Indiana University Athletics
Smith Announces First Baseball Recruiting Class As Hoosier Skipper
11/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 16, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head baseball coach Tracy Smith announced 15 players have signed national letters-of-intent to attend Indiana University beginning in the fall semester of 2006. The 15 high school standouts represent Smith's first recruiting class as the Hoosier skipper.
"We felt it was very important for us to make a statement with our first recruiting class," Smith said. "We felt we had a lot of needs from a personnel standpoint that we had to address, and we think with this recruiting class we are going to make our presence known. We're extremely happy we got kids that buy into the vision that this place can be one of the top baseball programs around. The kids wanted to climb aboard without much convincing, and we are happy these 15 young men will get to spend their careers at Indiana University."
The class features six pitchers (3 left-handers, 3 right-handers), three infielders, two outfielders, two catchers, one infielder/outfielder and one outfielder/right-handed pitcher. Seven of the signees will stay home to play in the Hoosier state, while four venture from Ohio, two from Illinois and one apiece from Georgia and Louisiana.
Below is a list of all 15 early signees for the 2007 baseball season (listed alphabetically):
JARRETT CASEY - LHP - 5'11/175 - Lawrence, Ind./Lawrence Central
Coach Smith on Casey:
"We feel Jarrett is really a steal in the early signing period. We felt he was flying under the radar. Jarrett's a kid that has to develop physically, but he already has good arm action and decent velocity, particularly for a left-hander. Once he gets stronger, we think a lot of people are going to be scratching their heads wondering where this guy came from."
EVAN CRAWFORD - SS - 6'1/160 - R/R - Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg
Coach Smith on Crawford:
"Evan was the top-rated shortstop and center fielder in the state of Ohio. With his athleticism, body type, work ethic and his excellent academic background, Evan is a college coach's dream. In three years, we think he is going to be a very high draft pick because his frame and his body will allow him to do things that some kids can't do."
JASON FERRELL - LHP - 6'0/190 - Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson
Coach Smith on Ferrell:
"Jason is another lefty with a strong body. He is a multi-sport athlete that brings some athleticism and toughness to us. Once we can get him to concentrate on one sport, I think we'll see some real improvements in his velocity. Jason's already throwing in the mid to upper 80s, but he'll add some miles per hour once he focuses on just baseball."
BRAD HENKE - INF - 6'3/200 - R/R - Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
Coach Smith on Henke:
"Brad is a baseball player. If you watch Brad a workout, he's not going to light you up, but when you get him in a game he'll beat you. He's a hard-nosed, scrappy player that will help you win baseball games. Brad has an enthusiasm for IU, and kids that want to come here are very important for us. He's a kid that can play multiple positions and is big and strong right now. His bat is going to dictate where he eventually ends up playing."
BILLY KITCHEN - OF/RHP - 6'4/185 - R/R - Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg
Coach Smith on Kitchen:
"Billy is a two-position guy that is a legitimate 89-90 mph arm and also runs a 6.7 60-yard dash. He has the potential to be a two-way guy for us, and I would not be surprised to see him drafted next June. Billy's another guy where once he gets in our program the sky is the limit. It will be fun to see the leaps and bounds he will make from a developmental standpoint."
BRIAN LAMBERT - INF/OF - 5'9/165 - R/R - Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac Township
Coach Smith on Lambert:
"Brian is another multiple-sport athlete. He is an option quarterback at Pontiac Township, and he can really fly. Once he gets here and we look at his overall ability, we'll determine where he fits in for us defensively. Brian brings speed and athleticism immediately. He committed to us early and is excited about coming to this program and helping turn this thing around."
J.T. LARSON - RHP - 6'0/180 - Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
Coach Smith on Larson:
"J.T. is a guy that came to our Prospect Camp from one of the top high school programs in the state (Hamilton Southeastern), and we fell in love with his breaking ball. His curve ball is a true curve ball and has the ability to be an unhittable pitch. He throws in the mid 80s right now, but we think with his breaking ball, if his velocity increases, he could be a devastating closer. His breaking ball is an above average pitch right now and when he develops some arm strength, he's going to be a pretty good pitcher."
JAKE LOWE - 1B - 6'4/200 - R/R - Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor
Coach Smith on Lowe:
"Jake came to our Prospect Camp and really caught our attention. He just turned 17 years old, and he runs a sub-7 60-yard dash. Jake is tremendously athletic and comes from Homewood-Flossmoor, which turns out high-caliber players. He is a competitor and just scratching the surface of what he is going to do in baseball."
STERLING MACK - OF - 6'3/180 - L/L - Powder Springs, Ga./The Lovett School
Coach Smith on Mack:
"Sterling's another guy that came out of nowhere at our Prospect Camp and really lit it up. He is very athletic and will add a left-handed bat to our outfield. It is a mystery to me how a kid from Georgia with the physical skills he has ends up north, but we're extremely happy to get him. I think Sterling has a chance to be a very, very good player based on his tools and will have a chance to play at the professional level."
BRANDON MONEY - RHP - 5'10/185 - Center Grove, Ind./Center Grove
Coach Smith on Money:
"Brandon is coming out of a real solid high school program in Center Grove, which has produced some very good players through the years. He has solid arm strength and has pitched behind a couple of guys this past season, but we think he has a much higher ceiling. We believe Brandon's going to open a lot of people's eyes this spring. He has the potential to run it up there pretty good and has pitchability. Brandon's an Indiana kid, loves IU, and this is a good fit for him and for the program."
JUSTIN MORALES - C - 6'2/190 - R/R - Lake Charles, La./Barbe
Coach Smith on Morales:
"Justin is one of the best receiving catchers I have seen. He is very athletic and can do a little bit of everything, but his blocking and receiving skills are far more advanced than most high school kids I've ever seen. He is one of the top catchers in Louisiana, and we are very happy he decided to come to Bloomington."
JOSH PHEGLEY - C - 5'11/195 - R/R - Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute North
Coach Smith on Phegley:
"There is always going to be a special place in my heart for Josh Phegley because he was the first commitment to the IU program and this staff. That means a lot to me personally. Not only is he one of the top catchers, if not the top catcher, in the state of Indiana, he got the ball rolling for us with the other potential recruits. Josh is a potential professional-type player. He is really a solid defensive catcher and has the opportunity to come in here and handle the staff immediately."
DAN ROSENBAUM - LHP - 6'1/190 - Loveland, Ohio/Loveland
Coach Smith on Rosenbaum:
"We feel we did a really good job in Ohio, and Danny is proof of that. He has a high ceiling and a great opportunity to become a pretty special pitcher for us. He has only been pitching for three years, so he has a fresh arm. We are real fortunate Danny is going to be a part of our program."
KIPP SCHUTZ - OF - 6'4/190 - L/L - Evansville, Ind./Harrison
Coach Smith on Schutz:
"Kipp is a tall, lanky left-handed hitter. We absolutely love his bat. He does things with his hands offensively that you just can't teach. We cannot wait to see Kipp when he is 20 pounds heavier. We're projecting him as a middle-of-the-order hitter for us. Kipp has one of those bodies that is really going to develop, and it's going to be fun seeing him turn into a monster."
CHRIS SQUIRES - RHP - 6'2/180 - Fort Wayne, Ind./Canterbury
Coach Smith on Squires:
"Chris has a tall body, good arm action and is pitching at a high level right now. We really think he is going to develop once he gets in our program and gets a little stronger. He has the potential to be a pretty high draft pick. Chris is one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state of Indiana and when he adds some more strength the sky is the limit."
