2016 NHSI Teams Announced, Rutherford Among Top Prospects

USA Baseball announced on Thursday the 16 teams participating in the 2016 National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C. from March 23-26. The field is loaded with quality high school teams as well as elite prospects, including outfielder Blake Rutherford and lefthander Braxton Garrett, both of whom are Team USA alumni.

High School Top 100 Prospects to attend: Rutherford (3), Garrett (12), Carter Kieboom (17), Zach Hess (24), Daniel Bakst (26), Josh Stephen (81), Greg Veliz (90).

Allatoona High, Acworth, Ga.

Coached by Keith Hansen, the Buccanneers return a solid core of talent from last year’s squad, which made it to the Georgia 5A state semifinals. Rising junior Kyle Jacobsen is among the top prospects in the 2017 draft class, a center fielder with speed and feel for the barrel. Jacobsen, a South Carolina commit, is one of six Division I recruits on the team.

Bingham High, South Jordan, Utah

Bingham isn’t filled with stars, but head coach Joe Sato has a reputation as one of the nation’s top high school coaches, and his squad consistently competes at a high level. After a 2015 season in which the Miners were one win away from the Utah 5A state title, they enter 2016 with optimism. Lefthander Sean Keating will give Bingham a chance to compete against anyone, armed with command of a mid-to-upper 80s fastball and a tight 1-to-7 breaking ball.

Chaminade College Prep, Canoga, Calif.

Chaminade might have the most difficult schedule of any team in the nation; after traveling to North Carolina for NHSI, the Eagles will play in the Boras Classic the following week. Even with its challenging schedule, Chaminade has the talent to compete with any team in the country. UCLA commit Blake Rutherford brings a plus hit tool and plus raw power to the table, and catcher Nick Kahle, a Washington commit, can control the game from behind the plate.

Flanagan High, Pembroke Pines, Fla.

Arguably the deepest team at NHSI, Flanagan has been a powerhouse for years, and that won’t change in 2016. Shortstop Mark Vientos has established himself as one of the top prospects in the 2017 draft class, and outfielder Eric Rivera brings plus speed and some hittability to the table. Lefthander Dylan O’Connell and righthander Nick McDonald form one of the best one-two punches in the tournament. O’Connell is a crafty southpaw and McDonald brings a power fastball and slider to the table. Flanagan is coming off an Elite 8 appearance in Florida’s 8A state tournament—arguably the most competitive classification in the country.

Florence (Ala.) High

The Falcons have two of the tournament’s most promising pitching prospects. Lefthander Braxton Garrett has a free and easy delivery and a projectable three-pitch mix. He’s committed to Vanderbilt, but will have a chance to put himself in Day One consideration for the 2016 draft with a strong spring. Following Garrett, 2018 righthander Cole Henry, a Louisiana State commit, has promising stuff and had early success as a freshman.

Houston High, Germantown, Tenn.

Houston has been a powerhouse in Tennessee for decades, and the Mustangs are coming off another strong season, having reached the Tennessee 3A final four in 2015. Shortstop Jack Kenley, an Arkansas commit, brings solid all-around tools the table, and he’s surrounded with a fundamentally sound squad.

Huntington Beach (Calif.) High

In 2015, Huntingon Beach won the CIF Southern Division State Championship with a team loaded with talented underclassmen. In 2016, most of that squad is back. Righthander Hagen Danner shined in last year’s NHSI, and has a chance to be a first-round pick in 2017. Transfer lefthander Nicholas Pratto is one of the most coordinated athletes in the 2017 class, with exceptional body control and timing. Pratto is also a legitimate prospect as a hitter, with the ability to use the whole field. Logan Pouelsen will provide senior leadership in the rotation, with the ability to command the strike zone with his low 90s fastball. Huntington Beach should be expected to win every time they take the field this season.

Liberty Christian Academy, Lynchburg, Va.

