University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Baseball Signs 16 For 2012 Season
December 7, 2010 | Baseball
Dec. 7, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball program continued its strong showing on the recruiting trail by signing 16 of the nation's top prep baseball student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, head coach Mike Fox announced this week. Included in this class are three of the nation's top 100 prospects and six of the top 20 players in the state of North Carolina, according to various rankings.
The 16 student-athletes will enroll at UNC in August 2011 and will take the field for the Tar Heels in the 2012 season.
"We are excited about this next group of young men to join our program," head coach Mike Fox said. "Coach Forbes and Coach Jackson deserve all the credit for bringing this class together. They both work extremely hard at recruiting and it shows in the type of students and players we were able to attract to UNC from the 2011 class."
"We feel as though we have met many of our future needs with this group and look forward to working with these student-athletes next fall," Fox added. On the national level, Carolina has signed three of the nation's top 100 players according to Perfect Game USA: No. 57 Bryan Brickhouse (Right-hander, The Woodlands, Texas), No. 68 Benton Moss (Right-hander, Enfield, N.C.) and No. 98 Adam Griffin (Right-hander, Outfielder, Clemmons, N.C.)
UNC also landed a pair of Baseball America's top 100 high school prospects - Brickhouse (No. 32) and Moss (No. 85).
The Tar Heels also continued their success in the Old North State by inking three of the state's top 10 players and six of the top 15 in the early period, according to various rankings. Adam Griffin is listed as the top player in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball, while Moss (No. 2) and George Carter (No. 6, First Base, Left-Hander, Summerfield, N.C.) also rank among the top 10 in the state. In addition to Moss (No. 3) and Griffin (No. 5), Mason McCullough (Right-hander, Shelby, N.C.) checks in at No. 6 in the state by Perfect Game.
According to Perfect Game, other top-15 North Carolina prospects signing with the Tar Heels include: No. 11 Chris McCue (Right-hander, Charlotte, N.C.), Carter (No. 12) and No. 13 Grayson Atwood (Third Base, First Base, Outfield, Mt. Pleasant, N.C.).
Outside North Carolina, the Tar Heels signed five players from four different states, including top-10 players in Texas (Brickhouse), New Jersey (Josh Ake - Infielder, Flemington, N.J.) and Pennsylvania (Zac LeNeve - Middle Infielder, Gibsonia, Pa.).
| Name |
Hometown (High School) |
Position |
Ht./Wt. |
| Josh Ake |
Flemington, N.J. (Hunterdon Central |
INF |
5-11/175 |
| Grayson Atwood |
Mt. Pleasant, N.C. (Mt. Pleasant) |
3B/1B/OF |
6-4/205 |
| Bryan Brickhouse |
The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands) |
RHP |
6-2/190 |
| George Carter |
Summerfield, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day) |
1B/LHP |
6-3/200 |
| Adam Griffin |
Clemmons, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day) |
RHP/OF |
6-1/190 |
| Peter Hendel |
Waxhaw, N.C. (Cuthbertson) |
LHP/1B |
6-2/175 |
| Zac LaNeve |
Gibsonia, Pa. (Pine-Richland) |
INF |
6-1/175 |
| Shell McCain |
Fort Mill, S.C. (Trinity Christian (N.C.)) |
INF |
5-9/165 |
| Chris McCue |
Charlotte, N.C. (Ardrey Kell) |
RHP |
6-5/160 |
| Mason McCullough |
Shelby, N.C. (Crest) |
RHP |
6-3/210 |
| Bradley Morton |
Winston-Salem, N.C. (Mt. Tabor) |
OF |
6-2/175 |
| Benton Moss |
Enfield, N.C. (Rocky Mount) |
RHP |
6-2/175 |
| Chris O'Brien |
Drexel Hill, Pa. (Malvern Prep) |
LHP |
6-0/185 |
| Luis Paula |
Mcleansville, N.C. (Northeast Guilford) |
RHP/INF |
6-3/170 |
| Michael Russell |
Huntersville, N.C. (Hopewell) |
INF/OF |
6-2/195 |
| Cody Stubbs |
Waynesville, N.C. (Walters State CC/Tuscola) |
1B/OF |
6-4/225 |
Josh Ake
Flemington, N.J., Hunterdon Central Regional, INF, 5-11, 175
Athletic middle infielder with strong arm at shortstop • Showcases great hands at the plate and in the field • Rated as the No. 4 player in the state of New Jersey by Perfect Game • Ranked the No. 214 player in the country by Perfect Game • Named third team all-state and second team all-group as a junior • Also tabbed as first team all-conference • Coached by Mike Raymond at Hunterdon Central Regional.
