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2024 Top 25 Recruiting Rankings

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(Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Here are the best 25 players in the class of 2024

In formulating rankings for the sophomore through senior classes, Softball America places an emphasis on real-time developmental growth in conducting player-profile analysis. Prospect potential, projected upside, overall and position-specific athleticism as well as other quantifiable metrics are key components of evaluation. At the same time, current skill set, production and impact at the club and/or high school level are fundamental analytical data points. SA’s methodology includes consultation with club, scholastic, collegiate and Team USA sources nationwide.

Updated on: 7/14/2021
  1. 1
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    Sa'Mya Jones

    Dawson (Pearland, Texas) UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Impact Gold
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Jones is a complete package. The Houston-area native had Power 5 offers when she was in sixth and seventh grade, before the recruiting rules changed, and she has the ability to hit for average and power, along with great speed and positional versatility.
  2. 2
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    Gabi Comia

    Hanover Central (Cedar Lake, Ind.) SS
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Beverly Bandits
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Comia's biggest calling card is her speed—she can steal bases essentially at will and can both slap and swing away. But she also has the ability to slug for extra bases, and she's getting attention from top schools in all regions of the country as a result.
  3. 3
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    Shelby McKenzie

    Pace (Pace, Fla.) 1B/P
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Birmingham Thunderbolts
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    McKenzie played at the high school varsity level beginning in seventh grade, before she moved just across the border from Fairhope, Alabama to Pace, Florida. In 2019, she led the Thunderbolts to the title at PGF 12U Premier Nationals with a .611 batting average.
  4. 4
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    Layla Lamar

    Panther Creek (Cary, N.C.) 3B
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Lady Dukes
    COLLEGE: Florida

    Lamar committed to Florida as a sixth grader, just before the new recruiting rules took effect in 2018. Her mother, Marissa Young, starred at Michigan and is now Duke's first head coach. Lamar led her travel team in home runs last summer before sustaining a freak knee injury in August.
  5. 5
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    Jolie Adams

    Lake Central (St. John, Ind.) OF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Lady Dukes
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    The second player in the Top 5 to hail from northwest Indiana, Adams hit .414 in 31 games as a freshman at Lake Central. She's a true three-tool slapper, with the ability to bunt, slap or hit away.
  6. 6
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    Kate Vance

    Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) INF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Arizona Storm
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Vance is among the best power hitters in her class. She hit .417 during her first high school season with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in just 22 games. She also possesses underrated speed and a strong throwing arm in the middle infield.
  7. 7
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    Stefini Ma'ake

    Academy of Our Lady of Peace (San Diego, Calif.) P/INF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Corona Angels
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Ma'ake certainly made the most of her 18 high school games in 2021, batting .569 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI. In the circle, she's drawn comparisons to UCLA star Megan Faraimo, with one scout calling her "the best pitcher and power hitter in California."
  8. 8
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    Emma Kavanagh

    Barrington (Barrington, Ill.) C
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Illinois Chill
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Kavanagh helped lead Barrington to the league championship in 2021, hitting her 14th home run of the year to break a tie in the championship game. She's been compared to former Chill and Wisconsin star Kayla Konwent, the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year.
  9. 9
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    Sofia Mujica

    Granite Hills (El Cajon, Calif.) C/INF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Power Surge
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Granite Hills finished just 9-19-1 in 2021, but Mujica put up some truly mind-boggling numbers, batting .512 with 17 home runs and 30 RBI in 29 games. She walked 23 times with just six strikeouts.
  10. 10
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    Haley Ferguson

    Beaver Creek (Beaver Creek, Ohio) P/2B
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Beverly Bandits
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Ferguson excelled in the circle for Beaver Creek in 2021, with an ERA of 0.87 and 103 strikeouts (compared to just 12 walks) in 64.2 innings. She was no slouch at the plate, either, hitting .548 in a mere 37 plate appearances.
  11. 11
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    Macey Cintron

    Wesleyan (Peachtree Corners, Ga.) P
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Lady Dukes
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    At just 13, Cintron represented Puerto Rico at the U19 WBSC World Cup in 2019, where she was the youngest player on any team in the tournament. She sustained a back injury last year, but when healthy is one of the best pitching prospects in the country.
  12. 12
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    Ella McDowell

