The Mets select Reese Havens SS from the University of South Carolina.

Havens had a .359 average with South Carolina this year. The 6′1″, 195 lb shortstop could play catcher or shortstop as well.

Keith Law saw him play at the SEC tournament and said he ‘reads the ball well off the bat.’ and has ‘great instincts and feel for the game.’

MLB.com on Havens…

A legitimate prospect in high school, teams were scared off because of a strong commitment to South Carolina. He’s improved steadily in his three years there and has evolved into a good all-around hitter with outstanding plate discpline. He may need to move to third down the road because of his lack of range, but his smarts in the field may at least give him the opportunity to play his way off of short as a pro. At either spot, he’s sure to go off the board pretty quickly.

Jim Callis on a recent Baseball America chat regarding Havens…

There are a lot of Reese Havens arguments around, both in the BA offices and among teams. Basically, those who have seen him in the spring (area scouts, my BA brethren) have been less than impressed. Those who saw him make adjustments in the Cape last summer (mostly scouting directors and crosscheckers, whom I talked to while doing our Cape Top 30) are more impressed. The biggest thing working against him is that he can’t play shortstop at the next level. I see him going in the second or third round as a third baseman. Someone may try to make him a catcher.

From his University of South Carolina player profile…

Competed in 65 games with 65 starts at shortstop … Hit .274 (64-for-234) with 12 doubles, five HR and 43 RBI as well as one triple and 38 runs scored … Batted 2-for-3 with a run scored in 8-6 win over North Carolina at NCAA Super Regional (6/9) … Went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI in 11-6 win over Charlotte (6/4) … 2-for-4 with three RBI in 9-1 win over Wofford in NCAA Regional (6/1) … 2-for-5 with three RBI in 13-7 win over Tennessee (5/13) … 4-for-5 performance with a double, home run and three RBI in 12-3 win over The Citadel (5/9) … 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, first multi-homer game of his career, in 11-9 win at Ole Miss (4/22) … 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in 18-4 win over Auburn (4/15) … Career-high five hits including tying USC single-game school record with three doubles in 20-3 win over Mississippi State (3/23) … Four hits with a pair of RBI and one run scored in 13-5 win over Appalachian State (3/13) … Played in the summer and earned All-Star honors for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League