Highly-rated football recruit Alvin Hines Jr. missed the first two days of practice at Pelham High School this week to attend the East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase at Tiger Town USA in Lakeland, Fla.

Hines, who is listed on ESPNU’s 150 watch list for college football recruiting in 2009, is beginning to attract professional baseball attention in addition to the football offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Stanford and Central Florida.

“I don’t know if I’m going to get drafted or go play college football. It’s whatever the best decision for me is at that time,” said the 6-foot, 190-pound safety/centerfielder. “Baseball is my first sport and I loved it, but I love (both sports) equally now.”

Hines was one of 25 players selected from a showcase in Jackson, Miss., last month for players from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

“I really don’t know why they wanted me to come down, but they selected me, and I’m going to go do my best,” Hines said before he left last week.

Hines missed two-thirds of the 2008 baseball season after chipping a bone in his shoulder early in the year. Despite the injury, he hit hit .369 in 30 at bats and scored 24 runs.

He had 13 stolen bases. He helped carry Pelham in his first game back with four walks, three runs scored and two stolen bases against Thompson.

Pelham head coach Jeff Mauldin said he believes Hines is receiving the attention because of his speed after being clocked at a 6.5 60-yard dash.

Participating Major League Baseball organizations included: the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres.

Eighty-three players from last year’s showcase were selected in the MLB Draft.