Sept. 27, 2005

TUCSON, AZ - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper announced its list of the best NCAA Division I recruiting classes of 2005, ranking the University of San Diego's crop of incoming talent 16th nationally. In preparation for the 2006 season, USD head coach Rich Hill and recruiting coordinator/pitching coach Eric Valenzuela have brought in the most accomplished group of spring roster hopefuls in school history, including fourth-round MLB draft pick LHP Brian Matusz (Cave Creek, AZ).

Matusz, who is the highest prep draft pick to ever attend USD, San Diego Padres 15th-round selection LHP/OF Josh Romanski (Corona, CA) and junior college All-American RHP Anthony Slama (Santa Ana College) should further improve a USD team that has won 30-plus games for six consecutive seasons, including winning back-to-back West Coast Conference Championships in 2002 & 2003.

20 total newcomers comprise the USD recruiting class that is ranked among other nationally recognized programs including No. 15 Miami (Fla.), No. 14 Cal State Fullerton and No. 11 Stanford. Nine drafted players, two high school All-Americans and six all-state junior college players has the University of South Carolina headlining the list at No. 1 overall.

San Diego comes in fourth among all Division I programs located on the West Coast and first among all teams in the West Coast Conference. No. 35 Pepperdine joined USD as the only other WCC team listed in Collegiate Baseball's Top 40.

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top Recruiting Classes of 2005
Complete List of USD Newcomers