Power 25 HS Preview: #2 Mount Paran

High School Name: Mount Paran

Coach’s Name: Kyle Reese

Classification: 2A

2022 Record: 32-4

Region: 6-2A

No. of Returning Starters: 7

Team Strengths: Pitching Rotation

Top Returning Players:

• RHP Tate McKee (Georgia Tech, 2023)

• CF Nick Germain (Elon (football) 2023)

• LHP Luke Dotson (Mississippi State, 2023)

• RHP Paul Farley (Georgia, 2023)

• LHP Jake Tucker (Georgia Tech, 2023)

• C Kyle Crisp (2024)

• OF Garrett Droege (2024)

• 1B Pete Czaska (Georgia Tech, 2023) NEW PLAYER

Top 2024 Prospects:

• OF Bryce Adams

• SS Braden Gabel

Top 2025 and 2026 Prospects

• OF Henry Akopov (2025)

• 3B Will Hennessey (2025)

Team Outlook

The Eagles had an impressive 2022 going 32-4 and only losing 1 region game. They also rattled off a 17 game win streak late in the season. Unfortunately, they fell to Wesleyan in a hard fought series. They return their top arms on the mound, and have a cast of offensive weapons to make a run in 2023. Georgia Tech commit Tate McKee and Mississippi State commit Luke Dotson will be 2 names to keep an eye on for the 2023 MLB draft. Both players were planning to attend the Super 60 in Chicago, but were not able to make it due to the Georgia HS season getting pushed up a week. Both McKee and Dotson will be in the upper 80’s and low 90’s. This will be one of the strongest lefty righty duos in the state. The impressive depth of pitching will also include Georgia commit Paul Farley and Georgia Tech commit Jake Tucker. Tucker will also be a key piece in the Eagles lineup. With these 4 guys it really puts the Eagles at an advantage when they get into a 3 game series during playoffs.

Tate Mckee RHP / SS / Mt. Paran Christian, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 7 OverallRank: 160 / POS: 50   #WreckHavoc ‘23 RHP Tate McKee(@Official_ECB) fast tempo, athletic delivery stays compact & connected. Efficient 1 piece AA 3/4 slot he hides well. FB 89-91 T92 steep plane w/ explosive bore. SL 78-80 tight shape & wipeout depth at 25-2600 rpm. 1 of the best SL I’ve seen in ‘22 pic.twitter.com/jimmI6ji1E — Justin Goetz (@JGoetzPBR) June 10, 2022

Luke Dotson LHP / Mt. Paran, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 99 / POS: 18   2023 #FSU commit Luke Dotson (@lukedotson11) with a dominant performance on the mound for @mtparanschool. Going 6 scoreless, while only allowing 2 hits. Pounded the zone with his fastball throughout the outing. FB-85-87 T89 BB-69-72 pic.twitter.com/SCADY8UVQX — PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) March 9, 2021

Paul Farley RHP / OF / Mt. Paran , GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 30 / POS: 11 OverallRank: 245 / POS: 75   ‘23 RHP Paul Farley (@recruit643) showing good feel for FB/SL combo, throwing SL in any count. Controlling the zone, is thru 4.0 shutout innings in bracket play. FB: 85-88 SL: 76-80@PBRGeorgia @ShooterHunt #SGG21 pic.twitter.com/ydAVYjPUZH — Phil Kerber (@PhilKerber) June 1, 2021

Jake Tucker LHP / 1B / Mount Paran, GA / 2023 Rankings  StateRank: 118 / POS: 17   ‘23 1B Jake Tucker (@MPCAthletics, 2023) comes up with his 2nd hit of the game. Lines one into CF that is mishandled allowing Adams to score from 2B. Mount Paran - 1 Wesleyan - 0 T5 - 1 out@PBRGeorgia #GHSAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RLlqGNGv8i — Phil Kerber (@PhilKerber) May 21, 2021

They will need a few hitters to step up to follow Kyle Crisp, Nick Germain and Garrett Droege in the line up. One of those players will be Pete Czaska, the lefty power bat will be a huge addition for the Eagles this spring. Henry Akopov will be a high follow for the 2025 class. Akopov was a standout at LakePoint this summer and holds one of the top 60 times in the class at a 6.44. Mount Paran will have the strongest pitching staff in the state, and if they line up can get rolling they will have a chance to make a run at the 2A state title.