The 2025 New Jersey Preseason All-State: Underclass event was littered with top-end talent from around the state. The Prep Baseball New Jersey staff had a prime opportunity to see these prospects just ahead of another highly anticipated high school campaign.

CLICK HERE to view all of the metrics collected at this invite-only event; below, we're highlighting some of the top overall performers from the showcase.

Top Outfield Performances

+ OF JJ Watkins (Cedar Creek, 2027) - A physical prospect that stood out from this event. 6-foot-3, 195-pounds and broad shouldered. Metrics were advanced at 6.53 60-yard dash, 90 OF velocity, and 96.3 EV. Watkins is a prospect to watch for this summer.

+ OF Casper Billington (Rumson-Fair Haven, 2027) - We’ve really liked what Billington has put together over the last few months. He was great at the Fall Top Prospect Games and carried that momentum into the Preseason All State event. He’s wiry, athletic and has a knack for the barrel at the plate. One of the top overall hitters from the event. Put together a solid BP round, showing off a 103 mph max EV and a 74 mph avg. bat speed.

+ OF Finnian O’Loughlin (Delbarton, 2027) - NJ’s No. 1 2027 grad continued to prove why he’s one of the best in the country. Athleticism, arm strength, and power with a mature approach at the plate. Calm, cool, collected. Ran a 7.04 60 at the All-State event with a 93 mph OF velocity, in his BP round he peaked at 96 mph EV and had a max distance of 373 ft.

+ OF Justin Kauffman (Ranney, 2027) - A member of the Team NJ at the Super Sophomore Games last summer, Kauffman’s ability to affect the game at the plate and on the mound makes him one of the top prospects in the state. Quiet, compact stroke through the zone and ultra competitor on the mound. The two-way prospect has impressive numbers all around, ran a 7.15 60 and threw 89 mph from the OF. Put together a clean BP round, peaking his EV at 95 mph, while averaging 88 mph. On the mound, worked his fastball up to 86 mph with a spin rate of 2200+ rpm.

+ OF Nick Do (Jefferson, 2027) - Do’s athleticism and strength have continued to improve as we get more looks at him. Standing at 5-foot-10, 160-lbs, Do peppered line drives to the back part of the facility at 94 mph off the bat, ran a 7.2 60-yard dash and threw 85 mph from the OF.

+ OF Aiden Nugent (Seton Hall Prep, 2027) - Nugent really impressed at the plate and has some projection on the mound too. Offensively, showed a 92 mph EV with a max distance of 360ft. Has a tall set up in the box and stays in his legs through launch. Showed off the arm from the OF at 89 mph. On the mound, flashed a three pitch mix, was up to 82 mph with the fastball and showed off a high spin curveball and slider. 

+ OF Luke Tanzola (St. Augustine Prep, 2027) - One of the best all-around athletes from the event, Tanzola stood out with his fluid, effortless, and compact stroke through the zone, up to 94 mph EV. Certainly a table-setter type player that can affect the game at the plate and on the basepaths with a 7.16 60-yard dash.

+ OF/1B Dylan Temple (Delbarton, 2027) - Temple’s round of BP was eye popping. Checks all the boxes from a physical standpoint - wiry strong frame at 6-foot-4 185-pounds. Consistently on time and backspinning line drives to the back part of the facility with ease, was one of the loudest rounds of BP on the day. Temple had an average EV of 87 mph while peaking at 93 mph.

+ OF Aidan Dill (Rumson-Fair Haven, 2027) - Dill continues to get stronger and refine his abilities on the field. Noticeably more physical, standing at 5-foot-11, 185-lbs. in this go around, his BP round was controlled yet explosive, up to 94 mph EV. Dill had a clean defensive round and was up to 84 mph. 

+ OF Connor Bresler (Delbarton, 2028) - Bresler, one of NJ’s top 2028 grads and another guy that really fills out a uniform for his age. At 6-foot-1,181-lbs. Bresler is mature and has effortless juice from the right side that will play at any level. Flashed EVs up to 93 mph at this event but has been 95+ previously. Defensively, was up to 85 mph and ran a 7.13 60-yard dash.

+ OF Jackson Staples (The Hun School, 2027) - Staples is a dark horse in the 2027 class right now - and reminds me of ‘25 Boston College commit Logan Dawson’s frame and skillset at the same age. Lanky, athletic and still needs some muscle to add to the frame, but the bat to ball skills and timing are innate and advanced. Ran a 7.09 60 and had a peak EV of 93 mph with a max distance of 358ft. High follow prospect.

+ OF Owen Ehrenkranz (Gil St. Bernards, 2028) - Ehrenkranz, along with his travel ball teammate Bresler, are two of the top 2028s in the state and in the country at the moment. Physically stands out at his age, Ehrenkranz impacts the ball with thump, up to 94 mph EV and has a live arm on the mound. Was up to 84 mph on the mound with an avg. of 17.6 in. of HM. 

+ OF John Deveau (Seton Hall Prep, 2027) - We were intrigued when we got to see Deveau at the Hustle Baseball Scout Day events over the last couple of years, although at those events he was still about a year or two away from really being a prospect to watch. At this event, Deveau really emerged as a complete hitter. On time, stays in his legs and impacts the ball with authority, had a max EV of 87 mph at the event. 

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