East Laurens’ O’Neal signs to play baseball at Southern Union State CC

When you’ve got tools as a high school baseball prospect, there will always be a place to put them to work at the next level. 

For East Laurens outfielder Konner O’Neal, that shot to prove himself playing college ball will come next year at Alabama’s Southern Union State Community College. 

The Falcon senior, who’s shown some worthy and projectable hitting, defensive and baserunning talent in four years as a starter, signed with the Bison on Feb. 11. 

“It’s great,” O’Neal said. “I always dreamed of it as a kid. I always told my mom and them that I was going to play ball at the next level.”  

His 2026 season is already off to a solid start. Through seven games as of last week, O’Neal’s seven hits and three RBIs were good for a .368 batting average, in the continuation of some career-long production that’s helped carry the East Laurens lineup since he broke in as a freshman. 

Numbers in the books since his sophomore season in 2024 have his all-time average at .456, with 10 home runs and 44 men driven in, plus 21 stolen bases. 

Though O’Neal’s ability has made him a leader for the Falcons on the field since the moment he first stepped on, his experience has more recently turned him into a “vocal” one who’s respected around the clubhouse. 

“He’s always led by example. You couldn’t have asked for any harder worker as a player,” Falcons head coach Vic Thigpen said. “He’s been working for three years now. Everything he’s got, he deserves.” 

Southern Union State’s athletic complex is housed on its main campus in Wadley, Alabama, though the school also has satellite locations in both Opelika and Valley – none of the three more than a half-hour drive over the Georgia line from LaGrange. 

O’Neal first got connected with the school via social media during his process of sending off highlights, and Bison head coach Tucker Willard was one who replied with interest. 

He hopes to springboard the opportunity into a chance to play a higher level of ball down the road. 

“I’m looking forward to just getting out there and competing, and taking it on higher,” O’Neal said, “doing my two years there and continue on.” 

What he’s shown throughout high school, if he continues to develop it, should be highly recruitable. 

And Thigpen believes it’s not just demonstrated ability to hit the ball hard, and far, but some equally attractive speed, arm strength and physical upside that have the opportunity to open some more doors in the future. 

“He’s got the speed and the size,” he said. “His best days are ahead of him.”