The University of Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Completes Early Fall Signees
11/26/2002 | Baseball
Nov. 26, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss head baseball coach Mike Bianco announced the Rebels' final five signees of the early fall signing period Tuesday. All five will be eligible for the 2003-2004 academic year.
The five signees announced Tuesday were: catcher Justin Brashear, from Barbe High School in Lake Charles, La., centerfielder Miles Franklin, of San Jacinto North Junior College in Texas, left-handed pitcher Matt Maloney, from Manatee (FL) Community College, middle infielder Cooper Osteen, from Indian River (FL) Community College, and third baseman Ben Thomas, from Midland (TX) Junior College.
"We're very excited to have signed Justin," Bianco said. "He's ranked as one of the top high school players by several publications and services. He's an outstanding player and chose us over some great baseball schools. Miles, Matt, Cooper and Ben are all JUCO players, and while we've signed more high school players than JUCOs during the early signing period, we feel these four are outstanding prospects that should help us immediately."
Brashear, 6-feet-2 ? inches, 205 pounds, is considered one of the top 20 high school prospects in the nation as he enters this senior year at Barbe. A two-time All-State selection, he played on the 2001 United States Junior Olympic Team that won the world championship. Over the past two seasons in high school, Brashear has posted a .340 average with seven home runs and 72 RBIs.
Franklin, 5-feet-8, 170 pounds from Pflugerville, Texas, helped San Jacinto North to the championship game of the JUCO Division I World Series last spring. He also played in the Texas Junior College All-Star game this fall. San Jacinto North is the same junior college that produced current Rebel senior outfielder Drew Rogers.
Maloney, 6-feet-3, 205 pounds from Huron, Ohio, will be a freshman this season at Manatee Community College. He was an all-state performer in Ohio.
Osteen, 5-feet-10, 170 pounds, is a switch hitter that was drafted in the 30th round by the Atlanta Braves in last June's Major League Baseball Draft, following his freshman season at Indian River. He earned the team's hitting award and garnered all-state accolades. Osteen played in the Florida Junior College All-Star Tournament during the fall.
Thomas, 6-feet-0, 190 pounds, from Rapid City, S.D., was an all-conference performer, while helping Midland to the conference championship. He batted .386 with six home runs and a team-high 61 RBIs, and also led Midland in doubles (23) and runs scored (64).
Ole Miss signed a total of 13 players during the early fall signing period, seven high school players and six from the junior college ranks. Three of the six pitchers signed by the Rebels were lefties.
Ole Miss is coming off a 37-19 campaign from a year ago, and the Rebels are scheduled to open their 2003 schedule on Friday, Feb. 14 against Louisiana Tech in Oxford.
OLE MISS BASEBALL EARLY FALL SIGNEES
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/School |
| Travis Bogue | LHP | 6-5 | 215 | Madison, Miss./Madison Central HS |
| Justin Brashear | C | 6-2 1/2 | 205 | Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS |
| Tim Dillard | RHP/C | 6-4 | 225 | Saltillo, Miss./Itawamba (Miss.) CC |
| Miles Franklin | CF | 5-8 | 170 | Pflugerville, Texas/San Jacinto North (TX) JC |
| Jon-Jon Hancock | RHP/INF | 6-5 | 210 | Tupelo, Miss./Tupelo |
| Justin Henry | INF | 6-3 | 170 | Vicksburg, Miss./Vicksburg |
| Chris Holloman | LHP | 6-1 | 210 | The Woodlands, Texas/Jones County (Miss.) J.C. |
| Brett Jones | INF/RHP | 6-2 | 190 | Laurel, Miss./Laurel |
| Alex Kliman | C/1B | 6-3 | 195 | Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS |
| Matt Maloney | LHP | 6-3 | 205 | Huron, Ohio/Manatee (FL) JC |
| Cooper Osteen | INF | 5-10 | 170 | Ft. Pierce, Fla./Indian River (FL) CC |
| Ryne Porter | SS | 5-11 | 170 | Germantown, Tenn./Houston HS |
| Ben Thomas | 3B | 6-0 | 190 | Rapid City, S.D./Midland (TX) JC |
