Clemson #13 in Baseball America's Recruiting Rankings

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DURHAM, N.C.—By bringing in a deep class filled with impact players from the high school and junior college ranks, Arizona State earned the top spot in Baseball America's 2008 recruiting class rankings. The Sun Devils have now landed top-three classes five times since BA's recruiting rankings began in 2000, but this is their first No. 1 class since 2000.

Freshmen Zach Wilson, Riccio Torrez, Zack MacPhee and Abe Ruiz give the Sun Devils a formidable infield for the future, and two-way players Jordan Swagerty and Kole Calhoun give the class versatility. Calhoun, catcher Carlos Ramirez and lefthander Josh Spence are junior college transfers who will make an immediate impact for ASU.

The next four classes all came from Southeastern Conference schools. Vanderbilt, which topped these rankings in 2005, placed second, followed by Georgia and Kentucky, which both earned their highest rankings ever. Florida rounded out the top five. Arkansas and Mississippi placed eighth and 11th, respectively, to give the SEC six of the top 11 classes.

UCLA, whose class includes the only unsigned first-round pick to attend college this year in Gerrit Cole, came in at No. 7 for the second consecutive year. Oregon, which will revive its long-dormant program in 2009, checked in at No. 10 with the nation's largest class. Defending national champion Fresno State, which also brought in a large class, cracked BA's recruiting rankings for the first time, placing 17th.

Four-year transfers were not considered for BA's rankings, just freshmen and junior college transfers. For detailed breakdowns on the top 25 classes, visit www.baseballamerica.com

2008 RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS

1. Arizona State


2. Vanderbilt


3. Georgia


4. Kentucky


5. Florida


6. Texas A&M


7. UCLA


8. Arkansas


9. Texas Christian


10. Oregon


11. Mississippi


12. Texas


13. Clemson


14. Virginia


15. Cal State Fullerton


16. Wichita State


17. Fresno State


18. Stanford


19. Oklahoma State


20. Louisville


21. Pepperdine


22. Southern California


23. North Carolina State


24. Florida State


25. Duke

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