Best Prep Ballplayers to come out of NC in the past 20 years...

This takes us back to the past, just for fun and good conversation.

I've only been living in Charlotte for about 10 years, but I know some of you guys will think of some good ones here. I'm gonna say since the early 1980's until last year (Grads of 2004), who (in your opinion) are some of the best players to come out of North Carolina. If you could, give us a little background information on them such as the college they went to or if they made it to the majors. I think we should get some good responses to this.

 

Hoyt Wilhelm

For most of you older posters:
The most famous knuckle baller...
Hoyt Wilhelm pitched in the majors for well over twenty years with the Yankees ,Orioles, and a few others. He was discovered while pitching out of Cornelius High School in Cornelius, NC. (This was the area High School before North Mecklenburg was built) He still has family in the North Meck area.
Hoyt passed away just a few years ago at his home in Florida.
I am not sure what year Hoyt was inducted in to the Hall of Fame.

 

Sorry

Sorry, I miss understood the post. Hoyt was well over twenty years ago.
Well at least that gives you some history..

 

My picks for two of the top player did infact come out of the good ole West Mecklenburg. Since I live in the area, when I was growing up around here all I can remember is people talking about players at West Meck, so these 2 guys stick out most in my mind.

IF Chad Tracy and P Jason King.

I know most of you guys know who Chad Tracy is, he hit almost .600 his Junior and Senior years at West, and also worked magic with his glove. A lot of people consider him the best to come out of NC, since he did very well at ECU, he set many records, and he played a very good rookie season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He graduated in 1998 I believe.

Jason King was a right handed pitcher that threw absolute gas. I think he threw a no hitter and a 1 hitter in his senior year, and finished with a record of 7-1 or 7-0 with an ERA in the low 1's. He ended up becoming a Tarheel and did fairly well there due to lack of playing time. He graduated last year from UNC. He graduated from West in 98 or 99, I believe it was 1999.


Another one that I've heard so much about, and actually gotten the chance to play with is Donnie Poles.

Donnie played the Outfield and he Pitched for Harding. He was about 6'4", very slender, and got drafted by the Baltimore Orioles or the Chicago White sox out of Pitt Community College. He topped out at 94 in high school I believe, and was originally an outfielder. He's like a living legend in the Coulwood area when it comes to baseball, he was the little league, Middle School, and High School legend coming out of this area. Graduated in 2000 I think.

 

Here's two!

Anthony Pridgen & LaGrande Russell out of Hallsboro HS in Columbus County!

 

Yeah..Donnie has been working out with the South Meck team getting ready for an assignment with KC Royals. He is indeed a stud...but he has retired from pitching.

Chris Jones was a first round pick out of South Meck signed by San Fran. Chris retired this year, got married, had their first child and is living in the Asheville area.

 

Ray Durham out of Harding (1990) ....
2B for SF Giants.... starting his 11th season in the bigs now.

All-Star selection in 1998 and 2000

Still one of the better lead-off hitters in the MLB. I'd say that was fairly decent.

 

Donnie tore his rotator cuff while playing single-A ball for the Royals and wanted to play the infield, but switched to the outfield. It's good to hear he's working out though, at least he hasn't given up.


Ray Durham probably is the best to come out of NC in the past 20 or so years, definately one of the best leadoff guys int he league.

He was also a stud at football, one of the best in Charlotte at the time.

 

I'll tell you a funny story about Donnie. I went to South's tryouts and saw this kid in the cage. He was blasting the ball out of the park. My jaw was dropping!!!! I walked up to Assistant Coach Rummage and asked him who the new kid was. He said, "He's a new transfer from California". I said to myself~ good gosh...SM just got richer!!! I asked Coach Rummage what his name was. He said, "Donnie Poles". It wasn't until much later in the practice that he told me who Donnie was

 

There were some pretty good players out of Columbus County other than Legrande Russell. What about Otis and Donnell Nixon, Patrick Lennon and, oh yes a young righthander named Tommy Greene.