By TJ Hunt
Director, New Jersey

The Class of 2018 rankings update was long overdue and much has changed in the state thanks to a busy spring/summer with a countless number of events, games and tournaments taking place. 

CLICK HERE for complete 2018 New Jersey Rankings.

The Top 10 has some shakeups, starting at the top with a new No. 1 player...

Maryland recruit, OF Nick Decker (Seneca HS, NJ) takes his place as the new No. 1, showing his plus power throughout the high school season, and into the summer at big tournaments and events. Decker has a broad-shouldered build at 6-foot, 185-pounds. Starts in an open athletic stance with a smooth load back with explosive bat speed. Has a large leg kick that generated exceptional pull side power. Raised eyebrows at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, California with his power and athleticism, driving in the game-winning run in one of the games with a hard hit single to right field. Decker possesses a strong arm from the outfield as well – and has been up to 88 MPH on the mound as well. 

At No. 2 is fellow Maryland recruit, OF Jack Herman (Eastern HS, NJ). Herman has impressive strength, power, and speed for his age and size at 5-foot-10 170-pounds. Strong, broad shouldered frame with a compact, quick, and simple swing. He is highly regarded as one of the top athletes in the class of 2018.

Duke recruit, RHP Jack Carey (St. Peter's Prep HS, NJ) moves up a couple places into the No. 3 slot in this updated list. Carey has been up to 94 and sits consistently 90-92 with repeatable mechanics and a loose, clean arm. Breaking ball shows 11/5 depth at 72-73 with tight spin out of hand. Shows a feel for a changeup at 80-81 with fastball arm action and armside fade. 

Alabama recruit, RHP Tyler Ras (Middletown North HS, NJ) rises a couple slots from last update into No. 4. The wiry, athletic 6-foot-4, 200-pounder possesses a power arm that has routinely been up to 94 MPH this summer. Curveball has small 11/5 break and changeup has splitter-like tumble that he uses as an out pitch. One of the most projectable prospects from this class, Ras still has room to fill out.

Rounding out the Top 5 is Vanderbilt recruit, 3B Justyn-Henry Malloy (St. Joseph's Montvale HS, NJ). Malloy fills out the jersey well at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with broad shoulders and an athletic frame. Opened stance to start, with hands just above back shoulder. Uses a foot stride to start swing, hands load up. Explosive and elastic to the baseball with lift in finish, Malloy's gap to gap power has been a constant throughout his high school career.

TOP 10

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Nick Decker	NJ	Seneca	2018	OF	Maryland
2	Jack Herman	NJ	Eastern Regional	2018	OF	Maryland
3	Jack Carey	NJ	St. Peter's Prep	2018	RHP	Duke
4	Tyler Ras	NJ	Middletown North	2018	RHP	Alabama
5	Justyn-Henry Malloy	NJ	St. Joseph's Montvale	2018	3B	Vanderbilt
6	Danny Serretti	NJ	Governor Livingston	2018	SS	North Carolina
7	John Kelly	NJ	Rutherford	2018	RHP	Oklahoma State
8	Kevin Eaise	NJ	St. Augustine Prep	2018	RHP	Pennsylvania
9	Brandon Hylton	NJ	Watchung Hills	2018	1B	Stetson
10	Matthew Rivera	NJ	Holy Spirit	2018	C

RISERS

North Carolina recruit SS Danny Serretti (Governor Livingston HS, NJ) rises into the top 10 at No. 6 after a huge spring and summer campaign. The lean, athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pounder possesses gap to gap power as a switch hitter and smooth, easy actions at SS with a strong arm across the diamond.

No. 9 is Stetson recruit 1B Brandon Hylton (Watchung Hills HS, NJ) possesses strength and power from the left side at 6-foot-5, 215-pounds. Smooth, effortless gap to gap strength, Hylton put on a show during batting practice at the GSUG and was one of the most feared hitters in the state during the spring season. 

 

NEWCOMERS

No. 7 is Oklahoma State recruit RHP John Kelly (Rutherford HS, NJ) bursted on to the scene earlier in June with a fastball that got up to 93 MPH and sat 90-91 for his entire outing at the Garden State Underclass Games at Diamond Nation. Kelly possesses a lean, athletic frame at 6-foot-1 180-pounds. Curveball showed sharp 11/5 downer-break at 78-79 MPH, a true strikeout pitch for him.

Two Kentucky recruits emerged with power fastballs this summer, in RHP Will Gambino (Paul VI HS, NJ) and RHP Alex Degen (Hunterdon Central HS, NJ) Gambino revved it up to 94 at WWBA in July and was 87-92 at Area Code last week. Degen sits 87-89 with a sharp 11/5 breaking ball with spin and depth for strikes. Degen sits at No. 11 and Gambino at No. 18.

No. 21 is Old Dominion recruit RHP Matthew Busher (North Hunterdon HS, NJ). Busher was 87-88 touching 90 at the GSUG in June at Diamond Nation with a smooth, clean arm from a high-3/4 slot. Flashed an 11/5 breaking ball for strikes at 75-76. Ball seems to jump out of his hand.

3B Chris Brito (Perth Amboy HS, NJ), a Rutgers recruit, is another power threat that has risen into the Top 20 Rankings at No. 16. At the GSUG, Brito peppered the outfield fence during BP and showed his range and strong arm from 3B during gameplay. 

At No. 39 is LHP Samrath Singh (Plainsboro HS, NJ) was 88-90 at Diamond Nation in July with a long, loose arm action. Long, lanky frame that will continue to fill out – Singh still needs some polishing, but the arm clearly works. Singh is a Boston College recruit.

No. 40 is Seton Hall recruit RHP Brennan O'Neill (Morristown HS, NJ) was 87-88 this summer with a breaking ball that was 72-76 with 11/5 tilt. Easy, controlled delivery with a loose, clean arm from a high-3/4 slot. Landing is controlled and square to homeplate, fastball has some armside run.

Pennsylvania recruit OF Tommy Courtney (Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ) comes in at No. 43 with his elite speed and knack for finding the barrel. A top-of-the-order type hitter, Courtney has a short, quick left handed stroke through the zone.

 

Check out the rest of the 2018 Rankings HERE. The list has been expanded to 170 names.

 

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