Commitment Tracker: Big Week for 2019s; A 2022 Becomes a Gator

The North Carolina Commitment Tracker will be a weekly blog to track players and programs through the recruiting process.  Each week we will look players that have pledged their commitment with back ground on select players and their process.  We will also look total commitment numbers across the state and profile select schools as they work to complete their 2019 class.

The 2019 class is buzzing right now.  Just this week, another 14 players in the senior class made their pledge to the school of their choice.  A deep class, there are still a lot of very good players available that are weighing their options, and as in years past, there will be players that take a significant step forward this spring, with schools continuing to watch.

Winston-Salem St picked up three commitments with David Asbill (OF, Reagan HS, 2019), Davis Downey (3B, Durham Jordan HS, 2019), and Kameron Evans (INF, East Forsyth HS, 2019).  William Peace dipped into the eastern side of the state getting LHP Bradley Tierson and INF Matt Morgan, each seniors at Swansboro HS. 

There were two underclass products that made commitments this week.  Each has been featured by PBR recently.  J.D. Everett (LHP, St. Stephens HS, 2020) has made some significant jumps recently.  The lefty threw well for the Dirtbag organization in Florida and selected Wake Forest University to continue his career after graduation.  Carter Boyd (RHP, Reagan HS, 2022) becomes the fourth freshman to commit in North Carolina, electing to head south and play for the Florida Gators once his high school career is over.  Boyd threw well in Florida and followed up that performance by throwing in front of a Florida coach at a high school workout at Reagan.

Notes on J.D. Everett from Ft. Myers:

83-86 early on in his outing with an aggressive delivery and quick arm that provided for uncomfortable at-bats. Changeup at 77 mph as well as a breaking ball at 70-72 that took 1/7 shape at most times, though he was able to manipulate it a bit. The fastball appeared to get on hitters in a hurry because of the deception of the delivery, and had some arm side life.

Notes on Carter Boyd from West Palm Beach:

Committed to Florida shortly after the trip to Florida.  6-foot, 175-pounds. Fastball was up to 87 mph early on and worked 82-85. Comes out HOT and downhill. Quick arm and a strong frame.

Other Commitment Notes

+  Asbill committed to Winston-Salem St as mentioned above.   Ranked in the top 300 in the 2019 class in NC, there is athleticism in a frame that should continue to add strength.  Has a feel for the game and should reach his ceiling as a Ram.

+ Josiah Barhite committed to Wake Tech CC.  Barhite flashed early for PBR with some arm strength and a feel for missing bats.  A member of the On Deck O’s organization, Barhite has pitched on big stages and should be ready to compete when he gets to Wake Tech.

+  Kameron Heath committed to USC Sumter JC as a two-way player.  Ranked in the Top 120 in NC’s 2019 class.  Athletic, there is quickness in the frame.  PBR has recorded a sub-7.00 sixty as well as a fastball peaking at 86 mph.  He will have a chance to compete for time on the mound as well as in center field potentially. 

+  Tristan Robinson committed to Brevard.  Ranked inside the Top 300 for the NC Class of 2019, Robinson has some strength and athleticism present.  Best pop time recorded by PBR in a workout was 2.05.  He also has run a 7.11 sixty. 

Commitments from the October 25 – November 1, 2018

Program Spotlight – Elon

Elon is another program in the Carolinas that has been through some adjustments as they have switched conference affiliation.  Now settled into the Colonial Athletic Association, coach Mike Kennedy and the Fighting Phoenix could be in position to make a run in 2019 with two of the premier arms in the country scheduled to throw on the weekends.  RHP George Kirby is coming off a big summer and checks in at No. 22 in the PBR 2019 MLB Draft: Top 150 College Prospects List.  He is joined by Kyle Brnovich at No. 41.  Brnovich threw for Team USA this past summer and is one of the elite strikeout artist in college baseball today.

Moving forward, the Phoenix have continued to stick to a recruiting plan that has worked over the years.  The coaching staff spends a lot of time in the northeast, while still working to attract talent from within the North Carolina borders.  Coach Kennedy is in his 22^nd year at the helm of the Phoenix and has won 5 conference championships and has been to 5 NCAA Regionals.

Below is a breakdown of the current commitments in the 2019 class that Elon has committed out of the high school ranks.  Jayson Arendt (INF/RHP, Holly Springs HS, 2019) leads the way from North Carolina.  An extremely athletic player, Arendt may be able to help in the field and on the mound.  At the plate he uses an easy, direct path, with hand strength, driving the baseball to each gap. 

North Carolina Commitment Rundown

North Carolina Players in the 2019 Class committed     213

North Carolina Players in the 2020 Class committed      38

North Carolina Players in the 2021 Class committed      11

North Carolina Players in the 2022 Class committed      4

*Total players in the 2018 class that committed to play college baseball – 377