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High School | Rankings | 2/1/2016

2016 National HS Rankings: 6-10

Photo: Steve Fiorindo

2016 Perfect Game High School Preview Index

6. JSerra Lions

Jack Owen

San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
CIF Southern Division 1
Head Coach: Brett Kay
2015 Result: 27-5-1, Southern Division 1 Playoffs

Key Losses: LHP Quentin Longrie (Southern California), C Sam Cohen (UC Santa Barbara), OF Jake Pries (UCLA), C Christian Molfetta (Stanford)

Top Players: SS Chase Strumpf (UCLA), 3B Brady Shockey (Southern California), LHP Jack Owen (Mississippi State), SS Royce Lewis (UC Irvine), SS Davis Wendzel (Baylor)

While undoubtedly losing a good amount of talent from the 2015 team, the JSerra Lions don't really do rebuilds as much as they simply reload — a main reason why they are our sxith-ranked team heading into the 2016 season.

They will roll out a star-studded everyday lineup, a lineup that is strong throughout in terms of offense, defense, spee, and overall athleticism. Royce Lewis, a 2015 All-CIF Southern Section honoree, is ranked 13th overall in the class of 2017 and is a high-upside athlete with all of the physical tools you could want in a star shortstop. He is joined by UCLA signee Chase Strumpf, Southern Cal recruit Brady Shockey and Baylor pledge Davis Wendzel. The Lions should have no trouble hitting the ball with nearly frightening regularity, and there wont be a problem scoring any runs at JSerra.

Quentin Longrie departs from the rotation for Southern California, but junior lefty and ace Jack Owen returns. Owen is advanced beyond his years in terms of command and feel for pitching and he also has the raw stuff to back it up. The Lions will need a few more arms to step up in order for them to reach the top and win the CIF Southern Division 1 championship, but they certainly won’t be hard-pressed for the talent needed to do so.

7. Buford Wolves

Nick Wilhite

Buford, Ga.
GHSA Class 4A
Head Coach: Tony Wolfe
2015 Result: 34-2, GHSA Class 4A State Champions.

Key Losses: LHP Jake Higginbotham (Clemson), C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech), RHP Keyton Gibson (Georgia Tech), RHP Connor Bennett (West Virginia), RHP Kevin Coulter (Mercer)

Top Players: OF Nick Wilhite (Georgia Tech), 2B Austin Wilhite (Georgia Tech), OF Brandon Marsh (Kennesaw State), LHP Justin Glover (Georgia), RHP Griffin Jolliff (Georgia Tech), LHP Zach Fordham (uncommitted)

An incredible 2015 season saw the Buford Wolves finish second in Perfect Game’s final ranking of the top 50 teams in the nation after going 34-2 and winning the Class 4A State Championship. They did so with as good a combination of pitching and offense as one would find across the country, as evidenced by their multiple Division I signees in both the class of 2015 and the class of 2016.

They will return a good chunk of their offensive firepower, led by the Wilhite twins (Nick and Austin), both of whom are signed to play ball at Georgia Tech next year. Fellow senior Brandon Marsh, a future Kennesaw State Owl, has been receiving serious draft buzz early this year and may be a potential superstar in the making. They lose their catcher from a year ago, current Clemson Tiger Joey Bart, but their offense should still have some legitimate firepower behind it.

On the mound, the Wolves bring back a righty/lefty two-headed monster in Georgia signee Justin Glover and Georgia Tech signee Griffin Jolliff. Both pitchers were key cogs in the 2015 championship run and will look to lead the staff in 2016 after the graduation of four D-I pitchers from the 2015 team. Uncommitted lefty Zach Fordham will also play a big role for the Wolves as they look to defend their state title.

8. Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks

Alejandro Toral

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
FHSAA Class 5A
Head Coach: Rich Bielski
2015 result: 27-5, FHSAA Class 5A State Champions

Key Losses: RHP Christian Demby (N.C. State), RHP Brian Van Belle (Broward CC), C Jake Anchia (Nova Southeastern)

Top Players: 1B Alejandro Toral (Miami), SS Kobe Lopez (Alabama State), OF Alex Carballo (Broward CC), 3B Joseph Perez (South Florida), RHP Daniel Federman (Miami), 2B Ubaldo Lopez (uncommitted), OF Adan Fernandez (uncommitted), OF Avondre Hendricks (uncommitted), RHP Johnny Leone (uncommitted)

Another 2015 state champion that is no stranger to being ranked highly by Perfect Game, the Mavericks of Archbishop McCarthy enter the 2016 season in the No. 8 spot.

