The Coastal Plain League announced Thursday that 33 palyers, both current and former, were drafted in the 2002 Major League Baseball First-Year PLayer Draft. A list that featured 15 players were selected in the first 10 rounds was headed by Russ Adams. Adams, a former Durham Braves’ shortstop was the highest draftee, chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round, 14th overall. The Asheboro copperheads lead all CPL clubs with seven players drafted, while Wilson was second with five players, underlining the league’s depth and competitiveness. The University of North Carolina was the best-represented school among CPL alum with three players selected. Several other local schools were among those represented, including Duke, Campbell, James Madison, Clemson, Liberty, South Carolina, The Citadel, ECU, UNC Greensboro, Elon, Coastal Carolina, and Brevard. The complete list of CPL players drafted follows:
| Round | Overall | Player | College/University | MLB Team Drafted By | CPL Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Russ Adams | North Carolina | Toronto | ’00 Durham |
| 2 | 54 | Mike Johnson | Clemson | San Diego | ’99, ’00 Wilson / ’01 Florence |
| 3 | 77 | Larry Broadway | Duke | Montreal | ’00 Outer Banks |
| 3 | 80 | Curtis Granderson | Illinois | Detroit | ’02 Asheboro |
| 3 | 90 | Josh Rupe | Louisburg | Chicago (AL) | ’01 Peninsula |
| 3 | 99 | Jared Doyle | James Madison | Arizona | ’00, ’01 Durham |
| 4 | 109 | Nic Carter | Campbell | Milwaukee | ’00 Outer Banks |
| 6 | 163 | Brad Eldred | Florida International | Pittsburgh | ’01 Wilson |
| 6 | 170 | Chris Maples | North Carolina | Detroit | ’99, ’00, ’01 Durham |
| 6 | 183 | Chris Walker | Georgia Southern | Chicago (NL) | ’01 Asheboro |
| 7 | 194 | Scott Autrey | North Carolina | Tampa Bay | ’00 Asheboro |
| 7 | 219 | Matthew Henrie | Clemson | Arizona | ’00 Edenton |
| 8 | 245 | Jonathan Schuerholz | Auburn | Atlanta | ’00 Florence |
| 10 | 303 | Keith Butler | Liberty | Chicago (NL) | ’00 Edenton |
| 10 | 306 | Gary Bell | South Carolina | New York (AL) | ’01 Wilmington |
| 11 | 313 | Anthony Bocchino | Marist | Pittsburgh | ’01 Petersburg |
| 11 | 335 | Michael Grasso | Albany | Atlanta | ’02 Gastonia |
| 12 | 348 | Adam Keim | Coastal Carolina | Kansas City | ’01 Peninsula |
| 13 | 400 | Thomas Fulmer | The Citadel | Seattle | ’00 Florence |
| 15 | 442 | Sam Narron | East Carolina | Texas | ’00 Outer Banks |
| 18 | 523 | Jeffrey Watchko | Georgia Tech | Pittsburgh | ’00 Edenton |
| 18 | 540 | Shane Scoville | South Alabama | Chicago (AL) | ’01 Petersburg |
| 18 | 551 | Brent Long | Brevard | Houston | ’00 Asheboro |
| 23 | 688 | David Pahucki | Siena | Boston | ’00 Wilson |
| 23 | 693 | Steve O’Sullivan | Marist | Chicago (NL) | ’01 Petersburg |
| 24 | 719 | James Bryant | Elon | Philadelphia | ’99, ’00 Wilson |
| 26 | 780 | Kristopher Dufner | Delaware | Chicago (AL) | ’01 Outer Banks |
| 28 | 830 | Everett Hancock | UNC Greensboro | Detroit | ’99 Asheboro / ’02 Wilson |
| 29 | 855 | Brad Correll | Limestone | Cincinnati | ’01 Asheboro / ’02 Gastonia |
| 30 | 885 | Justin Knoff | Siena | Cincinnati | ’02 Asheboro |
| 33 | 989 | Robert Rogelstad | San Jose State | Philadelphia | ’01 Thomasville |
| 41 | 1236 | Michael Miehls | Tennessee Tech | New York (AL) | ’99 Wilson |
| 41 | 1242 | Jonathan Estes | Freed Hardeman | St. Louis | ’01 Petersburg |