FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Erik Bakich’s first recruiting class at the University of Maryland is complete.
The Terps added Creighton Hoke, a 6-foot-4, right-handed pitcher from San Jacinto College in Houston, to bring the number of 2010 incoming players to 23.
Those players, joined by returnees from last season’s team, will hold their first team meeting Monday.
"This is a great recruiting class, one of the best in the country," said Bakich. "We’re excited to start developing these players to reach their maximum potential."
Bakich, along with recruiting coordinator Dan Burton and pitching coach Sean Kenny, went hard after pitchers, signing 11 total, including nine right-handers. Of those, seven are junior-college players, including Chuck Ghysels, who competed with the National Junior College Athletic Association USA Baseball All-Star Team this summer. Ghysels was selected in the 36th round of the MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, but chose Maryland over signing a professional contract.
Tim Kiene, a power-hitting first baseman from South Windsor, Conn., also chose Maryland after being taken in the draft. The Washington Nationals selected Kiene in the 30th round.
Of the 23 student-athletes, nine are right-handed pitchers, two are left-handed pitchers, four are catchers, four are infielders and four are outfielders. Five will be relied upon to play multiple positions (Austin Kilbourne, OF/RHP; Michael Montville, OF/1B; Greg Olenski, Catcher/INF; Jacob Stinnett, RHP/INF; and Korey Wacker, LHP/OF).
The class features a mix of junior college and high school talent; 13 come from prep school while 10 come from the JUCO ranks.
The coaching staff also kept local talent at home, signing six players from Maryland. In all, 14 states are represented in the class.
Class breakdown by state
Maryland (6)
Illinois (2)
Nevada (2)
Pennsylvania (2)
Texas(2)
California(1)
Connecticut(1)
Georgia (1)
Indiana(1)
Massachusetts(1)
New Hampshire(1)
Ohio (1)
Oregon(1)
Virginia(1)
2010 Maryland Recruiting Class
Mike Boyden | RHP | Northwest-Shoals Community College (Ala.) | La Plata, Md.
Originally from La Plata High School in Maryland, Boyden spent a year at George Washington University before spending his sophomore season at Northwest-Shoals Community College. Boyden was a member of a 3-A state championship team as a senior at La Plata, finishing the year with a 0.95 ERA and earning second team All-Met honors. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Ben Brewster | LHP | Park School | Baltimore, Md.
A four-year starter at Park School, Brewster is a 6-foot-3 lefty who was named all-conference in 2008 and 2010. As a senior, he led his team to league championship, pitching a complete game while striking out 16 and not issuing a single walk in the title game. Brewster finished the year with an 8-0 record, pitching 42.2 innings while striking out 88 and walking 11. He allowed just three earned runs all season and gave up only 13 hits. Brewster also carried a 4.0 grade-point average.
David Carroll | RHP | Western Nevada College | Las, Vegas, Nev.
Carroll will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible to pitch for the Terps immediately in 2011. The 6-foot-8 righty went 7-4 with a 3.64 ERA in his freshman season at Western Nevada and was second on the team in innings pitched (76.2) and strikeouts (64). Carroll helped the Wildcats finish 48-14 on the way to a Junior College World Series Appearance.
Kyle Convissar | INF | Severna Park HS | Severna Park, Md.
The No. 1 player in Maryland, Convissar helped lead Severna Park to the Maryland 4-A state title. The shortstop recorded a .481 batting average as a junior, but even more impressive was his .635 on-base percentage. Convissar also had eight home runs, 10 doubles, 31 RBI and 34 runs scored. He committed just three errors in 2009.
Jeff Crosswhite | RHP | Northwest-Shoals Community College (Alabama) | Dayton, Md.
Crosswhite will have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives at Maryland after spending his freshman season at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Alabama. The Dayton, Md., native will miss the fall after having Tommy John surgery but should be ready to participate in spring practices. A 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, Crosswhite has a fastball that ranges in the high 80s/lower 90s.
Tomo Delp | INF | College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, Nev.
A product of Bonanza High School in Las Vegas, Delp will also have two years of eligibility remaining after completing two years at the College of Southern Nevada. Delp’s experience, versatility in the infield and hitting ability make him a valuable signee for the Terps.
Aaron Etchison | C | Chipola CC (Fla.) | Pendleton, Ind.
Etchison spent two seasons at Ball State – one as a redshirt – before transferring to Chipola for his sophomore season. He played in 20 career games at Ball State, including 11 starts, while seeing time at catcher and designated hitter. At Chipola, Etchison hit .284 with 26 runs and 26 RBI in 44 games. He is currently playing summer ball with the Richmond RiverRats of the Prospect League and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Chuck Ghysels | RHP | Lincoln Trail College (Ill.) | Springboro, Ohio
Ghysels is coming off a dominant season at Lincoln Trail in which he posted a 9-1 record with a 1.36 ERA, the third-best in the NJCAA Division I. He also recorded 117 strikeouts, allowed just 12 earned runs in 79 innings and was selected to the NJCAA USA Baseball All-Star team. Prior to Lincoln Trail, Ghysels spent his freshman season at the University of Dayton, where he went 3-2 with 54 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched. Ghysels, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, also had a stellar prep career, earning first team all-state honors as a junior and senior at Springboro High School.
Creighton Hoke | RHP | San Jacinto College (Texas) | Sugar Land, Texas
Formerly an infielder, Hoke converted to a pitcher prior the 2010 season after hitting the low-90s on the radar gun while throwing in practice. The right-hander had a 1.42 ERA last season at San Jacinto College. He helped San Jacinto to a 40-9 record, the best in the Region XIV conference, as the Gators advanced to NJCAA World Series. Hoke was a two-time first-team all-district selection at Kempner High School.
