With the high school season fast approaching, our staff has started to shift our focus towards preparing for the 2024 spring season.  Our Player of the Year award is given each year to the most impactful high school player in the state.  Last year, the award was given to Donovan LaSalle of Barbe High School, who is now a freshman at Oklahoma State University.  Below, we highlight a talent-filled list of potential Player of the Year candidates, with three names entering this season as front runners and another group following close behind.

THE LEADERS

+ 2024 3B/OF John Pearson (West Monroe HS)

The youngest of the Pearson boys is primed for another big spring for the Rebels, after a terrific junior year that saw him hit at a .424 clip with 7 HR, 15 2B, 7 3B, 35 RBI, and 56 R.  If he puts up similar numbers this spring and if West Monroe can claim their second title in the last three years, then it'll be tough not to name him as the Bayou State's Player of the Year.

+ 2024 SS Michael Ryan (Rummel HS)

The athletic right-handed hitting shortstop had a jam-up junior year and it carried over into the summer and this fall.  The LSU recruit finished last season with a .420 avg, 7 HR, 10 2B, 3 3B, 49 R, 31 RBI, and 18 SB.  Rummel caught fire at the right time last season and made it all the way to the state title game.  We expect Ryan to have a monster senior year, as the offensive catalyst of the Raiders offense.

+ William Schmidt (Catholic BR HS)

The Catholic BR product is undoubtedly the state's biggest name this season, as it relates to the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft.  Schmidt is currently the top ranked player in our 2024 state rankings and is the second-ranked RHP in our national rankings, thanks to a 92-95 mph heater and a devastating "12-6" downer breaking ball, with spin rates consistently at or above 3,000 RPM's.  The LSU recruit went 5-1 last season with a 0.94 ERA, and will lead a potent Bears pitching staff again this spring.

THE WATCHLIST

+ 2024 LHP Grayden Harris (Central BR HS)

The 6'2" 195 lbs. southpaw has been the Wildcats ace since his sophomore year, and will once again be the #1 this spring.  Harris had a really good junior campaign, as he finished with a 8-2 record and 1.38 ERA, to go along with a whopping 106 K's across 76 IP.  We look for the Southern Miss recruit to get to double digit wins this spring for Central BR HS. 

+ 2024 SS Hayden Federico (West Monroe HS)

The Ole Miss recruit will once again be a vital part of the Rebels offense, after hitting at a .420 clip last spring with 3 HR, 8 2B, 3 3B, 40 RBI, and 38 R.  Federico's impact defensively, however, may be even more important to West Monroe this spring, as it looks like he'll likely make the move from third base over to shortstop for his senior season.

+ 2024 RHP Camden Sunstrom (University Lab HS)

Sunstrom has been the Cubs ace since his sophomore year, and will once again be the team's top man this season.  The Southern Miss recruit had another outstanding year for U-High last spring, as he posted a 7-1 record with a 0.82 ERA.  He carried that success over to the summer and performed well on the circuit, which leads us to believe that he's in for a mega senior year.

+ 2024 1B/OF Trey Hawsey (West Monroe HS)

The Louisiana Tech recruit is the third Rebel on this list and for good reason, as he's had some big hits throughout the course of his career, none bigger than his semifinal walk-off homerun against Dutchtown, during his sophomore year.  Last year, Hawsey hit right at a .375 clip with 11 HR, 11 2B, 43 RBI, and 31 R.  If opposing teams decide to pitch against him this spring, we expect him to put some big numbers up again.  

+ 2024 3B/RHP Trip Dobson (Catholic BR HS)

Dobson is the lone two-way guy mentioned on this list, as he's got a great chance to positively impact the Bears season, both on the mound and at the plate.  The Houston recruit finished last season with a .340 avg. to go along with 4 HR, 8 2B, 27 RBI, and 30 R.  He was relied upon in more of a reliever role this spring, but he may be asked to move into a starting role for Catholic BR this year, which means that he could put up some big numbers as a pitcher and a hitter.