University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Baseball Announces Signing Class For 2013 Season
November 28, 2011 | Baseball
Nov. 28, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball program continued its strong showing on the recruiting trail by signing 18 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 four of the nation's top 100 prospects and 11 of the top 30 players in the state of North Carolina, according to various rankings.
The 18 student-athletes will enroll at UNC in August 2012 and will take the field for the Tar Heels in the 2013 season.
"Coaches Forbes, Jackson and Woodard, deserve all the credit for this class," head coach Mike Fox said. "They work tirelessly recruiting and put this group together over a two and a half year period. Recruiting classes are ultimately measured by team success therefore it is our hope and desire that these student-athletes will enroll at Carolina and help us continue our success both on and off the field."
On the national level, Carolina has signed four of the nation's top 100 players according to Perfect Game: No. 3 Matthew Smoral (Left-hander, Solon, Ohio), No. 21 Taylore Cherry (Right-hander, Dayton, Ohio), No. 45 Skye Bolt (Outfielder, Woodstock, Ga.) and No. 47 Kayden Porter (First base/Right-hander, Spanish Fork, Utah).
Smoral (No. 6), Cherry (No. 38), Bolt (No. 39) and Porter (No. 88) were all named to the top 100 players in the 2012 class by Baseball America.
The Tar Heels also continued their success in the Old North State by inking four of the state's top 15 players in the early period, according to various rankings. Landon Lassiter (Infielder, High Point, N.C.) checks in at No. 6, one spot ahead of future teammate Reilly Hovis (Right-hander, Gastonia, N.C.). Also among the top 15 in the state according to Perfect Game are Trenton Thornton (Right-hander/Outfielder, Charlotte, N.C.) at No. 12 and Alex Raburn (Infielder/Outfielder, Durham, N.C.) at No. 14.
Outside North Carolina, the Tar Heels signed seven players from five different states, including top-10 players in Ohio (Smoral - No. 1, Cherry - No. 2), West Virginia (Korey Dunbar - No. 1; Catcher, Charleston, W.V.), Utah (Porter - No. 1) and Georgia (Bolt - No. 6).
| Name | Position | Ht./Wt. | Hometown (High School) |
| Skye Bolt | OF | 6-2/180 | Woodstock, Ga. (Holy Innocents) |
| Matt Campbell | INF | 6-0/160 | Chesapeake, Va. (Hickory) |
| Taylore Cherry | RHP | 6-9/260 | Dayton, Ohio (Vandalia Butler) |
| Zach Daly | OF | 6-3/175 | Gastonia, N.C. (Forestview) |
| Korey Dunbar | C/INF | 6-1/205 | Charleston, W.Va. (Nitro) |
| Landon Fraley | LHP | 6-1/180 | Norwood, N.C. (South Stanly) |
| Jack Geraghty | RHP | 6-2/210 | Atlanta, Ga. (The Lovett School) |
| Reilly Hovis | RHP | 6-3/185 | Gastonia, N.C. (Forestview) |
| Landon Lassiter | INF | 6-1/175 | High Point, N.C. (North Davidson) |
| Matt Lowry | RHP/C | 5-11/180 | Leland, N.C. (North Brunswick) |
| Michael Massardo | INF/OF | 5-8/160 | Waxhaw, N.C. (Charlotte Latin) |
| Zack Mozingo | RHP | 6-0/190 | LaGrange, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) |
| Dallas Newton | RHP | 6-4/210 | Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Guilford) |
| Kayden Porter | 1B/RHP | 6-5/240 | Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork) |
| Alex Raburn | INF/OF | 5-10/175 | Durham, N.C. (Jordan) |
| Matt Smoral | LHP | 6-8/225 | Solon, Ohio (Solon) |
| Trent Thornton | RHP/OF | 6-0/165 | Charlotte, N.C. (Ardrey Kell) |
| Kevin Wise | OF | 5-9/165 | Dudley, N.C. (Southern Wayne) |
Skye Bolt
Woodstock, Ga., Holy Innocents, OF, 6-2, 180
Switch-hitting outfielder who can run • Has power from both sides of the plate • Defensively possess a very strong and accurate arm • Ranked the No. 6 player in the state of Georgia by Perfect Game • Ranked No. 39 in the class of 2012 by Baseball America • Tabbed the No. 45 player in the country by Perfect Game and No. 11 among outfielders in the nation • Participated in the 2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. • Coached by Dylan Deal at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, Ga.
Matt Campbell
Chesapeake, Va., Hickory, INF, 6-0, 160
Talented defender who can handle the bat • Has great knowledge of the strike zone and can consistently get on base • Ranked among the top 500 players in the country by Perfect Game • Tabbed the No. 17 player in the commonwealth of Virginia by Perfect Game • Coached by Hank Craft at Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Va.
Taylore Cherry
Dayton, Ohio, Vandalia Butler, RHP, 6-9, 260
One of the most talented and projectable right-handers in the country • Possesses great stuff and has a good feel for the strike zone • Ranked the No. 21 player in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 2 in the state of Ohio • Baseball America tabbed Cherry No. 38 in the 2012 class • Played in the Perfect Game All-American Game • Was named the Gatorade Player of the Year of Ohio as a junior • Played summer ball with fellow signee Matt Smoral • Coached by Trent Dues at Vandalia Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio.
Zach Daly
Gastonia, N.C., Forestview, OF, 6-3, 175
Left-handed hitting outfielder with a high ceiling • Possess power and speed from the left side • Polished in the outfield • Ranked among the top 500 in the country and No. 35 in the state of North Carolina by Perfect Game • Ranked the No. 3 player in the state by Impact Baseball • High School teammate of fellow signee Reilly Hovis • Coached by Brian Horne at Forestview High School in Gastonia, N.C.