Ryan Holland | INF | Chattahoochee Valley CC (Alabama) | John’s Creek, Ga.
A left-handed hitting infielder, Holland hit .360 and led Chattahoochee Valley in RBI (62) and home runs (10) as a sophomore. Holland played shortstop for Chattahoochee Valley but has the versatility to play second or third as well. A John’s Creek, Ga., native, Holland hit in the three-hole for the Pirates and was named National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Week on April 27 after going 8-for-15 with three grand slams in four games. Holland will have two years of eligibility remaining at Maryland.
Tim Kiene | 1B | Avon Old Farms HS | South Windsor, Conn.
The No. 2 prospect in Connecticut, Kiene is a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder who hits for power and will play first base for the Terps. Kiene attended Perfect Game’s 2009 National Showcase and received a 9.5 out of 10 rating, which defines him as a top Division I prospect. As a junior, he led Avon in hits, batting average, home runs, and RBI.
Austin Kilbourne | OF/RHP | Matoaca HS | Chesterfield, Va.
Kilbourne brings a good deal of versatility, as he will be looked upon to play outfield and pitch. He was ranked as the No. 2 position player and the No. 3 pitcher in Virginia by pgcrosschecker.com. Kilbourne also attended Perfect Game’s 2009 National Showcase and received a 9.5 rating.
Brady Kirkpatrick | RHP | Marist High School | Eugene, Ore.
Kirkpatrick starred in baseball and football at Marist, pitching for the baseball team and playing wide receiver and defensive back for the football team. The right-hander was named Player of the Year in 2009 by the Oregonian and was first team all-state as a senior.
Matt Lynch | RHP | St. Ignatius | Chicago, Ill.
Lynch recently finished his senior season at St. Ignatius, where he went 7-3 with a sub-3.00 ERA. He was named second team all-conference as a junior and is currently playing summer ball with the Downers Grove Longshots. Standing 6-foot-1, Lynch has a fastball that ranges from 87-90 mph, a good change-up and an above-average slider.
John McAllister | OF | Chestnut Hill Academy | Philadelphia
A two-sport star in baseball and football at Chestnut Hill, McAllister is a left-hander who will play outfield for the Terps. McAllister has played four years of varsity baseball and will provide Maryland with yet another threat on the base paths with his tremendous speed. He owns the school record at Chestnut Hill for career hits and steals and was a member of the first team Daily News All-City team as a junior.
Michael Montville | OF/1B | Portsmouth HS | Portsmouth, N.H.
Montville was named the 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year in New Hampshire after hitting .560 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in Portsmouth’s 16-game regular season. The No. 1 ranked player in New Hampshire, Montville possesses tremendous plate discipline, striking out just once in 63 plate appearances in 2009.
Blaine O’Brien | RHP | Middle Georgia CC | Scituate, Mass.
Originally from Scituate, Mass., O’Brien is a 6-foot-7 right-hander who has spent the past two seasons at Middle Georgia Community College and will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives at Maryland. In two seasons, O’Brien has gone 14-2 with 94 strikeouts at Middle Georgia and provides Maryland with another strong right-hander.
Greg Olenski | Catcher/INF | Holy Ghost Prep | Philadelphia
A four-year starter at Holy Ghost, Olenski is a versatile athlete who can play a number of positions. Olenski was a catcher in high school and projects as a catcher/infielder for Maryland. He batted .508 as a junior at Holy Ghost and also plays with the Philly Bandits and the All-Star Baseball Academy.
Alex Ramsay | Catcher | Severna Park HS | Millersville, Md.
Ramsay was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America game at Wrigley Field in August and is the No. 2 prospect in Maryland. A high school teammate of Kyle Convissar, Ramsay had a three-run homer to help Severna Park win the class 4-A Maryland state championship. He hit .362 with seven home runs and 22 RBI as junior in 2009.
Austin Richards | Catcher | Georgetown Prep | Kensington, Md.
Richards is a strong, athletic player and a solid defensive catcher. He is a four-year member of the varsity squad and a three-year starter at Georgetown Prep, the same prep school that current Maryland first baseman Gary Schneiderattended. Richards was named to the All-Gazette second team and All-Interstate Athletic Conference as a junior.
Jacob Stinnett | RHP/INF | Rancho Buena Vista HS | San Diego, Calif.
Stinnett, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 200 pounds, had some setbacks after entering high school at 5-foot-10 and growing almost six inches his freshman season. That led to a growth-stress fracture, but Stinnett has turned into a physical player that Maryland recruited as a dual-athlete to pitch and play the infield. A good athlete with a solid arm and possessing a good curveball, Stinnett is also capable of playing outfield.
Korey Wacker | LHP/OF | Temple College (Texas) | Harker Heights, Texas
Wacker had a strong sophomore campaign at Temple College, finishing his sophomore season as the team leader in batting average (.385), hits (72), stolen bases (18) and triples (4). He was also vital in helping Temple reach the Junior College World Series, pitching the final two innings of a 6-5, 13-inning win in the NJCAA Region V Tournament title game. At Harker Heights, Wacker was the team’s ace, finishing his prep career with a 20-6 record in three years.
Charlie White | OF | Naperville North HS | Naperville, Ill.
White has terrific speed, which made him one of the most highly recruited prospects out of Illinois. He went 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA as a junior, but his speed will make him into an outfielder for Maryland. White also batted .479 with five home runs, 39 RBI, 36 runs scored and 14 stolen bases as a junior.