Liberty Christian will be the first team from Virginia to play at NHSI, and rotation ace Zach Hess could be the hardest thrower at the event. Hess has gained strength this winter, and he was already able to hit 95 mph with his fastball last summer. After winning consecutive VISAA Division 1 state championships, Hess and the Bulldogs will look to resume their dominance as they transition into the Virginia High School League’s 4A classification.

Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, Calif.

After a first-round exit in the CIF Southern Section playoffs to end their 2015 season, Mater Dei will be hungry in 2016. The Monarchs won NHSI in 2012 and 2013, and they are the first team to play in the event for a third time. Senior outfielder Josh Stephen is one of the better pure hitters in the 2016 class, a lefthanded hitter with an impressive blend of bat speed, pitch recognition and timing.

North Broward Prep, Pompano Beach, Fla.

North Broward has 10 seniors bound for college baseball, with Greg Veliz leading the group. Veliz is both a righthanded pitcher and an infielder. On the mound, his fastball can bump 96 and he has shown the ability to tightly spin a breaking ball. In the rotation, Veliz will team up with Evan McKendry and Anthony Masiello, giving the Eagles a potentially dangerous rotation.

Poly Prep Country Day School, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Stanford commit Daniel Bakst will team up with UConn-bound Anthony Prato to form one of the best left side infield combinations in the nation. Bakst’s righthanded bat is among the best in the nation, and Prato is a smooth defensive shortstop. 2017 righthander Nicholas Storz has already reached into the low 90s. Poly Prep has a chance to be one of the best teams to come out of the northeast in years, and could threaten for NHSI supremacy.

Rocky Mountain High, Fort Collins, Colo.

Rocky Mountain has won five state championships over the past nine years. After a first-round loss in the 2015 Colorado 5A postseason, the Lobos will look to recreate their successful 2014 season, when they captured the 5A state championship. Rocky Mountain will rely heavily on uncommitted junior shortstop John Sorenson, who hit .417 and slugged six home runs as a sophomore.

The First Academy, Orlando

Another deep Florida team, The First Academy has several players committed to play at college baseball power conference schools. Senior righthander/third baseman Garrett Milchin, a Florida commit, has two-way potential, with sound tools as a position player, and the ability to bump 90 mph with his fastball. Several underclassmen should have an impact as well, with 2017 Notre Dame commit Cash Case manning shortstop, 2018 Florida commit Kendrick Calilao in the outfield, and 2019 righthander Joseph Charles expected to have an impact as a freshman. The First Academy won NHSI in 2014, and it will compete for another crown in 2016.

Topsail High, Hampstead, N.C.

Topsail will play as the host of this year’s NHSI, coming off an impressive 2015 season in which they finished 25-3 and finished third in the North Carolina 3A state playoffs. The Pirates bring back plenty of depth, with several Division I recruits in the lineup and in the rotation. Sam Hall, a 2017 Clemson shortstop commit, is a plus runner with a strong arm and promising bat; he hit .443 as sophomore. Campbell commit Bryce Cota will pitch at the front of the rotation. A lefthander with an upper 80s fastball and two quality offspeed pitches, Cota could allow the Pirates to compete with any team at the event.

Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.

Florida’s 2015 4A state champions bring back eight starters. Trinity Christian’s rotation will include low 90s righthanders JC Flowers and AJ Labas and slugging outfielder Todd Lott. The Conquerors also have promising underclassmen—2017 shortstop Austin Martin is a Team USA 15U national team alumnus.

Walton High, Marietta, Ga.

Walton has developed a reputation as one of the top programs in the country, and they lose only their five- and seven-hole hitters from last year’s Georgia 6A state runner-up team. The Raiders have power conference recruits all over the field, and shortstop Carter Kieboom is their top prospect. Kieboom, a Clemson commit, has shown outstanding timing and bat speed, and he has also been a switch-pitcher. Zac Kristofak is a projectable righthander committed to Georgia, and he will anchor the rotation. Walton should again compete for the 6A state title in 2016, and NHSI will be a quality test for the prospect-laden Raiders.