Korey Dunbar
Charleston, W.Va., Nitro, C/INF, 6-1, 205
Physical catcher and corner infielder with power from the right side of the plate • Controls the game from behind the plate • Strong receiver and thrower • Ranked among the top 500 in the country by Perfect Game • Tabbed the top player in the state of West Virginia by Perfect Game • Earned first team all-state honors as a junior • Coached by Steve Pritchard at Nitro High School in Nitro, W.Va.
Landon Fraley
Norwood, N.C., South Stanly, LHP, 6-1, 180
Left-hander with good projection • Very competitive • Ranked among the top 500 in the country by Perfect Game and No. 35 in the state of North Carolina • Tabbed No. 28 in the state by Impact Baseball • Named First Team All-State in 2011 • Also a talented wrestler that finished second in the state as a junior • Coached by Terry Tucker at South Stanly High School in in Norwood, N.C.
Jack Geraghty
Atlanta, Ga., The Lovett School, RHP, 6-2, 210
Competitive right-hander who attacks strike zone and commands his stuff • Very athletic • Ranked among the top 500 players in the country by Perfect Game • Tabbed the No. 63 player in the state of Georgia by Perfect Game • Coached by Lance Oubs at The Lovett School in Atlanta, Ga.
Reilly Hovis
Gastonia, N.C., Forestview, RHP, 6-3, 185
Polished right-hander • Pounds the strike zone with three above average pitches • Ranked No. 276 in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 7 in the state of North Carolina • Earned the No. 8 ranking in the state by Impact Baseball • Cousin, Jonathan Hovis (2003-06), pitched at Carolina • High School teammate of fellow signee Zach Daly • Coached by Brian Horne at Forestview High School in Gastonia, N.C.
Landon Lassiter
High Point, N.C., North Davidson, INF, 6-1, 175
Very athletic and durable shortstop • Possess power and speed from the right side of the plate • Ranked No. 266 in the nation by Perfect Game and tabbed No. 6 in the state of North Carolina • Tabbed No. 7 in the state by Impact Baseball • Brother, Garrison, signed with Carolina before being drafted by the New York Yankees • Coached by Mike Meadows at North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C.
Matt Lowry
Leland, N.C., North Brunswick, RHP/C, 5-11, 180
Versatile two-way player with strong accurate arm behind the plate • Has a polished delivery with feel for the strike zone on the mound • Very competitive • Ranked among the top 500 in the country by Perfect Game and No. 35 in the state of North Carolina • Rated No. 22 in the state by Impact Baseball • Coached by Randy Fennell at North Brunswick High School in Leland, N.C.
Michael Massardo
Waxhaw, N.C., Charlotte Latin, INF/OF, 5-8, 160
High energy athlete • Versatile player that can play either in the infield or in the outfield • Ranked among the top 500 players in the country by Perfect Game and No. 35 in the state of North Carolina • Tabbed No. 26 in the state by Impact Baseball • Very accomplished in the classroom • Coached by Kim Cousar at Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, N.C.
Zack Mozingo
LaGrange, N.C., Eastern Wayne, RHP, 6-0, 190
Right-handed strike thrower • Commands three pitches from a polished delivery • Competes at a very high level • Rated among the top 1000 players in the country by Perfect Game • Tabbed No. 19 in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Coached by Jabo Fulghum at Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, N.C.
Dallas Newton
Greensboro, N.C., Southeast Guilford, RHP, 6-4, 210
Athletic , Projectible right-hander • Attacks the strike zone with all pitches • Ranked among the top 500 players in the country by Perfect Game and No. 35 in the state of North Carolina • Tabbed No. 18 in the state by Impact Baseball • Coached by Dave Beasley at Southeast Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C.
Kayden Porter
Spanish Fork, Utah, Spanish Fork, 1B/RHP, 6-5, 240
One of the most talented two-way players in the country • Possesses impressive power on the mound and at the plate • Participated in the Perfect Game All-American Game • Competed in the AAA home run derby in Salt Lake City and reached the final • Ranked No. 47 in the country by Perfect Game and is the top player in the state of Utah • Rated No. 88 in the class of 2012 by Baseball America • Coached by Jim Nelson at Spanish Fork High School in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Alex Raburn
Durham, N.C., Jordan, INF/OF, 5-10, 175
Versatile athlete that can run • Can play in both the infield and the outfield • Intense competitor • Ranked No. 414 in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 14 in the state of North Carolina • Rated No. 16 in the state by Impact Baseball • Coached by former Tar Heel Devy Bell (1984-87) at Jordan High School in Durham, N.C.
Matt Smoral
Solon, Ohio, Solon, LHP, 6-8, 225
Power left-hander with a power slider • One of the top left-handed pitchers in the country • Ranked the No. 3 player in the country by Perfect Game and No. 6 overall in the 2012 class by Baseball America • The top player in the state of Ohio according to Perfect Game • Participated in the Perfect Game All-American Game • Played summer ball with fellow signee Taylore Cherry • Coached by Damien Kopkas at Solon High School in Solon, Ohio.
Trent Thornton
Charlotte, N.C., Ardrey Kell, RHP/OF, 6-0, 165
Extremely polished right-handed pitcher that commands the zone with three above average pitches • Very athletic and competitive player • Also a standout hitter that could play both ways • Ranked No. 370 nationally by Perfect Game and No. 12 in the state of North Carolina • Rated No. 10 in the state by Impact Baseball • Coached by Hal Bagwell at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, N.C.
Kevin Wise
Dudley, N.C., Southern Waye, OF, 5-9, 165
Dynamic left-handed hitting outfielder with a high ceiling • Possesses power and speed from the left side of the plate • Very versatile and can play all three outfield positions • Rated the No. 23 player in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball • Coached by Trae McKee at Southern Wayne High School in Dudley, N.C.
