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the line of great Louisville catchers just keeps getting longer.

Granite catcher commits to Louisville

He's considered one of the top juniors in the country

BY NORM SANDERS - News-Democrat  

Granite City High junior Jake DePew, one of the top-rated catchers in the Midwest, has given a verbal commitment to play baseball at the University of Louisville.

DePew still has plenty of time before his first chance to sign a letter of intent next November. But he doesn't expect to be changing his mind.

Also in the recruiting mix were Mississippi, Missouri State, Illinois, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Stanford and Michigan, among others.

He took unofficial recruiting visits to Illinois, Ole Miss and Louisville.

"I just felt like it was time to make a decision before things got too crazy," he said. "I liked everything about all the colleges I went to, but the coaching staff at Louisville really helped with my decision.

"They're College World Series contenders every year and that's something I'd like to be part of."

DePew (6-foot, 200 pounds) got a lot of exposure last summer with the St. Louis Pirates travel team.

"We actually played a tournament at Louisville and that's where they got to see me," he said.

Many college coaches and scouts are already rating DePew as one of the top prep catching prospects in the country.

"There's been some people that have told him that he's the best catcher in the 2010 class in the country, so that's a nice thing to hear," said his father, Granite City High baseball coach Daren DePew said. "I think he is, definitely. We've done a lot of traveling this summer and he's one of the best we've seen in the country."

Jake DePew was more of pitcher and shortstop growing up. But with his father having played catcher well into his 30s in college, pro ball and later the Mon-Clair League, his son had no trouble climbing behind the plate.

"It definitely made it easier for me because I always had someone there to teach me," Jake DePew said. "It's made me a better player, definitely. I enjoy catching and I always did it a little bit, but I think I like it more than playing the infield and pitching.

"You're into each and every pitch and you're a leader on the field."

Jake DePew hit .405 last spring with 12 doubles, three triples, two homers and 28 RBIs. He was a second-team pick on the News-Democrat Large-School All-Area team.

As a freshman, DePew hit .337 with seven doubles and 20 RBIs.

Daren DePew was a catcher at Illinois and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville who spent one season in the minor leagues. He also was recruited as a kicker and punter for the Illinois football team, playing there as a linebacker and on special teams.

The younger DePew had been a three-sport varsity starter before giving up football and basketball to concentrate on baseball.

"I put him behind the plate when he got to high school because I thought that was where he was going to end up," he said. "He swings the bat well, he's a good receiver and has solid catching mechanics and a very good arm."

But what makes his son special?

"The one thing in my opinion that sets him apart is his knowledge of the game," Daren DePew said. "He's able to call games and handle situations and people notice that. He plays the same way every day no matter what the situation is."

Contact reporter Norm Sanders at nsanders@bnd.com or 239-2454.