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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Wilson wows nationally in dream summer
8/6/2022 11:00:00 AM | Baseball, Paul Coro
GCU star becomes elite pro prospect after Cape Cod, national team play
When Jacob Wilson and his Grand Canyon baseball teammates left Oklahoma crushed by an NCAA regional loss in early June, he needed a pick-me-up.
The ensuing two months became a bonanza of baseball bliss for Wilson. Since then, the Lopes shortstop thrived in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, made and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, celebrated his father joining the GCU staff and marveled at mock drafts projecting him as high as the No. 2 overall pick for next year's MLBÂ Draft.
"It all happened so fast, but it was probably the most fun one that I've had ever," Wilson said. "It was an amazing summer overall and I enjoyed every bit of it."
After being a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist on his second NCAA regional team at GCU, Wilson did not lose steam when the season ended.
With three days to be home in Thousand Oaks, California, Wilson was packing to play in Massachusetts' Cape Cod when he learned that he was among 48 invitees for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.
That made for a brief stop at Cape Cod, where he arrived on the eve of the June 12 opening day. Wilson still delivered with the switch to a wood bat and his usual slick glove. In 10 games, he went 10 for 36 with six walks for a .381 on-base percentage.
"Those guys in the Cape are the real deal," said Wilson, who enjoyed facing GCU teammates Homer Bush Jr. and Connor Markl. "Everybody who gets the invite to go there is a stud."
Before June was over, Wilson was headed for North Carolina and arrived on the day of the first camp practice. He barely had processed the sight of a swag bag of red-white-and-blue gear when he was wearing it and vying for a summer roster spot.
"It pumps you up," Wilson said. "Getting all the USA stuff was cool. I took a nice photo of all of it laid out on the bed. It was super cool to put on that stuff and play the game that I've loved for so long."
Wilson earned his way onto the 26-player team by leading nearly every offensive category in five "Stars vs Stripes" games. He went 7 for 15 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
"Having the honor just to get invited was super awesome," Wilson said. "I was just happy to be there. Just being there was a super-cool experience overall. To end up making the team was an absolute honor to wear those colors in the Netherlands."
But more was developing in his baseball world before he headed to Europe. Andy Stankiewicz called Wilson to tell him he was moving from GCU to be USC's head coach. Wilson temporarily entered the transfer portal as a precaution but it was a short stay once GCU turned quickly to longtime assistant Gregg Wallis to be its new head coach.
"Once they hired Wally, everybody was in," Wilson said. "Wally called me and said, 'Hey, I got the job. Obviously, we want you back.' I was like, 'Yeah, I'm coming back. You've been recruiting me since I was a freshman in high school. I want to come and play for you.' "
Wilson was already on board before he learned of an even closer tie on the new staff. Wallis picked Jack Wilson, Jacob's father and a former 12-year MLB player, to be a Lopes assistant coach.
Until his first two GCU seasons, Jacob had been coached by Jack at every baseball level, including as his high school varsity coach.
"We had a huge family discussion about it and I was all in," Jacob said. "I'm super pumped to play for him again and have Wally return. I was going to come back if Wally was coming back. The fact that he added my dad to the conversation was a bonus.
"Wally recruited everybody. He works hard. He's a great coach. He's about the players. He's a very compassionate coach for the game. We're all excited to get back to school and get back to work."
Jacob will be back at GCU Ballpark soon, but he is taking a mini-break after the USA Baseball trip to the Netherlands, where he went 4 for 11 without an error on the Honkbalweek Haarlem bronze-medal team.
The experience impacted him beyond the field with equally impactful memories, including a bus ride on which he talked hitting approaches with LSU star Dylan Crews.
"I got to meet some big names in college baseball – Dylan Crews, Enrique Bradfield (of Vanderbilt) and Jacob Gonzalez (of Ole Miss)," Jacob said. "It's super fun to make friends when you've just heard their names in college baseball and seen them play through highlights. There was a special bond to meet people who love the game the same way you do."
But Jacob is now a big name in college baseball, too.
ESPN ranked Jacob as the No. 2 prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft after seeing his summer work and his all-around game at GCU, where he led the nation last season for lowest strikeout frequency (seven strikeouts in 275 plate appearances).
"What an incredible summer for Jacob," Wallis said. "He continues to prove he is one of the best players in the country, and we are so proud of all his accomplishments. He's worked tirelessly to get to this point, and there is no end in sight."
Jacob is also considered as the nation's No. 4 college prospect by D1Baseball.com and the No. 12 overall prospect by Baseball America.
