Wake Forest Signs Nine to National Letters of Intent
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 19, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head baseball coach Tom Walter announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The class will be eligible beginning in the fall of 2010.
"We are obviously thrilled with our recruiting class," Walter said. "Coach (Dennis) Healy and coach (Bill) Cilento did a great job of combing the country and bringing in the best players. We address our needs with this class. We have four quality pitching prospects, as well as infield, outfield and catching help."
The Demon Deacons signed Brett Armour, Jack Fischer, Brian Holmes, Nate Jones, Kevin Jordan, Conor Keniry, John McLeod, Charlie Morgan, IV and Chris Willson.
"What's really exciting about this class is the versatility they provide," Walter continued. "We have guys that can play multiple positions. What we've tried to do is to go out and recruit the best possible athletes we can get. Guys that have some toughness, have played multiple sports and bring some of those intangibles that your traditional baseball-only player doesn't have."
Brett Armour/C - R/R - 6-1 - 185
Gainesville, Ga. (Young Harris JC/Lakeview Academy)
Currently is a freshman at Young Harris College ... Named Region 8A Player of the Year and to the All-State team during senior season ... Member of the 2009 East Cobb Braves, WWBA World Champions ... Named All-Area in 2008 and 2009 ... Earned All-Area Freshman honors in 2006 ... Son of Regina and Keith Armour.
Walter on Armour: "Brett is a well above average defensive catcher with a great deal of power potential. He is extremely athletic and can play multiple positions. Above all, he is a leader and a blue collar worker. The fact that he'll come in with a year of junior college experience at one of the premier programs in the country is a huge bonus."
Jack Fischer/SS - R/R - 6-1 - 175
Hinsdale, Ill. (St. Ignatius College Prep)
Starting shortstop on the varsity team since freshman year ... Named All-Catholic League in 2009 ... Invited to Area Code Games tryouts ... Also invited to Chicago White Sox Black and Silver games and Chicago Pitch and Hit Showcase ... Ranked top 10 player in the state by Prep Baseball Report ... Ranked 414th in the country by Perfect Game ... Career batting average of .355, while he has an 11-2 career record on the mound with a 1.38 ERA ... Son of Brian and Beth Fischer ... Father pitched at Knox College.
Walter on Fischer: "Jack is one of the best defensive high school shortstops in the country. His instincts and his baseball IQ are off the charts. Offensively, we feel that with maturation, a few swing changes and physical strength, he will develop into an offensive weapon. He plays his summer and fall baseball with the Top Tier program, who does an outstanding job of preparing their players for the next level."
Brian Holmes/LHP - L/L - 6-3 - 190
Lawrenceville, Ga. (Young Harris JC/Mill Creek HS)
Currently is a freshman at Young Harris College ... Two-year letterwinner at Mill Creek High School ... Helped his team to state playoffs each of the last two season ... Posted a 4-1 record with a 1.89 ERA and 43 strikeouts during the 2009 season ... Named to All-Region 1st Team Â?c Also earned All-County 2nd Team honors ... Son of John Holmes and Sherry Jennings.
Walter on Holmes: "Brian is a frontline left handed pitcher with Friday night stuff. He will pitch on the weekends immediately. He features three plus pitches, an aggressive approach and plus command. He will be 88-91 with dominating off-speed stuff."
Nathan Jones/RHP - R/R - 5-10 - 175
Greenland, N.H. (Portsmouth High School)
Three-year letterwinner at Portsmouth High School ... Has a career 12-0 record with three saves and a 2.15 ERA ... Recorded a .390 career batting average with 35 RBIs and 44 runs scored ... High school team won the state championship in 2008 and 2009 ... Two-time New Hampshire High School All-State selection ... American Legion team also won the state championship in 2008 ... Selected to 2009 Foster's Daily Democrat Dream Team ... Earned 2009 New Hampshire High School Junior All-Star selection ... Also is a three-year letterwinner in football and was a 2008 All-State selection ... Son of Deb and Gene Jones ... Father played baseball at the University of New Hampshire ... Recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award
Walter on Jones: "Nate is the sleeper of the recruiting class. His fastball is 86-89 and he possesses plus command. What we liked the most, however, are his two plus breaking balls. Both his slider and his curve ball will win immediately. He will bolster our bullpen and as he matures he will have well above average stuff at our level."
