After its highly regarded recruiting class was ravaged by the draft, North Carolina has found a creative way to soften the blow. ImpactBaseball.com reported yesterday that infielder Levi Michael, one of the top prospects in the state of North Carolina’s 2009 class, will enroll early at UNC. Michael will graduate from North Davidson High in January and start classes at UNC in time to play this spring. He’ll step immediately into the mix in a Tar Heel infield that was hit hard when Garrison Lassiter signed with the Yankees as a 27th-round pick right before the Aug. 15 signing deadline.

Here’s Matt Blood’s scouting report on Michael from the World Wood Bat championship in July:

At 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, Michael is a seemingly undersized middle infielder. However, the switch-hitter is solidly built and athletic and does everything well on the baseball field. Defensively, Michael is a smooth fielding shortstop, with advanced instincts, soft hands and a strong arm. He moves well in the middle of the diamond and uses proper routes and footwork to range from left to right. At the plate, Michael has the typical lefthander’s sweet swing with a level bat path and bat speed. He does not hit for much power but does make consistent hard contact and can drive the ball to all fields. He is a slightly above-average runner and swinging from the left side, has the ability to beat out slow ground balls.