Coy plans to play at Arizona St. No Matter What
by Ross Martin - St. Joseph News Press
Friday, June 20, 2008

Johnny Coy will play basketball at Arizona State and baseball — somewhere.

A recent seventh-round draft pick of the in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft, Coy still must decide whether to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies or take Arizona State’s offer of also playing collegiate baseball. That decision will be decided by money.

Brian Kohlscheen, Phillies central regional supervisor, met with the Coy family for the second time this week. In an hour-and-a-half conversation, the Phillies offered $50,000 more than their original offer, but according to Coy’s older brother, Dickie, it’s still not enough to assure the signing.

Dickie Coy said scouts from the Phillies have said Johnny was a second-round talent but dropped due to signability issues related to his Division I basketball commitment.

“We had an understanding before the draft that Johnny had to go in a certain round or he might not sign,” Dickie Coy said. “He didn’t go in those rounds, so it’s been up in the air.

“After today, they know it’s going to take a lot more money than what they’re offering.”

The Phillies said earlier this week they would allow Johnny to play basketball at Arizona State and play in their organization. That agreement came in wake of Arizona State baseball coach Pat Murphy’s offer to allow Johnny to play baseball, as well as basketball, for the Sun Devils.

With both offers in place, the Coys now hope to focus on Johnny’s education and his development as an athlete.

“They know Johnny Coy can go back into the draft,” Dickie said. “He has every single advantage you can have (in negotiations).

“We don’t know how good Johnny is at baseball.”

Regardless of the final decision, Coy eventually will have to choose between the two sports, but due to the concessions of Arizona State and the Phillies, that decision can wait.

“We’ll just have to see year by year,” Dickie said. “No. 1, Johnny has to figure out which one he likes the best and, No. 2, which one he’s good at.”

Phillies director of scouting, Marti Woelver, who also was in town earlier this week, returns to St. Joseph today for another workout.

If Johnny signs with the Phillies, they will pay for his education, freeing up another scholarship for Arizona State basketball coach Herb Sendek. If Johnny chooses Arizona State, he could play in a Cape Cod summer league this year, a prestigious opportunity in itself.

“If they give him the money, what we’re told he’s worth, It’ll be no issue. It’ll be an easy decision,” Dickie Coy said.

Assistant sports editor Ross Martin can be reached at rossmartin@npgco.com