Alabama High School Team Preview: James Clemens Jets

The 2022 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Alabama.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Montgomery at the AISA or AHSAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Alabama. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason Top 10 in each AHSAA classification. 

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each AHSAA classification as well as a Power 25. One thing that you especially don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state as well as recaps and previews of big games across the state.  

*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

High School Name: James Clemens Jets 

Coach’s Name: Johnny Johnson 

Classification: AHSAA 7A 

Area Number: Area 8 

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 2 

No. of Returning Pitchers: 6 

Team Strengths: Defense, Athleticism

Top Returning Players:

• RHP Noah Berry (Samford, 2022)
• LHP Landon Carroll (Bevill State CC, 2022)
• UTL Colin Loosier
• 3B/RHP Nathan Guyse (2023)
• OF Gio Lopez (2023)

Top 2022 Prospects:

• OF Tyler Nix (2022)

Top 2023 Prospects:

• SS Andrew Lawrence (2023)
• C/INF Colten Payton (2023)

Top 2024 & 2025 Prospects:

• RHP/3B Luke Davenport (2024)
• MIF Francisco Ramirez (2024)
• C JT Johnson (2024)
• OF David Sharp (2024)
• RHP/3B Cody Hughes (2025)
• INF/RHP Ty Marsh (2025)

Team Outlook

The James Clemens Jets come into the spring with his aspirations of making the Class 7A State Playoffs after just missing out last year. The Jets are in one of the toughest areas in North Alabama competing with Bob Jones, Florence & Austin to make it to the playoffs. The Jets will look to get off to a good start starting next week at the PBR Alabama Kickoff Classic.

James Clemens return just two positional starters from 2021, but there have been some younger players that have really improved throughout the off-season that look ready to step up and produce at the varsity level. The Jets should be solid once again on the mound this spring with six returning pitchers slated in the rotation, including RHP Noah Berry (Samford) who should be the ace for this team. Berry is one of those players who enjoyed a breakout summer in 2021, which led to his commitment to Samford. He's a 6-5, 200-pounder who has gotten up to 90 mph in the preseason and pounds the zone with all pitches. LHP Landon Carroll (Bevill State CC) is another senior arm who should pitch some big innings for the Jets this spring. Carroll is a southpaw who can work in the mid-80's with his fastball and will look to build off a strong junior campaign last year. RHP Luke Davenport will also be a pitcher to watch this spring, as he has shown a mid-80's fastball this off-season with much more in the tank and excellent command. Looking at the offensive outlook, UTL Colin Loosier will continue to have a big role for the Jets after playing every position last spring except for catcher, first base and pitcher. Loosier plays the game hard and has some pop from the right side of the plate. 3B/RHP Nathan Guyse enjoyed a breakout sophomore season as the everyday-starter for the Jets. Back for his junior season, Guyse will hit in the middle of the order and will also be asked to help out on the mound some, as well. Another player who was a starter last spring was OF Gio Lopez, who also serves as the quarterback in the fall for James Clemens. Lopez is really athletic and should be a consistent producer once he gets back healthy this spring. SS/RHP Andrew Lawrence is a high upside prospect as a junior who provides range up the middle defensively and a steady bat in the middle of the order for the Jets. James Clemens also gets back OF Tyler Nix this spring after missing the entire 2021 season due to injury, and also add C/INF Colten Payton who transferred in from Colorado this year. 

In addition to these returners, the Jets will need some younger players who although don't have as much experience as others, look ready to make an impact at the varsity level. Some of these players to watch include MIF Francisco Ramirez, C JT Johnson, OF David Sharp, RHP/3B Cody Hughes & INF/RHP Ty Marsh. The Jets should once again be a competitive club with high expectations to make a run throughout Class 7A in 2022.