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Preseason Top 25: No. 9 IMG Academy

January 26, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Area Scout

Today’s team comes in at the number nine spot and is one of the more intriguing schools in Florida. This program is nationally recognized in multiple sports, including baseball, and routinely produces division I and professional athletes.

IMG Academy is looking to rebuild on what was probably their most talented team in program history and arguably the best team in the country. This year, however, their lineup will look completely different as they lost plenty of players to graduation, the draft, and transferring. Unfortunately for the Ascenders, practically every player who left was a vital piece to this team. Players like Jason Groome, Logan Allen, Nick Derr, and LT Tolbert have all departed from IMG for each reason listed above. Groome moved back to his home state of New Jersey, Allen was signed by the Red Sox, Derr transferred to Sarasota HS, and Tolbert is getting ready to begin his freshman season at South Carolina.

Even though losing players of that stature might seem to indicate that this season will be lost, IMG has brought in some transfers of their own and look like they will be one of the more competitive teams in the state again. Two high profile arms came in from out state to help fill (at least partially) the massive void left by Groome and Allen. Even though replacing those two from last year may seem hopeless, the right handers that they brought in are about as good as you can get at the last minute. 2016 RHP Greer Holston moved from Mississippi and will likely take over the number one spot for the Ascenders this season. The Ole Miss Signee has a projectable 6-foot-4 frame and pounds the zone with an 87-91 mph fastball and 78-81 mph slider. The other pitching transfer is one who moved down from West Virginia—2018 RHP Levi Kelly. Kelly, who is committed to Louisiana State, is already considered to be one of the top 2018 arms in Florida and he can already run his fastball up to 90-91 mph. Another arm who will help them is 2016 RHP Anthony Holubecki. The Notre Dame Signee stands at 6-foot-4 and was up to 93 mph at the end of the fall.

As for their offense, their key returning player will be 2017 North Carolina commit Austin Bates. Bates is one of the top 2017 catching prospects in Florida and will be a vital piece for the Ascenders behind the plate while hitting towards the top of the lineup. A transfer who will help strengthen the middle of their lineup is 3B Brandon Dorsey. Dorsey is another 2017 North Carolina commit who moved down from Maryland and shows good power at the plate and a strong arm from third base. Look for Bates and Dorsey to help lead the offensive production for IMG this season.

As for their schedule, they obviously cannot play in the postseason but they have a strong regular season schedule that includes facing some of the better programs in Florida and a good amount of teams from around the country who are powerhouses in their respective states. As usual, look for some scouts to flock to their games in early in the season to see players like Holston and Holubecki.