June 20, 2002

Russ Adams

CHAPEL HILL - Russ Adams, Chris Maples and Adam Greenberg were all honored as 2002 All-Americas by Baseball America on Wednesday. Adams was a first-team selection at second base, Maples was a second-team pick as an outfielder and Greenberg earned third-team honors in the outfield.

Adams, now a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization after being selected with the 14th overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft on June 4, led the Tar Heels in 2002 with a .370 batting average, 45 steals and 52 walks, while his 94 hits, 20 doubles, three triples and 75 runs ranked second on the team. Adams burst onto the national scene by being named the top professional prospect last summer in the Cape Cod League, and he carried that momentum into the 2002 season and had a terrific year for the Tar Heels, where he is a finalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, given annually by the MLB Players Association to the top amateur baseball player in America.

Adams, who played four different positions in 2002 as a junior, put together one of the finest seasons in UNC history before becoming UNC's 10th first-round draft pick in school history earlier this month. His 94 hits in 2002 were the sixth most ever in a single season at Carolina, his 20 doubles ranked seventh, his 75 runs ranked fourth, his 45 steals ranked third and his 52 walks ranked fourth. He was also a third-team All-America pick by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Maples, a senior in 2002 from Hillsborough who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round, set new school records last year for total bases (190) and extra-base hits (48) and hit .347 with 23 home runs, 24 doubles and 79 RBIs. He also he emerged as a top prospect on the mound, leading the Tar Heels with five saves in 21 appearances and had a 2.45 ERA in his first season ever as a pitcher. Maples was also a first-team All-America pick by Collegiate Baseball and a first-team All-ACC selection.

Greenberg, a centerfielder from Guilford, Conn., signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs organization after being drafted in the ninth round following a standout junior season. Greenberg started 163 consecutive games for Carolina over the last three seasons and batted .337 with 17 home runs, 57 RBIs, 35 steals and a UNC-record 80 runs scored from the leadoff position in 2002. His name appears throughout the Carolina career record book, with his 253 hits (fifth), 45 doubles (seventh), 17 triples (first), 201 runs scored (second), 92 steals (fourth), 124 walks (third) all ranking among the best in school history. Greenberg was also named first-team All-ACC and was a third-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball.

Catcher Chris Iannetta was honored earlier in the week by Baseball America as a second-team freshman All-America.

The only other time in school history three different Tar Heels earned All-America honors in one season was in 1994, when Cookie Massey, Thad Chrismon and Manny DaSilva were all honored.