    Foster (Richmond, Texas) C/INF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Impact Gold
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    McDowell, from the talent-rich Houston area, can beat you in all sorts of ways offensively—she hit 10 home runs last summer in travel ball with 55 RBI, but also had nine steals. She's also strong defensively both up the middle and behind the plate.
  13. 13
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    Kennedy Marceaux

    Kaplan (Kaplan, La.) UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Hotshots
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Marceaux is a rare breed—a catcher with great speed. She's also a strong power hitter and an excellent defender, with a quick pop time and a cannon of an arm.
  14. 14
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    Alexia Carrasquillo

    (Woodstock, Ga.) C
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Tennessee Mojo
    COLLEGE: Florida

    Carrasquillo was the youngest recruit to verbally commit to a college in any sport when she chose Tim Walton and the Gators in January 2018, soon before the recruiting rules changed. Few in her class can match Carrasquillo's power—she hit 17 homers and slugged north of 1.000 last year in travel ball.
  15. 15
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    Priscilla Llamas

    Eleanor Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) P/UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Llamas became the first freshman to start a CIF Southern Section Division I title game since 2013. She ultimately was on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision, but with her skill set, she'll have plenty more chances to win championships in high school and beyond.
  16. 16
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    Layna Gerhard

    Tower Hill (Wilmington, Del.) P/OF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Jersey Intensity
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Gerhard was a strikeout machine at the 14U and 16U levels, averaging well over a punchout per inning. She's already throwing in the upper 60s and has added a riseball to her mix as well.
  17. 17
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    Ainsley Pemberton

    Rockwall (Rockwall, Texas) P/1B
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Texas Glory
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Pemberton has several pitches in her arsenal, including a riseball, curveball and screwball. She excelled last summer in travel ball, with a 1.75 ERA in 108 innings pitched.
  18. 18
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    Bailey Kendziorski

    South Effingham (Guyton, Ga.) P
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Georgia Impact
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Kendziorski may not be the hardest thrower in the world, but she keeps hitters off balance with pinpoint control. She won travel ball national championships at the 10U and 12U levels.
  19. 19
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    Chloe Larry

    Parkway (Bossier City, La.) UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Impact Gold
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Larry became her travel team's leading hitter last summer, and her quick hands serve her well on both offense and defense. She has great speed as well.
  20. 20
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    Nia McKnight

    Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) OF
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Atlanta Vipers
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    McKnight can change the complexion of a game with her speed and her bat. She has attended camps at various SEC and ACC schools so far in her recruiting process.
  21. 21
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    Audrey Lowry

    Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton, Ind.) P/UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Beverly Bandits
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Lowry dominated her first high school season in 2021, going 17-3 with an ERA of 0.83. She struck out 236 batters in 127 innings and walked just seven. At the plate, Lowry hit .442 with 27 RBI in 29 games.
  22. 22
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    Kaylynn Jones

    Eleanor Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Jones plays outstanding defense up the middle, while leading her travel team in hits, doubles and steals in 2020.
  23. 23
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    Jada Villegas

    Cajon (San Bernardino, Calif.) P
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: OC Batbusters
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Villegas allowed just one earned run in 14 innings of work for Cajon in 2021. She comes after hitters with a great fastball-curveball combination.
  24. 24
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    Jayden Heavener

    Pace (Pace, Fla.) P/UTL
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Birmingham Thunderbolts
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Heavener put together a fantastic freshman year at Pace, compiling a 1.59 ERA and striking out 252 batters in 105.2 innings pitched. She also batted .303 and drove in 23 runs in 26 games.
  25. 25
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    Cambria Salmon

    Beaumont (Beaumont, Calif.) P/1B
    Notes:

    CLUB TEAM: Athletics Mercado
    COLLEGE: Uncommitted

    Salmon hit .491 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in just 20 games for Beaumont in 2021, but she was even more impressive in the circle, with a 1.13 ERA and a K/BB ratio of more than 13/1 in 105 innings.
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