Trey Sofio
Louisiana Scouting Director

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It has been a busy four-plus months since the last official update to the Louisiana class of 2018 rankings. Today the list extends to 150 prospects, as the spring and summer season allowed the Prep Baseball Report scouting staff to track down emerging talent at high school games, tournaments and showcases.

The top of the class largely remains the same as Louisiana State recruit RHP Landon Marceaux (Destrehan) once again leads the way in Louisiana, after his outstanding performance at the Tournament of Stars. Although lacking in proto-typical size for a high school pitching prospect, Marceaux is a treat to watch. He has shown premium pitchability with feel and command for a devastating arsenal of pitches. To boot, his performance in Cary this past week should place him in contention for a roster spot on the 18U National Team.

2018 C CJ Willis (Ruston) checks in as the top position player in Louisiana’s 2018 class. Willis has continued to show a premium hit tool on the national stage, and will undoubtedly be heavily scouted by Major League Baseball throughout the next eleven months. One of the top uncommitted players in the country, Willis is commanding a lot of attention on the recruiting trail, as some of the top programs in the country are battling it out for his commitment.

Mississippi State recruit, OF Basiel Williams (Ponchatoula) checks in at No. 3, as the toolsy outfielder has has shown development in his overall game this summer. An extremely projectable 6-foot-3 frame, the switch-hitting future Bulldog has flashed some power from the left-side this summer, which should intrigue the scouting community over the next several months.

Rounding out the top five are Louisiana State recruits, IF Gavin Dugas (Houma Christian) and RHP/IF Will Ripoll (John Curtis). Both of the future Tigers saw limited action during the spring season, because of injury and transfer eligibility, but have gotten themselves right back on track thus far this summer. Dugas has significantly improved defensively, and could very well remain an infielder as he progresses in his career. However, the combination of foot-speed and hitting ability Dugas has shown, should create opportunity for position versatility in the future. After moving from Texas last summer, Ripoll was forced to sit out this spring, but has picked up right where he left off on the mound. A potential two-way player, Ripoll is an athletic strike-thrower, runs his fastball up to 90 mph, and has feel for a tight spinning slider with potential to be a legitimate out-pitch down the road.

Tulane recruits, 1B Cade Beloso (John Curtis) and OF Logan Stevens (John Curtis) remain in the top ten. Beloso was a First Team All-State selection by the Prep Baseball Report, after one of the more dominating offensive seasons in recent memory for a high school junior in the state of Louisiana.

Rounding out the top ten, Nicholls State recruit, OF Mason Turner (Terrebonne) significantly rises in the rankings, checking in at No. 8. The future Colonel has been outstanding to this point in the summer, showing off a much improved hit tool, adding to his established athleticism and arm strength from the outfield. Southeastern Louisiana recruit, OF Zane Zeppuhar (St. Amant) and Louisiana-Lafayette recruit, RHP/IF Chance Stone (Sulphur) round out the top ten, at No. 9 and 10, respectively.

RHP Grant Upton (University Lab) is the biggest riser in the updated list, checking in at No. 11. The physical 6-foot-3 right-hander has been up to 88 mph this summer, and has flashed an ability to spin a quality breaking ball.

A standout at the ArkLaTex Open this past weekend, C/RHP Conner Wyly (Neville) is another a big riser, all the way up to No. 21. Wyly continued to show catch and throw skills on Thursday, as well as putting together one of the best rounds of batting practice at the event. Used primarily as a reliever this spring, Wyly displayed quality stuff on the mound, running his fastball up to 89 mph.

Two standouts from June’s Top Prospect Games also make significant jumps in the updated rankings. RHP/IF Matthew Barthelemey (Belle Chase) checks in at No. 25, after he showed quality athleticism, and arm strength at the event. OF River Town (Zachary) had a wildly successful spring season, helping the Broncos reach the semi-finals in class 5A. Town also showed well at the Top Prospect Games, posting a 6.82 60-yard dash time, and climbs to No. 27 in the updated list.

To see the complete updated 2018 rankings, CLICK HERE.

Here is a look at the Top 20 in Louisiana’s 2018 class>>

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Landon Marceaux	LA	Destrehan	2018	RHP	Louisiana State
2	CJ Willis	LA	Ruston	2018	C
3	Basiel Williams	LA	Ponchatoula	2018	OF	Mississippi State
4	Gavin Dugas	LA	Houma Christian	2018	SS	Louisiana State
5	Will Ripoll	LA	John Curtis	2018	RHP	Louisiana State
6	Cade Beloso	LA	John Curtis	2018	1B	Tulane
7	Logan Stevens	LA	John Curtis	2018	OF	Tulane
8	Mason Turner	LA	Terrebonne	2018	OF	Nicholls State
9	Zane Zeppuhar	LA	St Amant	2018	OF	Southeastern Louisiana
10	Chance Stone	LA	Sulphur	2018	3B	Louisiana-Lafayette
11	Grant Upton	LA	University Lab	2018	RHP
12	Slade Bolden	LA	West Monroe	2018	OF
13	Jerry Couch	LA	Evangel Christian Academy	2018	RHP
14	Dylan Coburn	LA	Tioga	2018	RHP	Southeastern Louisiana
15	Antonio Gauthier	LA	Barbe	2018	3B	McNeese State
16	Bryan Lawerence	LA	Barbe	2018	SS	Louisiana State
17	Luke Honeycutt	LA	West Ouachita	2018	RHP
18	Alex Egan	LA	St. Thomas Aquinas	2018	RHP
19	Jordin LaBruzza	LA	John Curtis	2018	2B
20	Champ Artigues	LA	St. Thomas Aquinas	2018	SS	Louisiana Tech

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