A year ago, Mount St. Michael’s Collin Mahoney was one of the nation’s top prospects, but he had to wait by the phone until the 48th round of the major league baseball draft until he was finally selected.

This time, it was John DeFendis’ turn. The Xaverian center fielder, who has a scholarship waiting for him at perennial NCAA powerhouse Cal State-Fullerton, was selected by the Rockies in the 41st round.

“The scouts told me, and I know, it had nothing to do with talent,” said his father Nick, who is an assistant at Xaverian. “It had to do with signability.”

Indeed, most scouts said DeFendis could go in the top four rounds, but no team wanted to use such a high pick for fear that he would still go to Fullerton and it would have wasted a high draft choice.

Mahoney was in the same boat last year: A terrific prospect with a scholarship to a great school from a family who wasn’t in need of an immediate payday. He ended up at Clemson, where he had an excellent freshman season as a catcher for one of the top college teams in the country.

“Right now, we’re going to wait and see,” Nick DeFendis said. “John’s going to play ball over the summer and I’m sure Colorado will have someone there. If he blows them away, we’ll see. But we’ve gotten a great commitment from Fullerton and I don’t want to string them along.”

DeFendis was one of three players from Xaverian chosen yesterday. Mike Hernandez, OF, was selected in the 27th round by the Royals. Danny DeSouza, who played first base and the outfield, went to the Cubs in the 39th round. Teammates Danny Christensen and Chris Garcia both went in the draft on Tuesday.