Curt Powell, Farragut High School junior shortstop and PrepXtra Player of the Year. He hit .493 with eight homers and 56 RBIs this season, helping the Admirals to the Class AAA state title.

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For Farragut High School shortstop Curt Powell, the cast comes off Thursday. But he did some cutting of his own this week.

He pared down his college choices Monday to one - Vanderbilt.

The senior committed to head coach Tim Corbin, who's had consecutive 40-win seasons and who had eight players selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee sought his services, but Powell picked Vanderbilt over his other finalist Kentucky.

Powell said the Vanderbilt education was the difference-maker.

"That's a good place to go to school," said Farragut coach Tommy Pharr. "Their baseball program, since Corbin has been there, has been one of the top programs in the country. You'd be hard-pressed to find an academic and baseball experience much better than that."

Powell was the 2008 PrepXtra Player of the Year after hitting .493 as a junior with eight home runs and 56 RBIs. He also belted nine doubles and five triples in leading Farragut (43-3) to the Class AAA title.

And get this: he did it with a bum hand.

"He had a great year, and he's a very talented kid," said Pharr. "The fact that he was hurt makes it all the more impressive. I hope he's good and healthy for this year."

Powell had surgery July 18 to mend a broken bone in his hand, to remove a cyst that was blocking blood circulation and to perform a bone graft that transferred bone from his hip to his hand. Powell said the rehabilitation will take a month to two months.

Powell is the third Admiral to commit since the start of the school year. Pitcher Jordan Cooper committed to Ole Miss and third baseman Cade Stallings committed to Louisville. First baseman/pitcher Mac Thoreson is a Division I prospect, as well.

"Since we were little, most of us have played together," said Powell. "We played against each other when we were little and with each other. And now, it looks like we're all going to be playing against each other in college. So, it's a pretty neat experience."

Powell said Vanderbilt will try him as a middle infielder.

"They'd like to keep me at short," Powell said. "But it all depends on how my body projects."