Arkansas Lands CB’s Top Recruiting Class 0

by • Featured

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

TUCSON, Ariz. — For the first time in history, Arkansas has won Collegiate Baseball’s national recruiting championship.

It is the 41st consecutive year Collegiate Baseball has evaluated NCAA Div. I recruiting classes.

Athletes who initially signed letters of intent with a school but then signed a pro contract after being drafted do not count in the overall evaluation.

Only athletes who came to school this fall are factored in.

The Razorbacks landed a star-studded class that features 24 newcomers, including 14 freshmen, nine 4-year transfers and one junior college transfer.

“It is the best recruiting class in the nation,” said Arkansas Recruiting Coordinator Nate Thompson.

“Our 2023 class features seven Perfect Game top 100 prospects plus two other players who were listed in MLB Pipeline’s top 250 prospects for the draft.

“That’s a new record for Perfect Game top 100 prospects to make it to campus.”

If that wasn’t enough, Sixty-Four Analytics ranked the Razorbacks’ transfer portal class second in the nation. 

The class is led by:

  • RHP Gabe Gaeckle (Aptos H.S., CA), 20th round pick by Reds.
  • C Ryder Helfrick (Clayton Valley H.S, CA), Collegiate Baseball All-American.
  • LHP Hunter Dietz (Calvary Christian H.S., FL), Collegiate Baseball All-American.
  • LHP Adam Hachman (Timberland H.S., MO), All-American.
  • INF Nolan Souza (Punahou H.S., HI), All-American.
  • 1B Ty Waid (Arkansas H.S., AR), All-State.
  • LHP Tucker Holland (The Burlington School, N.C.), All-State.
  • RHP Tate McGuire (Liberty North H.S., MO), Gatorade Missouri Player of The Year, Collegiate Baseball All-American.
  • LHP Colin Fisher (Noble H.S., OK), All-State.
  • LHP Mason Molina (transfer from Texas Tech., All-Big 12 second team, 6-2, 3.67 ERA).
  • SS Wehiwa Aloy (transfer from Sacramento St., Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, .376, 14 HR, 15 2B, 46 RBI).
  • 1B Jack Wagner (transfer from Tarleton St., 15 HR, 56 RBI).
  • C Hudson White (transfer from Texas Tech., former Big 12 Freshman of Year, hit 11 HR with 49 RBI in 2023).
  • INF Jared Sprague-Lott (transfer from Richmond), All-Atlantic 10, .314, 13 HR, 13 2B, 43 RBI).
  • OF Lincoln Riley (transfer from Eastern Illinois, .307, 11 2B, 4 HR, 51 runs scored).
  • OF Ty Wilmsmeyer (transfer from Missouri, .311, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 21 SB).
  • OF Ross Lovich (transfer from Missouri, .306, 4 HR, 20 RBI).
  • Will Edmunson (transfer from Hutchinson C.C., KS, Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference MVP after hitting .454 with 17 2B, 51 RBI, 15 SB).

NOTE: A complete rundown on the top 25 recruiting classes is featured in the Oct. 1, 2023 issue of Collegiate Baseball. A chart also breaks down the top 50 classes in the nation as far as total number of new players for each school and how many freshmen, junior college and 4-year transfers were brought in. A record number of players were landed by ranked teams from the NCAA Div. I transfer portal. It also lists 81 other teams that received votes. To purchase this issue, CLICK HERE.

Collegiate Baseball’s
Top 50 Recruiting Classes

  1. Arkansas                     
  2. UCLA                                                           
  3. Tennessee                           
  4. Florida                        
  5. Louisiana St.                   
  6. Vanderbilt                                                                   
  7. Georgia                       
  8. Texas A&M
  9. Texas                 
  10. Mississippi St.
  11. Mississippi                                                                
  12. North Carolina                         
  13. Texas Tech.                              
  14. Alabama                          
  15. Louisville                       
  16. Auburn
  17. Indiana
  18. Florida St.
  19. Georgia Tech.
  20. Oregon
  21. South Carolina
  22. Virginia
  23. Clemson
  24. N.C. State
  25. Oregon St.
  26. East Carolina
  27. Duke
  28. Miami, Fla.
  29. Stanford
  30. Southern California
  31. Michigan
  32. Wake Forest
  33. Coastal Carolina
  34. Notre Dame
  35. Texas Christian
  36. Oklahoma
  37. U.C. Santa Barbara
  38. Oklahoma St.
  39. Cal. St. Fullerton
  40. Kentucky
  41. West Virginia
  42. Wichita St.
  43. Arizona St.
  44. San Diego St.
  45. Virginia Tech.
  46. Long Beach St.
  47. Maryland
  48. Dallas Baptist
  49. Oral Roberts
  50. Grand Canyon

Previous NCAA Div. I
Recruiting Champions
By Collegiate Baseball

2022: Louisiana St.
2021: UCLA
2020: Miami (Fla.)
2019: Vanderbilt
2018: Louisiana St.
2017: Vanderbilt
2016: Arizona St.
2015: Florida
2014: Louisiana St.
2013: Florida
2012: Vanderbilt
2011: South Carolina
2010: Louisiana St.
2009: Florida
2008: Arizona St.
2007: Louisiana St.
2006: South Carolina
2005: South Carolina
2004: Louisiana St.
2003: North Carolina
MMMlSouth Carolina
2002: Georgia Tech.
2001: Southern California
2000: Cal. St. Fullerton
1999: Southern California
1998: Georgia Tech.
1997: UCLA
1996: Texas A&M
1995: Arizona St.
1994: Mississippi St.
1993: Miami (Fla.)
1992: Florida St.
1991: Miami (Fla.)
1990: Arizona
1989: Florida St.
1988: Miami (Fla.)
1987: Stanford
1986: Stanford
1985: Hawaii
1984: Florida St.
1983: Arizona St.

Source: Collegiate Baseball