N.C. State right-hander Andrew Brackman went fishing near his Cincinnati home Thursday afternoon instead of watching the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on television.

He didn't catch anything on the Ohio River, but when he returned home, he found out he had landed a whopper.

Brackman was selected by the New York Yankees with the last pick in the first round, the 30th overall pick.

"I found out about it on the Internet," Brackman said in a telephone interview Thursday evening. "It was a relief [to be a first-round pick]. I'm glad that I am going to be playing for one of the best organizations in baseball.

"It's a dream come true."

Brackman, a 6-foot-10 junior whose fastball has been clocked in the upper 90s, went 6-4 with a 3.81 ERA for the Wolfpack this season. But he had not pitched since May 12 because of inflammation in his right elbow, and some draft projections had him falling out of the first round after being labeled as a potential top-10 pick at the beginning of the season.

Brackman said he expected the negotiations with the Yankees to go well. Scott Boras, a high-profile agent whose clients include current Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, is Brackman's advisor.

"I'm going to let my advisor do what he has to do," Brackman said. "I know it's a long process. Whatever happens happens.

"I fully expect negotiations to go smoothly. I look forward to being in pinstripes in Yankee Stadium one day."

Brackman, who came to N.C. State on a basketball scholarship and played two seasons of hoops before deciding not to play basketball as a junior to concentrate on baseball, said that he received congratulatory text messages from members of both the Pack basketball and baseball teams.

"There were some ups and downs at N.C. State," Brackman said, "but I love everyone there. I just think that I made the best choice to come to college instead of entering the draft out of high school."

One of those text messages came from Pack baseball coach Elliott Avent, a die-hard Yankees fan who was doubly excited by the news.

"We knew the Yankees were interested," Avent said. "They realized what a catch he is. When I heard his name, it was just unbelievable. I'm really happy for him.

"Hopefully he'll be pitching in pinstripes pretty soon."

Two other players from North Carolina schools were taken in the first round. Pitcher Madison Bumgarner of South Caldwell High in Hudson was selected by the Giants with the 10th overall pick. Shortstop Justin Jackson of Asheville Roberson was drafted by the Blue Jays with pick No. 45.

Three UNC players were chosen Thursday. Oakland chose shortstop Josh Horton with the 90th overall pick and later chose pitcher Andrew Carignan with the 180th pick. Pitcher Luke Putkonen was chosen by Detroit with the 121st pick.

Other locals chosen, according to a news release, included former Apex High infielder Matt Mangini by Seattle; Wake Forest pitcher Eric Niesen by the Mets; Middle Creek High outfielder Quincy Latimore by the Pirates; and South Central Pitt High outfielder Tyrell Worthington by the Diamondbacks.

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