Garrett Atkins

Atkins attended University High School in Irvine, California. As a senior, he was named the Irvine World News All-City MVP, after posting a .557 batting average, along with a school single-season record 13 home runs.\n', '

After being drafted by the New York Mets in 1997 out of high school, Atkins elected to attend college. He was recruited by Pepperdine, USC, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA, choosing the Bruins. At UCLA, Atkins majored in sociology and became the first three-time All-American. He began as a first baseman before converting to third base, where he made 51 starts in 1998. However, in 1999, his sophomore campaign, Atkins played first base again and led the team in hits. He was a teammate and roommate of Philadelphia Phillies\' second baseman Chase Utley, and along with him, was one of only two Bruins to start every game. Atkins was drafted in 2000 by the Colo…