2014 Top 50 Preseason Junior College Teams | 2014 Top 200 Junior College Prospects
1. State College of
Florida-Manatee | 2013 Record: 45-13
Still
searching for elusive national title despite a long history of
success, Manatees suffered a key setback over Christmas break when SS
Kevin Bradley,
a transfer from Clemson and Oklahoma State recruit, was lost for
season with a torn labrum. Missouri-bound RHP Reggie
McClain
(9-2, 2.83) returns to anchor pitching staff, ex-Florida OF
Sean Trent
(.287-4-29) is top returning position player, and team is bolstered
by addition of freshman RHP Dustin
Hagy
(Red Sox/31st round), along with key transfers like ex-Virginia C
Scott
Williams,
ex-Hight Point 3B Ryne
Rush,
ex-Florida State SS/closer Ryan
Valdes and
ex-Florida OF Cory
Reid.
2.
Grayson
(Texas) | 2013 Record: 40-18
Vikings
won Junior College World Series titles in 1999, 2000 and 2008, and
began 2013 season in this same No. 2 position, so easily rank among
elite junior-college programs nationally. Arkansas-Little Rock-bound
1B Chris
Gittens (.400-3-43),
who has emerged as a significant prospect after losing upwards of 50
pounds, is one of six returning regulars in the field, and he'll also
take a regular turn in rotation with his 92-94 mph fastball. Former
Texas Tech OF Zach
Reding
(.409-3-30, 11 SB), team's leading hitter and base stealer a year
ago, is also back. Among key additions are two premium Arkansas
transfers, 3B/RHP
Willie Schwanke,
who will head up rotation while holding down a
regular
job at hot corner, and C
Jean Ramirez,
a defensive specialist, plus two players who transferred in at
Christmas break, ex-Eastern Michigan SS
Mason Eng and
ex-Dallas Baptist LHP Landon
Wilson.
3.
San Jacinto (Texas) | 2013
Record: 35-21
Gators
won five national titles from 1985-90, and have been shut out
since--though have finished second on six occasions, most recently as
2012. With a deep pitching staff and six returning regulars, the
Gators
will be legitimate contenders again this year. OF Brandon
Sonnenberg (.336-0-28),
who led team in hitting a year ago, 3B Geonte
Jackson (.317-2-37),
who led in RBIs and 2B Kelvin
Ramos (.311-0-11,
27 SB), who led in steals, are all back. Red-shirt freshman RHP
Holden
Helmink,
a 22nd-round draft pick in 2012,
transferred
in from Texas at Christmas break, but may have a tough time cracking
a rotation led by New Mexico-bound LHP Toller
Boardman,
another ex-Texas pitcher, sophomore LHP Clayton
Isherwood (4-1,
2.84) and sophomore RHP Dustin
Cook (3-1,
3.60). Freshman RHP Bryce
Welborn,
the hardest thrower on staff with a 93-96 mph fastball, is the
projected closer, while several other arms capable of reaching the
low-90s are also available.
4.
Walters State (Tenn.) | 2013 Record: 37-18
David
Shelton takes over Senators coaching duties in wake of retirement of
long-time coach Ken Campbell and departure of veteran pitching coach
Joey Seaver to pro ranks, and inherits a roster with 10 four-year
transfers, including five from Southeastern Conference. Sophomores
are projected to start at every position in field, led by North
Carolina-bound SS Elijah
Sutherland (.384-3-31,
25 2B), the team's top returning player. But Senators real strength
may be a young pitching staff that features freshman RHP Brent
Honeywell and
ex-Tennessee
RHP Aaron
Quillen at
front of rotation, and ex-Kentucky RHP Matt
Pope,
as the closer.
5.
Chipola (Fla.)
| 2013 Record: 38-21
Perennial
national power/2007 JUCO World Series champs have strong 1-2 pitching
punch in Florida-bound RHP Taylor
Lewis
(2-1, 3.54, 53 IP/55 SO) and Florida State-bound LHP Michael
Mader
(3-1, 2.62, 79 IP/66 SO), and staff bolstered by addition of
ex-Florida RHP Tucker
Simpson,
ex-Florida State RHP M.T.
Minacci,
ex-Georgia RHP Palmer
Betts.
Betts set to close with mid-90s fastball, all other arms in
low-to-mid 90s. Houston-bound C
Ian Rice
(.323-1-19), ex-Florida State 3B Bert
Givens
(.340-2-28) and Troy-bound SS Chase
Nyman
(.284-0-28) are key returnees in field, while Middle Georgia State CC
transfer Cody
Lanford
(.320-3-20, 43 SB) should add spark at top of batting order.
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