SAUNDERSTOWN, R.I. - Stay near home or play in the south?

That was the dilemma for Evan Maloney.

“It definitely was not an easy decision,” admitted the North Kingstown junior about choosing between Rhode Island and Wake Forest. “In the end, I just thought that going south to be on my own would do a lot to help prepare me for the future and make myself better every day.”

Thus, the 33rd-rated 2022 right-handed pitcher in New England is headed to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I’ve been there once,” Maloney reflected about  his college of choice. “I went to a lot of schools on the east coast when I was visiting my brother at college.”

Maloney remembers Wake Forest well on his trip to Georgetown to see his older sibling.

“They have crazy facilities,” Maloney said. “It was nothing I had seen before. They were top notch.”

Interest from Wake began a little more than a year ago.

“They saw me pitch in a tournament the summer of 2019 and I threw well,” Maloney explained. “My velocity wasn’t great to get in serious talks, but they saw I could pitch.

“This year I wasn’t talking to them a lot, I was trying to gain weight and get stronger. With the dead period it was hard to get yourself out there. I played in some tournaments in the south, one PBR, and my velocity was still not where it needed to be. But I was pitching well against committed players. That helped put me in a better situation to talk with coaches.”

By early August, the 6-4 178-pounder had an offer from Wake Forest.

“We talked in July when I got back from the south,” Maloney related. “Our conversation was about competition. I also sent them a video and it was good enough to get an offer. The Future Games was the last time they saw me before the offer, so that definitely helped.”

The 115th-ranked New England junior accepted on Aug. 12, less than a week after playing for Team Connecticut at the PBR event in Pennsylvania where Maloney threw three scoreless innings.

“They like that I throw strikes,” Maloney said. “I don’t walk a lot of guys. I compete and have command with three pitches that I throw for strikes.”

While the fastball is up 3-4 miles an hour in the last year, topping at 85, Maloney understands more velocity is imperative.

“It still is not where it needs to be,” the third-rated 2022 RHP in Rhode Island said. “My main focus is putting on more weight. This past month I’ve put on nine or 10 pounds. Bigger and stronger will help the velocity go up.”

The idea of playing baseball at the next level only materialized two years ago for Maloney.

“In seventh and eighth grade I wasn’t thinking much of it but then my freshman year I went with a team to compete in a national tournament and I did well with them,” Maloney noted. “That’s when I realized if I really work at this I can be as good as anybody.”

Summer before sophomore year of high school Maloney received his first offer.

“It caught me by surprise,” Maloney admitted. “I never pictured getting it that early. I had talks with my dad about it and I knew I wanted to wait. I wouldn’t have gone to Wake if I’d jumped at the first offer.”

His father did more than give advice on the initial offer according to Maloney.

“My dad pushes me every day,” Maloney said in listing his biggest influences in baseball. “He helps me every day. My high school coaches have also helped since I was seven or eight years old. My summer coaches have also been big, getting me exposure pitching against great competition. All my athletic trainers were big as well in helping me get bigger and stronger.”

Maloney, who also considered Bryant in addition to URI and Wake Forest, believes he can benefit the ACC program.

“On the field I know I’ll compete every time I’m out there,” Maloney said. “Off the field I’ll work hard on academics and on getting stronger.”

Undecided on a major, with physical therapy as a possibility, the 3.65 student enjoyed the recruiting process that has now come to an end.

“The coaches I talked to were great,” Maloney pointed out. “They told me how to get better and about training to compete at the Division I level. That helped me a lot. But it was also stressful, talking to coaches and having to decide.”

Just 17 years of age in August, Maloney is pleased to know his college future has been determined.

“I’m super excited to know I have this opportunity and I'm very grateful,” Maloney concluded. “This definitely means a lot to get to play with the best kids in the country and see how I match up. I know I can compete with them and am very excited to do it. I’m looking forward to challenging myself.”