By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we counted down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage. Over the next week or so we will take a look at the teams that were on the bubble:

Team: Carmel Catholic
Preseason Rank: Not Ranked
2015 Record: 14-22
Conference: East Suburban Catholic
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Bill Taylor
Playoff Run: Lost in the Regional Championship
2015 Final Rank: Not Ranked
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
 Cooper Johnson, C, 2016 (Mississippi)
Joe Santoro, OF/SHP, 2016 (Army)
Matt Collins, SS, 2016 (Cornell)
Chris Baumann, RHP, 2016
Griffin Norton, OF/RHP, 2016
Connor Pett, 1B, 2016
Austin Ehren, OF, 2018
Eddie Pietschmann, 1B/OF/RHP, 2017
Joey Lake, 3B, 2017

X-FACTOR
Cooper Johnson. The Mississippi recruit is the No. 1 player in Illinois and one of the top high school catchers in the country. He is an elite defender that is a difference maker behind the plate. Has supreme confidence in his arm and will routinely back pick runners without hesitation. Johnson is going to need to be a key run producer for the Corsairs if they want to make a run in the postseason.

2016 Season

+ Preseason Top 25 Team Countdown Previews 

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Rankings

+ Complete Illinois High School Schedules