Kevin Jordan/OF - L/R - 6-1 - 185
Columbus, Ga. (Northside-Columbus HS)
Ranked 43rd in the country by Perfect Game ... Finished second place at the Bo Jackson 5-Tool Contest and won the home run competition ... Member of 2009 Under Armour Team ... Played in the East Coast Showcase and the Area Code Showcase ... Named to the All-City Team by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer in 2008 and 2009 ... Won the school's President's Award from 2007-09 ... Son of George and Charlene Jordan.
Walter on Jordan: "Kevin is one of the most highly touted players in the country. He possesses game changing speed and plus power. He is the kind of offensive talent that opposing coaches have to manage around. He will be an impact player from the moment he sets foot on campus."
Conor Keniry/SS/3B - R/R - 6-1 - 170
Milford, Conn. (Notre Dame High School of West Haven)
Three-year letterwinner in high school ... Named to American Legion Dream Dozen team in 2008 and 2009 ... Invited to Rawlings Futures Game ... Earned All-Division, All-Conference and All-State as a junior ... Led team with a .405 batting average, two homers, 11 doubles and one triple during junior season ... Played in 2009 Connecticut Junior All-Star Game ... Named All-State Honorable mention in 2008 and was MVP of the Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament ... Honors student and member of Spanish National Honor Society ... Son of Claire Sullivan and Cyril Keniry ... Father played football and baseball at Boston College.
Walter on Keniry: "Conor is a valuable player at our level because he can play just about any position on the diamond. He is a good runner, has great baseball instincts and can really swing the bat. What really made the difference for us though were Conor's intangibles. He plays the game as hard as he possibly can on every single play and demands the best of himself and his teammates. Plain and simple, he is a winner."
John McLeod/LHP - L/L - 6-4 - 185
Renton, Wash. (Liberty HS)
Member of the Washington Nationals team at the 2009 Area Code Games ... Named First Team All-State as a junior ... Recorded a 7-0 record with a 1.63 ERA and 46 strikeouts during junior season ... Led his team to a 20-2 record and a league championship in 2009 ... Team captain during sophomore and junior seasons ... Son of Stew and Darlene McLeod.
Walter on McLeod: "John McLeod is a tall and lanky left handed pitcher with great feel and command. With strength and maturity he should be a big time professional prospect. At the Area Code Games in California this past summer, he was 85- 89 with good secondary stuff. However, the thing that was most impressive was that all three pitches happen out front. That is very rare in a young arm and a good indicator of a high upside."
Charles Morgan/C/3B - L/R - 6-3 - 200
Springfield, Va. (West Springfield HS)
Named First Team All-Region and All-District in 2009 ... Also earned Second Team All-State honors in 2009 ... Hit .493 with four homers, 26 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 2009 ... Had a .787 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage in 2009 ... 2009 Honorable Mention All-Met ... Named Dominion Baseball Player of the Year ... 2008 Second Team All-District ... Named to the Honor Roll all three years of high school ... Son of Trip and Caroline Morgan.
Walter on Morgan: "Charlie is a big, strong left handed hitter who can play a couple different positions on the diamond. He has a very compact swing for a power hitter and will be a middle of the order impact player very early in his career."
Chris Willson/RHP/1B - R/L - 6-5 - 210
West Covina, Calif. (St. Paul HS)
Ranked 234th in the country by Perfect Game ... Three-year letterwinner at St. Paul High School ... Selected to the 2009 Area Code Games ... Invited to participate in the 2009 MLB Southwest All-Star Game ... Named First Team All-League and All-Area in 2009 ... Received 2008-09 All-League Scholar Athlete for baseball ... Hit .325 with six home runs and 23 RBIs during 2009 season ... Also a four-year letterwinner on the football team where he is the team captain in 2009 ... Named All-League Scholar Athlete in football from 2007-09 ... Named to Principal's Honor Roll with Distinction in 2007-08 and 2008-09 ... Son of Jim and Sue Willson ... Mother played softball, tennis and basketball at Eckerd College, while father was a four-year letterman in football at Denison University.
Walter on Willson: "Chris is a legitimate two-way player. He provides us with a power arm and a big left-handed stick. This summer he was 89-94 with good feel for his off speed pitches and body control. He has the perfect make-up to be a dominant end of the game guy. Offensively, he features a left-handed power bat which will make our ballpark look very small."