Grayson Atwood
Mt. Pleasant, N.C., Mt. Pleasant, 3B/1B/OF, 6-4, 205
A versatile athlete who can play either corner infield position • Also could see time as a corner outfielder • Possesses a power bat • Tabbed as the No. 13 player in the state of North Carolina • Checks in at No. 240 in the country according to Perfect Game • Participated in the 2010 Perfect Game National Showcase • Morehead Cain Scholarship Nominee • Coached by Bryan Tyson at Mt. Pleasant High School.
Bryan Brickhouse
The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands, RHP, 6-2, 190
Athletic right-handed pitcher who can reach 94 with his fastball • Possesses a hard slider that sits in the low 80s and has a feel for two other pitches • Extremely competitive • Ranked No. 7 in the state of Texas by Perfect Game • Ranked as the No. 32 player in the country by Baseball America • Ranked No. 57 in the nation by Perfect Game • Named an Under Armour All-America • Also named all-district and to the All-Greater Houston Team • Coached by Ron Eastman at The Woodlands High School.
George Carter
Summerfield, N.C., Forsyth Country Day, 1B/LHP, 6-3, 200
Big, strong two-way player • Left-handed hitting first baseman • Has a great feel on the mound • Fastball sits in the mid-to-high 80s • Owns a hard curveball with good feel for the pitch • Ranked No. 12 in the state of North Carolina and No. 160 in the country according to Perfect Game • Participated in the 2010 National Showcase • Ranked No. 6 in his class academically • Coached by Andy Partin at Forsyth Country Day.
Adam Griffin
Clemmons, N.C., Forsyth Country Day, RHP/OF, 6-1, 190
Great athlete that excels on both sides of the ball • Displays plus speed as a runner • Fastball hits 94 • Displays a quick arm • The top-ranked senior in North Carolina as rated by Impact Baseball • Ranked No. 5 in the state of North Carolina and No. 98 in the nation according to Perfect Game • Coached by Andy Partin at Forsyth Country Day.
Peter Hendel
Waxhaw, N.C., Cuthbertson, LHP/1B, 6-2, 175
Switch-hitting first baseman • Advanced feel for pitching • Fastball hits 87 • Earned all-conference, all-county and all-region honors • Member of North Carolina Future Stars Baseball Showcase Team in the Battle of the Border Showcase Games • Earned Cy Young Award for Union County in 2010 • "A" Honor Roll member • Coached by Travis Little at Cuthbertson.
Zac LaNeve
Gibsonia, Pa., Pine-Richland, INF, 6-1, 175
Consistent player who excels offensively and defensively • Top-rated shortstop in Pennsylvania • Ranked the No. 7 player in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game • Tabbed as the No. 242 player in the country by Perfect Game • All-Section and All-WPIAL performer • Named to the All-Pennsylvania Playoff Team • Coached by Kurt Wolfe at Pine-Richland.
Shell McCain
Fort Mill, S.C., Trinity Christian (N.C.), INF, 5-9, 165
Intense middle infielder • Plays very gritty • Has power to all fields • Can play all three infield positions • Rated a top 1000 prospect by Perfect Game • Earned all-region honors as a junior • Named a Gold Glove Award winner by the Charlotte Observer • Member of South Carolina Future Stars Baseball Showcase Team in the Battle of the Border Showcase Games.
