I know we have a draft thread, but I thought this was pretty cool.
UNI JR forward Lucas O'Rear was recruited heavily for baseball and basketball out of high school. He picked UNI to play basketball, and baseball. He didn't play his freshman year (due to a shoulder injury I believe). He played his sophomore year, but the team was cut following the season. today in the draft he was picked up by the Reds in the 13th round at number 397.
This meant Lucas had a big decision to make. He had some pretty good offers from some B12 schools for baseball, however, he turned those down to return to UNI and play basketball and was a vital part of the S16 run.
Southern Illinois fans are pretty familiar with him as it was between SIU and UNI during his recruitment.
He is a south paw pitcher than can hit the mid 90's with his fast ball.
He has only played one year of competitive baseball since high school, so him going in the 13th round shows his potential. He has said that he is pretty sure he will play basketball next year, hard choice to make clearly, but a lot of this may depend on the Reds. Apparently the plan right now is for him to go play Rookie ball and then come back to play basketball before going to play baseball full time.
However, it will depend on what the Reds want to do. It seems odd to me that the Reds would let their 13th round pick play D1 basketball another year, but they had to have known the risk before taking him.
UNI basketball player gets drafted by the Reds
Re: UNI basketball player gets drafted by the Reds
http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010 ... mlb-draft/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Lucas O'Rear had another surprise in store.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Northern Iowa forward, who helped the Panthers upset tournament favorite Kansas on the way to a Cinderella Sweet 16 run, was selected as a pitcher in the 13th round of the Major League draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
O'Rear, whose physique and sideburns could both be described as massive, and became something of a March Madness icon, might have seemed like an unlikely choice as the Panthers no longer have a baseball program.
However, O'Rear, who pitched for the Panthers as a sophomore, was a talented enough pitcher that he was invited to Perfect Game USA's 2010 Pre-Draft Showcase. According to the game's scouting report, O'Rear throws in the low 90s, however, reports after the game indicated O'Rear's velocity was down due to a lack of preparation, after the basketball season ran unexpectedly long for the Panthers.
O'Rear, a junior, told the GazetteOnline.com he likely planned to pursue his senior year in basketball and follow his baseball career afterward.
As a sophomore, O'Rear made 10 appearances for the Panthers and struck out 15 batters in 17 1/3 innings, with a 4.67 ERA.
Lucas O'Rear had another surprise in store.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Northern Iowa forward, who helped the Panthers upset tournament favorite Kansas on the way to a Cinderella Sweet 16 run, was selected as a pitcher in the 13th round of the Major League draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
O'Rear, whose physique and sideburns could both be described as massive, and became something of a March Madness icon, might have seemed like an unlikely choice as the Panthers no longer have a baseball program.
However, O'Rear, who pitched for the Panthers as a sophomore, was a talented enough pitcher that he was invited to Perfect Game USA's 2010 Pre-Draft Showcase. According to the game's scouting report, O'Rear throws in the low 90s, however, reports after the game indicated O'Rear's velocity was down due to a lack of preparation, after the basketball season ran unexpectedly long for the Panthers.
O'Rear, a junior, told the GazetteOnline.com he likely planned to pursue his senior year in basketball and follow his baseball career afterward.
As a sophomore, O'Rear made 10 appearances for the Panthers and struck out 15 batters in 17 1/3 innings, with a 4.67 ERA.