University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Ink 10 Baseball Standouts For 2009 Season
November 27, 2007 | Baseball
Nov. 27, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball program has signed 10 of the nation's top high school student-athletes, including eight of the top 112 prospects, head coach Mike Fox announced Tuesday. This latest group of prep standouts will enroll at Carolina in the fall of 2008 and will take the diamond for the Tar Heels in 2009 in the newly-renovated Boshamer Stadium.
"I am very excited about our next class to enroll at the University of North Carolina," said Fox. "Our staff - Coach Holbrook, Coach Forbes and Coach McCay - has worked very hard to assemble what I hope and expect to be another quality group of young men to join our program. Our goal every year is to bring in players we feel can make an immediate impact, and we believe we have done just that. This class together not only meets our future needs but they also will be the first group of freshmen to play in our new stadium. We believe they are the types of players, students and people that can help us continue our success on and off the field."
Headlining the group is Wentzville, Mo., right-hander Tim Melville, the nation's No. 1 prep prospect according to Baseball America. By inking Melville, the Tar Heels have secured Baseball America's top prospect in each of the last two seasons. Current freshman Matt Harvey held the honor a year ago.
Joining Melville as top-40 prospects heading to Chapel Hill are Washington, D.C., outfielder L.J. Hoes, rated the nation's No. 8 outfielder by Perfect Game and the No. 35 overall prospect by Baseball America, and right-hander Quinton Miller, Perfect Game's No. 39 prospect out of Medford, N.J.
A teammate of Hoes and Melville on the 2007 U.S. Junior National Team, shortstop Garrison Lassiter out of West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, N.C., is the Tar Heels' top-rated in-state signee. He is regarded as the No. 2 prospect in North Carolina by Impact Baseball, as well as the 10th-best infielder and No. 53 overall prospect by Perfect Game.
Annandale, N.J., pitcher Jason Knapp and Jimmy Messer of South Caldwell High School in Hudson, N.C., give Carolina a quartet of highly-regarded right-handers. Knapp is rated as the nation's No. 73 overall prospect and No. 23 righty by Perfect Game, while Messer is ranked 102nd overall by Perfect Game and is rated the state's No. 4 prospect by Impact Baseball
In addition to the five top-100 signees, the Tar Heels also inked No. 101 overall prospect Derrik Gibson, a shortstop/outfielder from Seaford, Del., and No. 112 prospect Matt Harrison, a shortstop out of Henderson, Nev. Harrison is also ranked as the nation's No. 10 middle infielder by Perfect Game.
Also signing with Carolina was Nashville, Tenn., catcher Jacob Stallings, who is rated as the nation's No. 7 backstop by Perfect Game and the 154th overall prospect. He is the son of Vanderbilt basketball coach Kevin Stallings and is regarded as one of the nation's top defensive catchers.
Rounding out the class is Forest City, N.C., outfielder Seth Baldwin, who is the No. 12 prospect in the state according to Impact Baseball. Baldwin attends Forest City High School, which has produced current Tar Heels Chad Flack, Zeke Blanton and Ryan Leach.
NORTH CAROLINA BASEBALL FALL 2007 SIGNEES Name Hometown High School Pos. Ht./Wt. Seth Baldwin Forest City, N.C. East Rutherford OF 5-11/205 Derrik Gibson Seaford, Del. Seaford SS/OF 6-1/170 Matt Harrison Henderson, Nev. Green Valley SS 6-0/175 L.J. Hoes Washington, D.C. St. John OF 6-1/190 Jason Knapp Annadale, N.J. North Hunterdon RHP 6-5/235 Garrison Lassiter Clemmons, N.C. West Forsyth SS 6-2/187 Tim Melville Wentzville, Mo. Holt RHP/3B 6-5/205 Jimmy Messer Hudson, N.C. South Caldwell RHP 6-0/185 Quinton Miller Medford, N.J. Shawnee RHP 6-2/178 Jacob Stallings Nashville, Tenn. Brentwood C 6-4/175
Seth Baldwin, OF, East Rutherford High School, Forest City, N.C., 5-11/205
Ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball. Ranked as the 60th outfield prospect nationally by Perfect Game. High school teammate of current Tar Heels Zeke Blanton and Ryan Leach. Teamed with Leach and Blanton to lead East Rutherford to the state title. A left-handed hitter with tremendous power. Big, strong and athletic with a tremendous passion for being the best player he can be. Coach Fox on Baldwin: "Seth is a big, strong kid with tremendous power and bat speed. We also like his athleticism and we think he can be a good player for us. He is deceptively fast and his strengths offensively will fit in well at Boshamer Stadium. Plus, he comes from a winning high school program. We know first hand that we are getting a well-coached player."
Derrik Gibson, SS/OF, Seaford High School, Seaford, Del., 6-1/170
Ranked by Perfect Game as the 101st overall prospect (high school and college) for the 2008 draft. Has had an outstanding fall playing for the Baltimore Orioles Scout Team. A great athlete that possesses great speed and a great throwing arm. Has been clocked as fast as 6.4 in the 60 yard dash. Has also shown great promise as a hitter. Coach Fox on Gibson: "Derrik is a great athlete as well as a great person. He is athletically gifted and those skills give him the ability to change the game. He is also very versatile in the fact that he can play shortstop and center field. We think he has the ability to be a terrific player for us."
