Five weeks have passed since Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft, and several Cobb County draftees still are playing a waiting game rather than the game they love.

Former Walton star Scott White, a third-round pick of the Boston Red Sox, leads a group of players who have yet to sign with their respective clubs.

“From what (the Red Sox) are telling me, I think we’re going to get something worked out in the next few weeks,” said White, a Georgia Tech signee. “I’m ready to play. I have been for a while. But, it’s just one of those things you have to be patient about.”

For Jarrod Schmidt, patience is a trait he knows almost as well as baseball.

The Lassiter grad was drafted in the 23rd round by Florida in 1999, but chose to attend Clemson instead. This year, following his junior season and a trip to the College World Series, Cincinnati chose the right fielder/pitcher in the 24th round.

Now, his options include returning to Clemson for his final season or working out a deal with the Reds.

“If I want to play, I’m going to play, it doesn’t matter about the money,” Schmidt said. “I haven’t made up my mind, but I’ve been speaking with the Reds about once a week since the draft.”

Recent Lassiter grad J.P. Lowen faces a similar situation, though he’s already signed to play with Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla.

The 6-foot-2 catcher was drafted in the 15th round by the Atlanta Braves.

If he would have signed with an NCAA school and a deal with the Braves had not worked out, Lowen would be forced to play three college seasons before re-entering the draft.

At Chipola, a member of the NJCAA, Lowen can play just one season and either sign with Atlanta or re-enter the draft next year. The Braves will hold his rights until one week before the 2003 draft.

“I’m still hoping to get something done with the Braves,” Lowen said, “but Chipola’s got a great program and if I have to, I can go there and work on my game to get better for next year’s draft.”

Among the players who already have signed professional contracts are a trio of former Kennesaw State players.

Pitcher Matt Pender, drafted one spot ahead of White by Detroit, currently is playing for the Tigers’ Class A affiliate in Oneonta, N.Y.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Turner, a third baseman drafted in the 16th round by Oakland, has been assigned to the Athletics’ Class A club in Vancouver, B.C. Shortstop, taken in the 18th round by the Chicago Cubs, is playing for Class A Boise, Idaho.