Nov. 19, 2001

COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Maryland baseball coach Terry Rupp and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Gregg Kilby announced Monday that three student-athletes have the Terrapins. Jeremy Hunt (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Matt Maropis (Export, Pa.) and Josh Murray (Tampa, Fla.) will all be members of the baseball team beginning in the 2003 season.

"Coming off a large recruiting class in 2001, our needs for this recruiting class were more specific," commented Kilby. "We feel like we met those needs by signing two of the top infielders in the country along with a two-way player that can help us on the mound and at the plate. All three players were heavily recruited and we are very pleased they chose the University of Maryland."

Hunt (6-2, 210) is a right-handed pitcher/first baseman who hails from St. Petersburg, Fla. Hunt spent the last three seasons at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla. before transferring to Northside Christian this season. Hunt was tabbed the No. 38 prospect in the state of Florida and the nation's No. 187 prospect by Prospect Plus/Baseball America. Last summer, Hunt participated in the Team One National Showcase in Tempe, Arz. while also playing at the Team One East Coast Showcase in Clemson, S.C. At the 2001 Team One Florida tryouts, Hunt was labeled the ninth-best prospect at the tryout. "Jeremy is a strong pitcher who throws consistently in the upper 80s and tops out between 91-92 mph while possessing an advanced breaking ball," said Kilby. "We feel that he will have an immediate impact on our pitching staff and he also has the ability to swing the bat with power."

Maropis (6-0, 165) is from Franklin Regional High School in Marysville, Pa. A skilled middle infielder, Maropis was a key member of Frankin Regional's WPIAL Class AAA championship team last season. Maropis batted .435 for the season and .638 in the team's playoff run. Maropis played in the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Tournament in Jupiter, Fla. and was selected to attend the 2001 East Coast Professional Showcase by Major League Baseball scouts. One of the top players in Pennsylvania, Maropis was rated as the 19th-best prospect in the state according to Prospect Plus/Baseball America. "Matt is one of the top middle infielders in the Mid-Atlantic region," commented Kilby. "He is very skilled defensively and he handles the bat well. We feel that he has the opportunity to impact our program right away."

Murray (6-2, 170) is the second future Terp from the Sunshine State. A product of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla., Murray is a former teammate of Jeremy Hunt and Jesuit High School is also the same school that Maryland coach Terry Rupp attended during his prep career. One of the top middle infielders in the state, Murray was selected as the 79th-best prospect in Florida by Prospect Plus/Baseball America. After missing the 2000 season with an injury, Murray had a terrific summer and fall season. Murray was the starting shortstop for Team Florida USA that won the 2001 USA Baseball Junior Olympic Tournament. He was also part of the second-place team at the Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Tournament and was also selected to play in the Florida Diamond Club Showcase. A first-team all-tournament selection at the Blue/Gray Classic Showcase, Murray also won the Golden Glove at the Arby's Super Seven East Cobb Classic in Marietta, Ga. "Josh is an outstanding middle infielder that has excelled this past summer and fall against top-notch competition," said Kilby. "We believe his best days are still ahead of him and he has a very bright future at the University of Maryland."