While too early to tell, several players come to mind when attempting to predict the to-be 2026 Player of the Year in Nevada. This years' class features several "leaders" with a strong track record and the talent to match. Several others have clear paths to the award, noting the depth of this senior class. I also added my personal list of 2027 Darkhorses to hedge in the event that one of these talented players breaks out in a major fashion this Spring.

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST

5 FRONT-RUNNERS FOR OUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD HEADING INTO THE SPRING

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	POSITION	COMMITMENT
Rookie Shepard	Faith Lutheran	2026	Miami
Click to view Shepard's Player Profile View Full Profile Rookie Shepard Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 27 / POS: 11 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 2B High School: Faith Lutheran State: NV Summer Team: MLB Breakthrough Height: 6-1 Weight: 191.4lbs Bat/Throw: L/R
Keenan Dolan	Bishop Manogue	2026	South Carolina
Click to view Dolan's Player Profile View Full Profile Keenan Dolan Class of 2026 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 242 / POS: 86 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Bishop Manogue State: NV Summer Team: Northern Nevada Baseball Club Height: 6-5 Weight: 215.2lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Matthew Kelley	Basic Academy	2026	Texas A&M
Click to view Kelley's Player Profile View Full Profile Matthew Kelley Class of 2026 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 105 / POS: 30 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: 3B High School: Basic Academy State: NV Summer Team: East Coast Sox Height: 6-0 Weight: 172.4lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Andruw Giles	Basic Academy	2026	Oregon
Click to view Giles's Player Profile View Full Profile Andruw Giles Class of 2026 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 62 / POS: 12 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: LHP High School: Basic Academy State: NV Summer Team: CBA Height: 5-11 Weight: 179.2lbs Bat/Throw: L/L
Jake Turner	Centennial	2027	TCU
Click to view Turner's Player Profile View Full Profile Jake Turner Class of 2027 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 29 / POS: 9 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: LHP High School: Centennial State: NV Summer Team: GBG Height: 6-2 Weight: 198.4lbs Bat/Throw: L/L

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CHALLENGER CANDIDATES

5 MORE NAMES WITH A CLEAR PATH TO THE AWARD

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	POSITION	COMMITMENT
Troy Southisene	Basic Academy	IF/OF	Oregon State
Click to view Southisene's Player Profile View Full Profile Troy Southisene Class of 2026 / OF Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 262 / POS: 47 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: OF Secondary Position: SS High School: Basic Academy State: NV Summer Team: ZT Prospect Height: 5-8 Weight: 164lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Kingston Kela	Faith Lutheran	IF	TCU
Click to view Kela's Player Profile View Full Profile Kingston Kela Class of 2026 / 3B Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 419 / POS: 14 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: 3B Secondary Position: 2B High School: Faith Lutheran State: NV Summer Team: SBA Height: 6-0 Weight: 176.6lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Giovanni Guariglia Jr.	Silverado	RHP	TCU
Click to view Guariglia's Player Profile View Full Profile Giovanni Guariglia Jr. Class of 2026 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 425 / POS: 150 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: 1B High School: Silverado State: NV Summer Team: GBG 14u Red Ramirez Height: 6-0 Weight: 249.8lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Colton Christman	Arbor View	LHP	LSU
Click to view Christman's Player Profile View Full Profile Colton Christman Class of 2026 / LHP Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 348 / POS: 30 Player Information Graduating Class: 2026 Primary Position: LHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Arbor View State: NV Summer Team: East Coast Sox Height: 6-1 Weight: 180.6lbs Bat/Throw: L/L
Cash Martin	Faith Lutheran	RHP	Stanford
Click to view Turner's Player Profile View Full Profile Cash Martin Class of 2027 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 100 / POS: 23 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: 1B High School: Faith Lutheran State: NV Summer Team: USA Prime National 16U & Las Vegas Recruits (LVR) Height: 6-2 Weight: 197.5lbs Bat/Throw: R/R

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2027 DARKHORSES

5 PLAYERS LOOKING FOR A BIG SPRING TO THROW THEIR NAME INTO THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR TALKS

PLAYER	HIGH SCHOOL	POSITION	COMMITMENT
Connor Long	Bishop Gorman	IF/RHP	Oregon
Click to view Long's Player Profile View Full Profile Connor Long Class of 2027 / 3B Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 109 / POS: 7 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: 3B Secondary Position: RHP High School: Bishop Gorman State: NV Summer Team: BPA Height: 5-9 Weight: 188.1lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Troy Riley	Reno	RHP	Oregon State
Click to view Riley's Player Profile View Full Profile Troy Riley Class of 2027 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 291 / POS: 83 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Reno State: NV Summer Team: Reno Knights Height: 6-2 Weight: 188.5lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Liam Radke	Faith Lutheran	RHP	TCU
Click to view Radke's Player Profile View Full Profile Liam Radke Class of 2027 / RHP Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 292 / POS: 84 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: RHP Secondary Position: OF High School: Faith Lutheran State: NV Summer Team: Wow Factor National Height: 6-1 Weight: 177.7lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Braden Jones	Reno	IF/RHP	UCLA
Click to view Jones' Player Profile View Full Profile Braden Jones Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 386 / POS: 81 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: RHP High School: Reno State: NV Summer Team: Northern Nevada Baseball Club Height: 6-1 Weight: 191.4lbs Bat/Throw: R/R
Justin Rodrigues	Bishop Gorman	IF/RHP	Uncommitted
Click to view Rodrigues' Player Profile View Full Profile Justin Rodrigues Class of 2027 / SS Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 387 / POS: 82 Player Information Graduating Class: 2027 Primary Position: SS Secondary Position: SS High School: Bishop Gorman State: NV Summer Team: GBG Height: 5-10 Weight: 156.8lbs Bat/Throw: R/R

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RECENT NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
Las Vegas Rising Stars ID: Session 1	NV	03/22	Centennial HS - Las Vegas, NV
Hawaii Rising Stars ID	NV	03/29	Pearl City High School - Pearl City, HI
Las Vegas Rising Stars ID: Session 2	NV	04/11	Green Valley HS - Henderson, NV
Reno Rising Stars ID	NV	04/18	Bishop Manogue - Reno, NV
Las Vegas Rising Stars Games	NV	05/27	College of Southern Nevada - Henderson, NV
Las Vegas Top Prospect Games	NV	05/27	College of Southern Nevada - Henderson, NV
2026 Four Corners ProCase (Invite-Only)	NV	06/02	Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