Chris McCue
Charlotte, N.C., Ardrey Kell, RHP, 6-5, 160
Has a loose, quick arm • Fastball hits 94 • Ranked No. 11 in the state of North Carolina and No. 135 in the nation by Perfect Game • Impact Baseball ranks him the No. 17 player in North Carolina • Listed as the No. 44 right-hander in the country by Perfect Game • Named an Under Armour Preseason All-America • Helped lead Ardrey Kell to the SW4A High School State Championship • Honor Roll • National Honor Society Member • Coached by Hal Bagwell at Ardrey Kell.
Mason McCullough
Shelby, N.C., Crest, RHP, 6-3, 210
Big, strong right-hander • Attacks hitters • Fastball hits 94 • Maintains a low 80s slider as well • Ranked No. 6 in North Carolina and No. 103 in the country by Perfect Game • Impact Baseball lists him as the No. 12 player in North Carolina • Ranked the No. 31 right-hander in the nation by Perfect Game • Coached by Steven Hodge at Crest.
Bradley Morton
Winston-Salem, N.C., Mt. Tabor, OF, 6-2, 175
Three-sport athlete • Starting Quarterback, shooting guard and center fielder • Has good instincts and possesses great speed on the base paths • Hits and hits for power • Ranked No. 11 in North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Rated a top 1000 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game • Named all-conference and all-county • Earned a place on the Honor Roll • Member of the National Honor Society • Coached by Mike Lovelace at Mt. Tabor.
Benton Moss
Enfield, N.C., Rocky Mount, RHP, 6-2, 175
Talented strike throwing right-hander • Fastball sits 91-92 • Has feel for three pitches • Ranked No. 2 in North Carolina by Impact Baseball and No. 3 by Perfect Game • Rated No. 68 in the country by Perfect Game and No. 85 by Baseball America • Earned all-area and all-state honors • Named an Under Armour All-America • "A" Honor throughout high school career • Ranked in the top five in his class academically • Morehead Cain Scholar Nominee • Coached by Kent Cox at Rocky Mount.
Chris O'Brien
Drexel Hill, Pa., Malvern Prep, LHP, 6-0, 185
Pounds the strike zone with three pitches • Fastball hits 88 • Starting quarterback for the football team • Provides leadership and toughness • Earned first team all-league and all-Philly honors as a junior • Named second team Southeast Pennsylvania • Tabbed as an Under Armour Pre-Season All-America • Three-year first academic honor roll member • Coached by Mike Hickey at Malvern Prep.
Luis Paula
Mcleansville, N.C., Northeast Guilford, RHP/INF, 6-3, 170
Right-handed pitcher with a fastball that hits 91 • Has an advanced feel for a slider • Switch-hitting infielder • Ranked No. 21 in the state by Impact Baseball • Rated a top 1000 prospect by Perfect Game • Named to the 3A All-State Team as a junior • Helped lead Northeast Guilford to the Mid-Piedmont 3A Championship • Ranked No. 7 academically in his class • Coached by David Lawing at Northeast Guilford.
Michael Russell
Huntersville, N.C., Hopewell, INF/OF, 6-2, 195
Versatile right-handed bat • Can play both on the infield and in the outfield • Possesses a very good swing with a knack for barreling the ball • Ranked the No. 16 player in North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Rated a top 1000 prospect by Perfect Game • Earned all-conference honors as a sophomore • Missed his junior season due to injury • Coached by Chet Greeson at Hopewell.
Cody Stubbs
Waynesville, N.C., Walters State CC, 1B/OF, 6-4, 225
Left-handed hitting first baseman and can also play the outfield • Ranked No. 6 Junior College prospect by Perfect Game • Appeared in 46 games at Tennessee as a freshman • Drafted in the 29th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox coming out of high school • Was the MAC Conference Player of the Year as a senior in high school • Earned all-state honors as a senior • Holds the Western North Carolina home run record with 16 • Tabbed as the No. 9 prospect in North Carolina as a senior • Coached by Ken Campbell at Walters State Community College and by Caleb McConnell at Tuscola High School
