Three names have been the centerpiece of South Carolina baseball for three years. They’ve put up ridiculous numbers. They’ve represented their school the way student-athletes are expected to. They’ve been called the “Big 3.”

And at some point this afternoon, their names will be called in the Major League Baseball draft.

Justin Smoak, Reese Havens and James Darnell have been synonymous with USC coach Ray Tanner’s program.

Now, all three will likely go in the first 50 picks of a 50-round draft.

Smoak and Havens were Charleston-area products that were performing on big stages long before they played at Sarge Frye Field.

Darnell traveled cross-country from the talent-rich state of California to be a Gamecock.

Sunday night, it all appeared over. Two of them, Smoak and Havens, sat in their USC uniforms for the final time, trying to digest the end of their junior year and answer questions about the future.

When asked about leaving for the majors, Smoak said, “You really never know what’s going to happen until it happens.”

Although he wasn’t ready to say goodbye, there’s no way a projected top-10 pick in the draft is returning. Given the circumstances, though, it was clear Smoak wasn’t ready to take off the hat with “SC” embroidered on the front.

And while he may be wearing a Baltimore, Washington or San Francisco jersey in the future, his assault on the USC and SEC record books won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The numbers-producing switch hitter pummeled the school’s all-time mark for home runs with 62. It’s a far cry from Hank Small’s 48.

Smoak also finishes with more homers than the great Will Clark on the SEC’s all-time list and hit a career-high 23 in 2008. Tanner says he has Gold Glove potential as a future big-league first baseman.

Havens has a history of inciting the crowd with his play at shortstop. Whether it was a booted ball or a terrific throw to first, it was an adventure. Havens didn’t always hit well, but two summers in the Cape Cod league and a change in his swing made him a star this year in the SEC.

Darnell began the year with nearly as much hype as Smoak, and despite tailing off some near the end, he finished first on the team in RBI (81) and tied for second in home runs (19).

But, as great as these numbers are, they were never able to tally the one that matters most: national championships. Winning it all is tough, but this group never even reached the hallowed grounds of Omaha.

“For them, I was hoping they would have a chance to go to the College World Series during their three years,” Tanner said about the group leaving. “But, it doesn’t always happen like you want it to.”

Now, as the Gamecocks look ahead to next year’s squad, Tanner knows he’s losing more than just stars and stats.

“These guys have been tremendous young men,” Tanner said. “I’ve never had an issue with them. Guys like this will keep you in coaching a long time.”

And that’s how long their collegiate careers should be remembered.