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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.






High School | General | 11/20/2025

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Vincent Cervino
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College | Recruiting | 12/15/2025

Recruiting Notebook: December 15

John McAdams
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Tournaments | Story | 12/15/2025

17u Tourney All-American Team

Vincent Cervino
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There’s a lot of talent throughout this 2026 class, filled with the big-name stars, to talent that spreads across the nation. It’s been a lot of fun seeing these prospects grow and develop over the years, from the days of watching some of these guys at the 13/14u days at events on the circuit, to now where they are all graduating seniors in 2026. There’s been new faces who have popped along the way over the years, even in 2026, where some players who were relatively undiscovered, have come out and made a name for themselves with a statement performance. Between the familiar and the new, there’s a lot of names on this list that are going to be quite regularly talked about on the circuit, and for good reason.  Whether it’s PG All-Americans or not, there’s a lot of names with superstar potential at the next level. We’ve got 14 PG All-Americans...
Tournaments | Story | 12/13/2025

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Tyler Russo
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2028 These guys might just be entering high school, but they've certainly already made a name for themselves on the national circuit, especially with their abilities on the defensive side of things.  C: Xavier Rodriguez (Logansville, GA) Rodriguez is a polished defender with real arm strength behind the dish, while showcasing the ability to impact the baseball with authority to all fields evident by thirty of his sixty-five hits going for extra-bases including seven bombs. He handles high-level pitching extremely well, commands his staff and his offensive prowess makes him a true two-way asset. 1B: Cooper Knight (Buda, TX) Knight is a smooth operator at first base with plenty of range, fluidity and agility in his footwork around the bag. Add-in a rocket for an arm, the ability to change slots and to...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Scout Stories: Part 5

AJ Denny
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Best Game I Saw: The Dream NTL 18U vs. MBA Scout Team Murphy Jupiter always brings out the best, and we got fireworks from the jump. Turner Marshall gave The Dream an outstanding 4+ innings of work on the mound, holding a lethal MBA team at bay with Chance Dixon, Derrick Carter, and Ellis Appling providing an offensive spark out of the gate for the Georgia based boys. However, it was only a matter of time before the talent on the other side got going, as MBA erased a 3-run deficit in the 5th to take a 4-3 lead led by a Parker Loew HR. The Dream then took command again in the Top of the 6th, before MBA punched right back with a huge 5-run inning in the bottom half capped off by a clutch RBI single from Matthew Kerrigan, ending a wild sequence with tons of notable performances from two very competitive rosters. Best Tournament Performance I Saw: Surely someone has already brought this...
College | Story | 12/12/2025

College Notebook: December 12

Craig Cozart
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Nebraska Cornhuskers 2025 Highlights: The Cornhuskers were a difficult team to figure in ’25 as they finished with 33 wins, played just .500 (15-15) in the Big Ten but had some big wins at various times during the season and got hot at the right time. They knocked off then #16 Vanderbilt in the second game of the year, beat #5 Oregon State 2-out-of-3 at home in late March and then got hot at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to win the Big Ten Tournament. They beat Michigan State in a 10-inning thriller before taking care of #4 Oregon, knocking off Penn State and then shutout #13 UCLA to punch their ticket to the Chapel Hill Regional. Head coach Will Bolt has now led his alma mater to three conference titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during his six years in Lincoln. No different than when he was a player, Bolt’s teams play with passion and toughness, this was never more...
Tournaments | Story | 12/12/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2028

Troy Sutherland
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 | Class of 2027 You like athletes? You like defenders who can impact a game at any given point? Look not further than this class as it's loaded from coast-to-coast with elite defenders all over the diamond.  C: Brogan Witcher, Bakersfield, CA Our scouting staff got several strong looks at Witcher whether that was at the Summer Kickoff, Sophomore National or the Underclass All American Games where he showcased his strong overall skillset and especially his advanced ability behind the plate. His 6-foot-3,180 pound build looks like one that will fill in quite nicely and be that big and physical catcher’s frame. His arm talent is undeniable where he gets it out quick and runs it up to 79 mph on throwdowns to 2nd (1.84 pop). Besides the standout catch/throw ability, we’ve seen him frame/receive strong arms and block it well during...
Softball | Softball Tournament | 12/11/2025

PG Softball "Toys 4 Tots" Fundraiser 18U division

Dave Durbala
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BURLINGTON, IA - 2025 Perfect Game Softball Toys 4 Tots Fundraiser One Day, December 7, 2025. Kicking off the holiday season, six teams participated in this one day, 3 game guarantee tournament in the 18u Division. We would like to thank those that donated a toy, and know that they will be distributed to area underprivileged children through a local charity organization. Following are some of the top performers from the weekend. Earning Tournament MV-Pitcher was Jolee Strohmeyer (2026 Dubuque, IA), a RHP/UTIL with tournament champion Lady Expos Blue. Strohmeyer shows hitters a consistent and repeatable motion and delivery with good use of the legs in the drive phase, and a quick and aggressive arm whip. Working with a six pitch mix of fastball, change-up, rise, drop, curve and screw, Strohmeyer topped out at 60 mph, and showed good movement  as she worked her rise and curve just out...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Scout Stories: Part 4

Tyler Henninger
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Scout Notes: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Best Game I Saw: Hudson Reed (‘26, GA) torches this ball to deep CF for a solo 💣. Generates easy power that plays to the big part of the yard. Middle of the order traits #UBCWest @PG_Georgia @PG_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/UXqDVFmUBx — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 18, 2025 I was fortunate enough to see a lot of highly competitive games with loads of talent on the field, the game that sticks out to me the most was Alpha Prime 2026 vs. ZT National Prospects at the UBC West. The game was an efficiently played affair with arms dominating on both sides. Graham Schlicht was masterful for Alpha, striking out 12 hitters over 5 dominant innings. PG All-American Julian Cazares came out of the pen blowing smoke, touching 97 mph with the fastball. On the other side, Jake Carbaugh surrendered just one hit and...
Press Release | Press Release | 12/11/2025

PG Believe In Baseball Announces Awards Dinner

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   THE PERFECT GAME BELIEVE IN BASEBALL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR FIRST ANNUAL “IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” AWARDS DINNER AND AUCTION   Los Angeles, California (Thursday, December 11, 2025) – The Perfect Game Believe in Baseball Foundation, together with Perfect Game leadership of Chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger, has announced the inaugural “In the Spirit of the Game” event, an evening of baseball and laughter, taking place Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the iconic Laugh Factory in Hollywood, Calif. The evening supports the Foundation’s mission to provide financial assistance and resources that allow deserving young athletes to play, learn and grow through the...
Tournaments | Story | 12/11/2025

Finest in the Field: Class of 2027

AJ Denny
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Finest in the Field: Class of 2026 Elite defenders from coast to coast certainly seems to be a strength and to think you could make another top-tier team without thinking, speaks to the real depth this group possesses. The infield is a no-doubt strength of the group, but what catcher Dariel Carrion can do behind the plate is like something we haven't seen in a while in the prep ranks with an absolutely bazooka of an arm.  C: Dariel Carrion (San Juan, PR)  It isn’t often you get a catching prospect as athletic and natural as Dariel Carrion, a big reason why he holds the rank of #1 player in PR and #18 nationally. Metrics wise, the 5-foot-10, 210 pound San Juan native is all you can ask for and more, posting a sub 1.80 pop time with an 84 mph arm behind the dish. He has both contact and clear power threat on the offensive end, ending 2025 with a .337 BA and 4 HRs while also...
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