken was hit by a pitch to load the bases, McKnight scored winning run on a wild pitch on the second pitch to Joey Maiella.                            

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