Preseason Power25 Countdown: No 6 St Thomas Aquinas
February 4, 2019
Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:
SS Keanu Jacobs-Guishard |
Team: St Thomas Aquinas
Preseason Rank: 6
2018 Record: 27-3
FHSAA Class: 8A
Head Coach: Troy Cameron
Playoff Run: State Champions
Returning Starters: 11
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Matt Archer, INF, 2019 (UCF)
Ncik Vera, C, 2019 (Pitt)
Nate Thomas, RHP, 2020 (Miami)
Keanu Jacobs-Guishard, MIF, 2020 (USF)
Raheem Salmon, OF, 2019 (Stetson)
Isaiah Hood, OF/LHP, 2019 (Florida Southwestern)
Chad Curtis, RHP, 2019 (Tusculum)
Connor O’Hara, C, 2019 (FGCU)
Riley Rosario, 1B, 2020
X-FACTOR
Matt Archer. On a team that has consistently boasted high-end talent, coach Troy Cameron lauds Archer as one of the best players he has coached. Archer batted .489 in 2018 and looks to lead the offense in 2019.
KEY PLAYERS LOST
Caleb Roberts
Andres Antonini
Blake Hely
Cade Fergus
Chris Ruckdeschel
OUTLOOK
Despite losing five Division 1 players from the 2018 state title team, St Thomas Aquinas returns seven Division 1 players for 2019. On a team that has consistently boasted high-end talent, coach Troy Cameron lauds Archer as one of the best players he has coached. Archer batted .489 in 2018 and looks to lead the offense in 2019. Archer will be supported by Nick Vera who batted .364 with 3 home runs, Connor O’Hara who batted .433, Riley Rosario who batted .346 and Keanu Jacobs-Guishard who batted .371 and may have the highest upside of the underclass position players. Nate Thomas will lead the way on the mound, after going 8-0 with 44 strikeouts n 39.2 innings. Isaiah Hood and Chad Curtis will look to play much more significant roles in 2019 and should fill into those bigger roles well as both are talented senior arms. Overall, the talent and experience is still there for St Thomas Aquinas and they will look to try to repeat as state champions in 2019.
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