We are about to enter the portion of the year when the top players entering their senior years of high school will announce their verbal commitment to colleges–if they haven’t done so already. A handful of the Class of 2018s have already committed. Players like Mark Faello, Jason Coules, Matt Hogan, Anthony D’Onofrio, Logan Doran, Bobby Vath, Logan O’Hoppe, Liam Pulsipher, Anthony Fontana and Jake Guercio are already off the table.
Here’s the best players still on the board.
- Joe Litchhult (Hills East LHP, 1B)
The big left-handed pitcher had a phenomenal season for the League III Champs. He really showed what kind of pitcher he is. He throws in the low-to-mid 80s, he has very clean and repeatable mechanics and he has command of a changeup and breaking ball as well. He fired a no-hitter this year against Riverhead with 11 strikeouts and followed that up by taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Copiague. He is very difficult to square up. I’ve watch him in person against Smithtown West last year in his first varsity start. He had a bit of command issues, but since that time he has sharpened up his control and he’s a Div-I prospect.
2. Luke Hansen (Southold LHP, OF)
Hansen had a dynamite season. You can scoff at the level of competition in League 9, but I’ve watched him throw multiple bullpen sessions and I came away blown away by his potential. He still has room to add plenty of velocity due to his thin frame, but his arm action is lightning quick and it is completely in sync with his delivery. He generates a ton of torque with his delivery. It’s no surprise he was able to compile a 9-1 record with 101 strikeouts in his league. Hansen has touched 87 MPH with his heater and throws a tremendous change up with arm-side fade and command down in the zone. He’s a high-end pitcher.
3. Anthony Lamar (Freeport C)
He is a big, powerful catcher that has been compared to Salvador Perez in high school. He has a very strong arm behind the plate, with a pop time in the low 2.0 range. Very highly-sought after player.
4. Jared Restmeyer (St. Anthony’s RHP)
Jared had a breakout season for the Friars this year. I watched him throw a gem at St. John the Baptist. He has great command of his fastball that he throws in the mid 80s and he has an 11-5 breaking ball that is a strikeout pitch. He has a deceptive delivery thanks to his long, wiry frame. He will definitely add more velocity as he puts on more weight.
5. Anthony Jacabacci (Bellport LHP, OF)
A LHP with a delivery similar to Clayton Kershaw. He has already been courted by some top programs such as St. John’s, Fordham and Pittsburgh. He can touch 86 MPH and has an advanced feel for his change up. He also had a good year with the bat, but his future is on the mound. He put on a lot of strength over the past year. Had a brief period of tendinitis in the offseason but he is back to 100 percent.
6. Brendan McFall (Oceanside RHP)
Brendan McFall (Oceanside ’18) has been getting recruited by several high-end Div-I programs pic.twitter.com/CS6EnhJAF1
aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) February 15, 2017
He has an amazing season for the Sailors, winning seven games on the hill. He touches 89 MPH with his heater from a straight over-the-top arm angle. He is tough, having pitched in many high-intensity games over the past two seasons. Very intelligent individual that has been garnering interest from Ivy League schools.
7. James Cardinale (Commack LHP, OF)
Last year at this time I would have put him No. 1 on the list, but his velocity has remained in the 79-82 MPH range. He still has very clean mechanics, he works down in the strike zone and commands his offspeed pitches. Middle-of-the-order hitter with good foot speed that plays very good outfield defense.
8. Will Shaw (St. John the Baptist OF)
Shaw put himself on the map with a great junior season for the Cougars. Everyone fell in love with his smooth swing and great defense in CF. He is considered among the best bats in the class. High-end Div-II prospect, possibly Div-I.
9. Kyle Johnson (Newfield RHP, SS)
It was an injury-shortened season, as he fractured his wrist but he is close to being at full strength now. I watched him in the Dominican Republic. He is equally as talented as a position player as on the mound. He has clean mechanics, gets good drive from his backside and works in the mid 80s on the mound. He is a very slick fielder that has developed legitimate power. A rare combination of power at SS and a power arm on the mound. Baseball rat.
10. Tyler Marinaccio (Plainview-JFK RHP)
Tyler Marinaccio, Plainview JFK ’18. Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/qVIgYXLdtb
aXcess Baseball (@axcessbaseball) January 28, 2017
He is an undersized right-handed pitcher, which could scare some big programs away–but it shouldn’t. He is a workhorse, he has some of the cleanest and efficient mechanics you will see and he has fantastic arm action. Pitches in the mid-to-upper 80s. Could pitch at the Div-I level.
11. Anthony Carleo (North Shore C, RHP)
It was a renaissance year for Carleo who not only put up monster numbers on the plate but came on to pitch in the late innings to lock down some saves for the Vikings. He has prodigious power and is a talented backstop. Right up there with Lamar in terms of potential.
12. Gavin Buda (Harborfields SS)
Buda is a physical specimen, roughly 6’2″ with a muscular build. He hit .440 as a sophomore on varsity and followed it up with another solid year in 2017. He can mash the baseball, not a base stealer but a middle-of-the-order hitter
13. Chris Peralta (Valley Stream South, CF)
I watched Peralta in the Dominican Republic for seven days and I was extremely impressed with his ability to turn on elite velocity and his 6.5 speed. He can really get it in center field. I watched him at a showcase last week and he blooped one into shallow right center, hustled out of the box and turned it into a double. Very impressive play.
