By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Three ranked 2015 prospects named their schools recently, including a pair from defending Class 4A state champion Mount Carmel.

Mount Carmel brought home the school’s first state baseball championship last spring, in large part due to its phenomenal 2015 class. The Caravan started four sophomores last spring – and now three of them are verbally committed after 2B Ako Thomas and C Scott Kapers named their schools. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound Thomas picked Michigan, while the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Kapers named Valparaiso.

Despite his diminutive size, Thomas is one of the best baseball players in Illinois’ 2015 class. He proved it game in and game out last spring for Mount Carmel, playing alongside SS Jerry Houston, who’s now at Oregon. Thomas then proved it at the Midwest Future Games in August, when he led the event with five hits against top-level competition, including a leadoff double. He seldom swings and misses, and always seems to barrel up the baseball.  Thomas is currently ranked No. 15 in Illinois’ loaded 2015 class, and No. 69 overall.

Kapers is a top-level catch-and-throw backstop, as he proved at the PBR Class of 2015 Showcase in October. Kapers fired consistent 1.98-2.05 pop times, in addition to receiving exceptionally well during bullpens.

Kapers and Thomas join OF Josh Stowers (Louisville) as committed 2015 prospects at Mount Carmel.  1B Malik Carpenter, OF Nick Wheeler and RHP Nelson Munoz are also top 100 prospects in Mount Carmel’s 2015 class.

+ In other recruiting news, 2015 OF Ethan Skender (Metamora HS) has committed to Kansas State. The 5-foot-10 Skender has seen his stock skyrocket over the summer and fall with a string of stellar performances, capped by a sensational showing at World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter. Skender has an aggressive plate approach and consistently barrels up baseballs. He also has a strong arm from the outfield and plays the game hard. Skender marks the second 2015 Illinois prospect to give a pledge to Kansas State recently, joining 1B/LHP Cory Wright (St. Charles North HS).

Send all Illinois recruiting information to [email protected]