This was the case for former Diamond Heel pitcher Cooper Criswell, who in one season recorded a 6-2 record with a 2.99 ERA before getting drafted in the 13th round the following summer.
This year, Forbes hopes JUCO transfer Rom Kellis will follow in Criswell’s footsteps. Kellis can continue his elite batting numbers from Florence-Darlington Technical College at UNC for professional exposure.
“My hope is Rom Kellis comes in here, hits 25 home runs, and gets drafted in the third round and he signs,” Forbes said. “Because if he gets drafted in the third round and hits 25 home runs, we’re going to have a great year.”
The other way the ruling could impact JUCO transfers is if a player struggles in their transition from JUCO to North Carolina while still benefitting from increased eligibility.
The return of senior infielder Jackson Van De Brake for a fifth season of college baseball is one such instance. Prior to UNC, he spent two years at Tacoma Community College.
After a great batting year his junior season, where Van De Brake hit for .307 with eight home runs, he fell into a slump in 2024. But, with the use of the waiver rule from Pavia’s situation, Van De Brake was granted another year of eligibility.
“[The ruling] will just make JUCO baseball better than it ever has been,” Van De Brake said. “More guys will be there. College baseball will be older than it already is. I honestly think it will be good.”
The Diamond Heels often recruit players from premier junior college program Walters State. The likes of Jake Knapp, Alberto Osuna, Max Riemer and Gage Gillian are all current or former UNC players that spent time at Walters State, creating a recruiting pipeline for North Carolina.
Despite this, according to Walters State head coach David Shelton, the ruling’s unpredictable finalization creates uncertainty as to how it may impact programs.
“Who knows what the rules are going to be six months from now?” Shelton said. “It’s almost as if the NCAA can’t make up their mind on what the rules are.”
The Diamond Heels are weighing their options with the murky future ahead and it leaves Forbes with a question: “Is it a need?”
For now, not necessarily.
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But as the ruling inches closer to a final decision, the Walters State-UNC relationship may prove more valuable than ever before.
