KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team officially welcomed in a slew of new talent on Tuesday, signing one of the most impressive classes in the country for the 2015 season under head coach Mike Sansing.
 
The group includes five All-Americans with four players ranked in the top 330 players in the country with those four also ranked in the top 30 in the state of Georgia.  Three other players are also ranked in the top 500 and one in the top 1,000 with the class as a whole ranked in the top 40 nationally.
 
"We couldn't be more excited about this group," Sansing said of his signing class. "The kids we're bringing in are going to meet some significant needs in our program and we're looking forward to having them fill those voids. We thoroughly enjoyed this recruiting process with these young men who all come from great families. This group is such a great fit for the university and their families.
 
"I also have to give credit to (assistant head coach) Kevin Erminio and (assistant coach) Derek Simmons who put in a lot of work during the spring and summer to add these men. They met all of our needs as a program and we're extremely appreciative of them and their hard work."
 
KSU welcomes in outfielders Will Campbell and T.J. Riles, catcher Griffin Helms, infielder Jared Walker and right-handed pitchers Tony Dibrell, Logan Hicks, Logan Hutchinson, A.J. Moore and Brock Turner.
 
Campbell, a 5-11 outfielder out of Etowah High School, was named a 2013 Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention and is ranked in the top 500 nationally. During his time at Etowah, Campbell earned First Team All-Region and All-County while being named the team's Offensive MVP after posting a .395 average with 13 homers his junior season.
 
Sansing on Campbell: "He is a solid player who can play all three outfield positions. Will is a tremendous hitter and we feel he will hit for not only power but also for a high average which is rare to find.  He comes from a great background and has the work ethic to be a great player for us."
 
Tony Dibrell, a 6-3, 200 pound right-handed pitcher, arrives as a Perfect Game All-American Honorable Mention as well as a top 500 player in the nation from Chattahoochee High School. Dibrell was a Second Team All-Region player and was the Chattahoochee Player of the Year while also earning one varsity letter in football.
 
Sansing on Dibrell: "Tony is someone we have seen grow as a pitcher and he came to our camp last fall and was touching 90 with a power slider and really took off from there.  His stuff will translate very well at the collegiate level and he also excels in the classroom."
 
Griffin Helms, a 6-0 catcher out of Norcross High School, earned Third Team All-American accolades and is ranked as the top catcher in the state of Georgia. A 2013 Power Showcase All-American, Griffin comes in highly decorated, having been named the 2013 Outstanding Season and All-Tournament Team  by the Georgia Dugout Club, a Sonic High School Player of the Week, Gwinnett County Dugout Club Player of the Month and a First Team All-County player.
 
Sansing on Helms:  "Extremely athletic catcher who can also play multiple positions. He can really run and hits with power but we like how he plays with energy and has plus makeup with great leadership skills which is of great value behind the plate.  He is very detailed oriented which has made him have great success in the classroom as well.  Griffin will be entertaining for Owl fans for many years."
 
Logan Hicks, a 6-5, 270 pound right-handed pitcher, comes in with All-American Honorable Mention honors as well as a No. 19 ranking among pitchers in Georgia. The three-year varsity starter from Oconee High School brings in Georgia Dugout Club Top 100 accolades and was named the Pitcher's Ace Award winner in 2011.
 
Sansing on Hicks: "A big and strong right handed pitcher with a loose arm and heavy fastball with run and sink that we have seen up to 91.  Logan continues to make strides every time our staff sees him and we feel once he is in our program, he will develop even further."
 
Logan Hutchinson, a 5-11 right-handed pitcher, was named an All-American Honorable Mention player and is ranked in the top 1,000 in the nation. Hutchinson, out of Lowndes High School, was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the East Cobb Invitational while earning First Team All-Region honors. During the 2013 season, was named the Lowndes High School Pitcher of the Year as a four year starter, posting a 1.69 ERA in 53 innings with 65 strikeouts his junior year.
 
Sansing on Hutchinson: "Logan is a hardworking, ultra-competitive right handed pitcher with a sharp breaking ball and has above average command on his fastball.  What really stood out about him is that he wants the ball every time out which will give him the opportunity to help our staff in so many different roles.  Aside from baseball, Logan is a 4.0 student with great work ethic off the field."

A.J. Moore, a 6-4, 210 pound right-handed pitcher, was a Second Team All-American during the 2013 season as the No. 4 ranked high school pitcher in the state out of Mountain View HS. Moore was named the 2012 and 2013 Outstanding Pitcher by the Gwinnett Dugout Club and is a two-year All-County player.

Sansing on Moore: "Impact pitcher in our class and we feel he is capable of coming in and pitching as a freshman.  A.J. has dominated the high school competition and has won about every accolade a pitcher can win.  He will throw three quality pitches for strikes and run it up there to 92 while filling up the strike zone.  We are very excited about A.J.'s future here as an Owl."

Brock Turner, a 6-2 right-handed pitcher and transfer from Middle Georgia College, comes to KSU after posting a 5-1 record with a 1.66 ERA in 38 innings pitched at MGC including a 0.32 ERA in league games only. During his time at Madison High School, Turner posted a school record-breaking ERA of 0.63 in 55 innings of work as a First Team All-Region player.

Sansing on Turner: "Experienced junior college arm that has been successful collegiately and can help us immediately. Brock has a quick, live arm with a plus breaking ball.  With him we continue our history of getting the best junior college arms in the state, year end and year out.  Brock is also an excellent student which will make for an easy transition to KSU." 

T.J. Riles, a 6-2 outfielder out of Woodland High School, garnered Third Team All-American accolades in while ranked as the No. 8 outfielder in Georgia. Riles was named a 2013 High School All Star by the Atlanta Braves 400 Fan Club and was a First Team All-Region player as a junior.

Sansing on Riles: "Comes from great bloodlines from which his dad played 9 years in the Major Leagues but T.J. is a special player of his own right.  He does so many things well and has a chance to be a 5-tool player but it's his game changing speed on the bases that defines him.  Every time our staff sees him, he continues to impress and does things players his age shouldn't be doing.  T.J. is diligent in the classroom and we look forward to working with him on a daily basis."

Jared Walker, the lone infielder in the mix, comes in at 6-3 out of McEachern High School with an All-American prep background. Also spending time in the outfield, Walker is rated as the No. 2 third baseman and No. 3 outfielder in the state. Walker was a three-year letter winner and was named a 2013 Outstanding Season Player by the Georgia Dugout Club.

Sansing on Walker: "Very athletic player who has the ability to play several positions and possess a lot of Big League tools.  Jared has plus arm strength with the aptitude to be a high level hitter.  With his 6'3 frame, we feel he has the chance to be a middle of the order type bat with plus power for the Owls.  Jared is a special kid with great passion for the game and his high character will be a great asset to our program."

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
   

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video