Matt Harrison, SS, Green Valley High School, Henderson, Nev., 6-0/175
Ranked as the No. 10 middle infielder in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 112 overall prospect. A tough gritty player that plays the game with great enthusiasm. Has tremendous defensive skills and handles the bat very well. Plays with the prestigious ABD amateur program out of Southern California. Coach Fox on Harrison: "Matt plays the game with great enthusiasm. He has terrific defensive skills and actions and a very strong throwing arm. He also swings the bat very well. He is a well-rounded and fundamentally sound player. He is our first signee from the state of Nevada and we couldn't be more excited about his future as a Tar Heel."
L.J. Hoes, OF, St. John High School, Washington D.C., 6-1/190
Ranked by Perfect Game as eighth best outfielder in the country and the 47th ranked player overall. Baseball America ranks him as the 35th ranked prospect nationally. Member of the USA Junior National Team and the Aflac All-America team. An athletic outfielder with good speed, power and a great throwing arm. He has great baseball instincts and has even shown the ability to pitch at a high level. Coach Fox on Hoes: "L.J. is a terrific player. He has great instincts and he truly loves the game. He runs well, throws well and has tremendous pop in his bat. He has been committed to our program for a long time and that excites us. He is going to have a bright future as a Tar Heel."
Jason Knapp, RHP, North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, N.J., 6-5/235
Ranked the No. 73 prospect in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 85 prospect in the country by Baseball America. Perfect Game also ranks Knapp No. 23 among right-handed pitchers. Possesses an electric arm with tons of upside. His fastball has reached 95 mph. Also has a good feel for his off-speed pitches. Coach Fox on Knapp: "Jason has a ton of potential. He is big kid with a strong and quick arm. His fastball is terrific and he has a good feel for his off speed pitches. He is also very young (16 years old) and we think he has a tremendous upside."
Garrison Lassiter, SS, West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, N.C., 6-2, 187
Ranked by Perfect Game as the tenth best infielder in the country and the No. 53 ranked player overall. Ranked the No. 2 prospect in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball. Member of the USA Junior National Team and the Aflac All-America Team. A smooth fielding left-handed hitting middle infielder that has great instincts. Coach Fox on Lassiter: "Garrison is a very talented shortstop. He has the ability to be a special player. He is equally impressive offensively and defensively. He handles the bat well and possesses good power for a middle infielder. We also love his demeanor, makeup and his commitment to the game."
Tim Melville, RHP/3B, Holt High School, Wentzville, Mo., 6-5/205
aseball America's No. 1 high school prospect and Perfect Game's No. 2 ranked prospect. Also the winner of the prestigious Jackie Robinson Award given to the National Player of the Year at the Aflac All-America Game. A potential first-round draft pick in June. Regarded by many as the top high school player in the country. Coach Fox on Melville: "Tim is a very talented player. He is very versatile and athletic. We think he will be an outstanding hitter and pitcher. Outside of his talent we love his toughness, his love of the game and his passion about being a Tar Heel. He certainly could have gone anywhere he wanted and we are thrilled to have him."
Jimmy Messer, RHP, South Caldwell High School, Hudson, N.C., 6-0/185
Ranked by Perfect Game as the 102nd prospect nationally and the No. 35 right-handed pitcher. Ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball. USA Junior National Team invitee. Teamed with first-round draft pick and 2006 Tar Heel signee Madison Bumgardner to help South Caldwell to the 2007 state title. Coach Fox on Messer: "Jimmy is a tough kid. We love his bulldog mentality. He also has great pitching skills and an outstanding breaking ball. We certainly believe Jimmy has all the characteristics to really enhance our pitching staff. He will be a great addition to our team."
Quinton Miller, RHP, Shawnee High School, Medford N.J., 6-2/178
Ranked the No. 39 prospect in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 79 prospect by Baseball America. A very polished right-hander with outstanding velocity and command. Possesses three above average pitches. Also named to the prestigious Aflac All-America team. Coach Fox on Miller: "Quinton has a very quick arm and a great feel for pitching. He throws strikes with all his pitches and he has great mound presence. He is also a great competitor. We love the way he handles himself and we just love his demeanor. He has been passionate about joining our program and we think he is a terrific addition to our team."
Jacob Stallings, C, Brentwood Academy, Nashville, Tenn., 6-4/175
Ranked the No. 7 catching prospect in the country by Perfect Game and the No. 154 prospect overall. Also ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 78 high school prospect for the 2008 amateur draft. Possesses great catch and throw skills with an uncanny knack of shutting down the opponents running game. Also has a tremendous upside offensively. Coach Fox on Stallings: "Jacob is exactly what we want in a catcher. He can really catch and throw and he also handles the bat very well. He has a great feel on how to handle pitchers and he is a great leader. He is the son of a coach, and we really like his make-up and his will to be the best player he can be. Obviously we are thrilled Jacob has decided to join the Tar Heel family."