They will get big contributions from seniors like shortstop Kobe Lopez and outfielder Alex Carballo, but this team’s core is the juniors, the class of 2017. Led by the No. 1 player in the class of 2017, superstar slugger Alejandro Toral, the Mavericks are probably the odds-on favorites to win the state title not only in 2016, but in 2017 as well. Toral leads the offense and there is not a better prep hitter in the class of 2017 anywhere.

Toral will be joined in the lineup by the aforementioned Lopez and Carballo as well as Joseph Perez at third base, Ubaldo Lopez at second and outfielders Adan Fernandez and Avondre Hendricks. Scoring runs shouldn't be a problem.

The Mavericks lost a few key arms to graduation in Christian Demby and Brian Van Belle, but they should be just fine on the mound as well heading into 2016. Daniel Federman is committed to Miami and should lead the staff with power stuff, and uncommitted righty Johnny Leone has Division I caliber stuff as well. It should be a very good, very successful year in Fort Lauderdale.

9. Flower Mound Jaguars

Caleb Killian

Flower Mound, Texas
UIL Class 6A Region
Head Coach: Danny Wallace
2015 Result: 28-6-1, regional finals

Key Losses: RHP Sean Wymer (TCU), OF Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist), SS Noah Hill (BYU), SS Casey Jacobson (BYU)

Top Players: RHP Caleb Kilian (Texas Tech). LHP Parker Scott (Kentucky), RHP Derek Wells (uncommitted), 2B Skyler Cox (uncommitted), C Syler Shepherd (uncommitted), RHP Ryan Stuempfig (Wichita State)

A season ago, the Jaguars of Flower Mound High School enjoyed a very successful season although they fell short of their ultimate goal. Heading into 2016, they are surely at or near the top of the projected teams to win the Class 6A state title.

They should have an outstanding rotation, led by Texas Tech signee Caleb Kilian, a righthanded pitcher with big projection and lots of tools. Lefty Parker Scott, signed to attend Kentucky, will give the Jaguars an excellent 1-2 punch atop their pitching staff. Righty Ryan Stuempfig, a junior, rounds out the trio of Division I pitchers the Jaguars possess.

They lost a good amount of lineup talent from a year ago, with Jameson Hannah heading down the road to Dallas Baptist and both Noah Hill and Casey Jacobson going to Brigham Young. They do retain lots of skill in the middle of the diamond though, with middle infielder Skylar Cox and catcher Syler Shephered both returning.

10. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles

Jesus Luzardo

Parkland, Fla.
FHSAA Class 8A
Head Coach: Todd Fitzgerald
2015 result: 23-5, Regional Finalist

Key Losses: C Dominic DiCaprio (Rice), C Devin Conn (Middle Tennessee State), RHP Ricky Miranda (Sante Fe College)

Top Players: LHP Jesus Luzardo (Miami), SS Colton Welker (Miami), 1B John McKenna (Army), LHP Brandon Kaminer (Miami)

The Eagles fell a little short last year, falling in the regional finals to Park Vista, a team who spent quite a bit of time atop the Perfect Game team rankings through the 2015 season. They lost a few pieces as well, especially behind the plate with both Dominic DiCaprio and Devin Conn heading to college, but they also bring back a wealth of talent.

Jesus Luzardo and Colton Welker are both legitimate draft prospects. Luzardo is a lefthanded pitcher with excellent stuff and pitchability well beyond his years, while Welker is one of the better pure hitters in the class. They will assuredly lead the pitching staff and offense, respectively.

John McKenna has big-time raw power and will hit in the middle of the lineup. Junior lefty Brandon Kaminer will presumably be the No. 2 starter behind Luzardo, and like Luzardo is committed to the University of Miami, along with Welker. That Hurricane trio of players has a chance to take this team all the way to the state title, something that has a very good chance of happening.

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