Jason Crisper; NKU photo

Inspired by College Baseball Daily’s countdown of the top 100 college baseball players, BluGrass Baseball is counting down its own list of the top 25 Kentucky college baseball players in advance of the 2011 season. To be eligible, players must  attend a Kentucky college, have attended a Kentucky high school or have been born in the state. We move on to No. 23 today with a Division II all-American.

No 23 — OF Jason Crisper — Northern Kentucky University

On Friday Crisper was named a first-team Division II preseason all-American by Baseball America following a strong 2010 campaign that saw him bat .442 with four home runs, 47 RBI, 75 runs scored and 39 stolen bases in 43 attempts. The outfielder was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference player of the year following the 2010 season and was selected as a third-team Division II all-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

The Cincinnati native may be able to play his way into a late-round draft choice or at least a free-agent contract with a strong follow-up to his 2010 season. Crisper led the Norse last season in batting average, runs scored, doubles, triples, total bases and stolen bases. As a sophomore in 2009 Crisper batted .413 for the Norse, earning all-conference and all-region honors.