2009: Played in 14 games, drawing the start in two as he backed up senior catchers Brett Basham and Kyle Henson ... Hit .476 with a double, two RBI and five runs scored ... Tallied a .500 on base percentage and a .524 slugging percentage ... His two starts came against Austin Peay and Jackson State ... Went 1-for-3 with a run scored against Austin Peay (3/11) ... Went 1-for-2 with a run scored against Jackson State (3/31) ... Turned in one of his best offensive performances against No. 16 TCU (2/28) as he went 2-for-2 with a run sored and a double ... Posted multiple-hit games against No. 16 TCU and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4/29) ... Saw his last action of the season at No. 16 Arkansas (5/16) to help the Rebels to the sweep ...

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letter winner under Stuart Chester at Cartersville High School ... Three-time All-State selection ... Named 2007 AFLAC All-American, Rawlings Second Team All-America selection and a Baseball America Third Team All-America selection ... Selected to the 2008 Perfect Game National and the East Coast Pro Showcase Tournament of Stars ... Helped lead Cartersville to the 2008 Class 3A State Championship ... Helped lead Cartersville to four-straight Regional Championships (2005, 06, 07, 08) ... Named 2008 Bartow County Player of the Year ... Hit .420 with 10 home runs and 38 RBI his senior season ... Also picked off 10 runners ...

MISCELLANEOUS: Son of Earl and Lydia Hightower ... Born: September 8, 1989 ... Honor graduate from high school and posted the highest GPA on the varsity baseball squad in 2005 and 2006 ... Has a brother, Matt, and two sisters Sarah and Anna ... Older brother, Matt, played baseball for Western Kentucky and is now a graduate assistant with the Hilltoppers.