MOUNT OLIVE - Mount Olive baseball coach Carl Lancaster isn't shy when talking about the impact former Apex High star Michael Knox has had on the Trojans program.

"He's top shelf," Lancaster says of the 6-foot-4, 230-pound redshirt junior. "He's the best thing that's happened to us. On top of being a good player, he's the type kid we want in our program. He makes all A's, a B once in a while, others look up to him and he lives his life like he's supposed to. And on the baseball field he works his tail off. I think he really appreciates the opportunity to play."

In less than two full years Knox has hit with power like no other player in Mount Olive history.

He holds the school record with four homers in a game, most home runs in a season (24) and most home runs in a career (42). He also hit for the cycle - a home run, triple, double and single - earlier this year.

Knox has posted those numbers even though every pitcher he faces knows he is dangerous. After he hit four consecutive home runs earlier this season, he was walked nine times in a row, including seven intentionally. In 134 at-bats this season, he has 18 home runs and he has been walked 47 times. He is hitting .373 and his on-base percentage is .541.

Knox signed with the University of North Carolina after graduating from Apex and went to UNC two years. He redshirted his freshman year and then had knee surgery. After the fall workouts his sophomore year, new NCAA rules reduced the number of roster spots on baseball teams and Knox was released from the North Carolina program.

"I understand why they did it," Knox said. "They didn't know if I'd be able to come back after the knee and they had the new roster limits. I wanted to get my diploma from Carolina, but I wasn't ready to quit playing baseball. It was either go to another Division I school and sit out a year or go Division II and play right away. I met with the coaches and felt good about Mount Olive. I knew I could come here and play right away and not be far from home."

Mount Olive won the NCAA Division II title in 2008. Last year the Trojans lost in regional play to Francis Marion. This season Mount Olive (35-6) won the Conference Carolinas title and is ranked No. 1 in Division II in the Collegiate Baseball Top 10. The regional playoffs are May 19-22. Mount Olive is the host school for the national championship series at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. The complex is only a couple of miles from Knox's parents' house.

"We've got a lot of guys back and after last year we're really motivated to get to Cary," Knox said.

In June, Knox would like to hear his name called in the major league draft. He is eligible to sign a contract and play professionally, or he could return to Mount Olive for another season while working on his Business Management degree.

The NCAA adopted new rules for bats this year, taking out some of the pop out. While home run production has dropped in college baseball, Knox is hitting one every 7.4 at-bats compared to one every 8.1 at-bats last year.

Scouts know about his power, but he has been used almost exclusively as a designated hitter and doesn't usually play in the field. Nevertheless, 42 home runs in two seasons shouldn't go unnoticed.

"Everybody knows he can hit," Lancaster said.

Knox said he'd like to play professional baseball, but that he enjoys college ball, too.

"I hope to get drafted," Knox said. "And if it works out fine. If not, I plan on coming back. I like it here."