"To see where all these respected people have me in the future is really cool, but nothing is for sure," Jacob said. "I still have to get to work. I still have to perform. I'm going to work hard and try to get better with my teammates. I'm just going to focus on getting to another regional and even winning it and going to the College World Series."
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The ensuing two months became a bonanza of baseball bliss for Wilson. Since then, the Lopes shortstop thrived in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, made and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, celebrated his father joining the GCU staff and marveled at mock drafts projecting him as high as the No. 2 overall pick for next year's MLBÂ Draft.
"It all happened so fast, but it was probably the most fun one that I've had ever," Wilson said. "It was an amazing summer overall and I enjoyed every bit of it."
After being a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist on his second NCAA regional team at GCU, Wilson did not lose steam when the season ended.
With three days to be home in Thousand Oaks, California, Wilson was packing to play in Massachusetts' Cape Cod when he learned that he was among 48 invitees for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.That made for a brief stop at Cape Cod, where he arrived on the eve of the June 12 opening day. Wilson still delivered with the switch to a wood bat and his usual slick glove. In 10 games, he went 10 for 36 with six walks for a .381 on-base percentage.
"Those guys in the Cape are the real deal," said Wilson, who enjoyed facing GCU teammates Homer Bush Jr. and Connor Markl. "Everybody who gets the invite to go there is a stud."
Before June was over, Wilson was headed for North Carolina and arrived on the day of the first camp practice. He barely had processed the sight of a swag bag of red-white-and-blue gear when he was wearing it and vying for a summer roster spot.
"It pumps you up," Wilson said. "Getting all the USA stuff was cool. I took a nice photo of all of it laid out on the bed. It was super cool to put on that stuff and play the game that I've loved for so long."
Wilson earned his way onto the 26-player team by leading nearly every offensive category in five "Stars vs Stripes" games. He went 7 for 15 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI.
"Having the honor just to get invited was super awesome," Wilson said. "I was just happy to be there. Just being there was a super-cool experience overall. To end up making the team was an absolute honor to wear those colors in the Netherlands."
But more was developing in his baseball world before he headed to Europe. Andy Stankiewicz called Wilson to tell him he was moving from GCU to be USC's head coach. Wilson temporarily entered the transfer portal as a precaution but it was a short stay once GCU turned quickly to longtime assistant Gregg Wallis to be its new head coach.
"Once they hired Wally, everybody was in," Wilson said. "Wally called me and said, 'Hey, I got the job. Obviously, we want you back.' I was like, 'Yeah, I'm coming back. You've been recruiting me since I was a freshman in high school. I want to come and play for you.' "Wilson was already on board before he learned of an even closer tie on the new staff. Wallis picked Jack Wilson, Jacob's father and a former 12-year MLB player, to be a Lopes assistant coach.
Until his first two GCU seasons, Jacob had been coached by Jack at every baseball level, including as his high school varsity coach.
"We had a huge family discussion about it and I was all in," Jacob said. "I'm super pumped to play for him again and have Wally return. I was going to come back if Wally was coming back. The fact that he added my dad to the conversation was a bonus.
"Wally recruited everybody. He works hard. He's a great coach. He's about the players. He's a very compassionate coach for the game. We're all excited to get back to school and get back to work."
Jacob will be back at GCU Ballpark soon, but he is taking a mini-break after the USA Baseball trip to the Netherlands, where he went 4 for 11 without an error on the Honkbalweek Haarlem bronze-medal team.
The experience impacted him beyond the field with equally impactful memories, including a bus ride on which he talked hitting approaches with LSU star Dylan Crews.
"I got to meet some big names in college baseball – Dylan Crews, Enrique Bradfield (of Vanderbilt) and Jacob Gonzalez (of Ole Miss)," Jacob said. "It's super fun to make friends when you've just heard their names in college baseball and seen them play through highlights. There was a special bond to meet people who love the game the same way you do."But Jacob is now a big name in college baseball, too.
ESPN ranked Jacob as the No. 2 prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft after seeing his summer work and his all-around game at GCU, where he led the nation last season for lowest strikeout frequency (seven strikeouts in 275 plate appearances).
"What an incredible summer for Jacob," Wallis said. "He continues to prove he is one of the best players in the country, and we are so proud of all his accomplishments. He's worked tirelessly to get to this point, and there is no end in sight."
Jacob is also considered as the nation's No. 4 college prospect by D1Baseball.com and the No. 12 overall prospect by Baseball America.
"To see where all these respected people have me in the future is really cool, but nothing is for sure," Jacob said. "I still have to get to work. I still have to perform. I'm going to work hard and try to get better with my teammates. I'm just going to focus on getting to another regional and even winning it and going to the College World Series."
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