USFDons.com will break down all 12 of the Dons' signees for the 2020-21 school year, starting with part one, which goes over six of the signees.
SAN FRANCISCO — Speed and offensive versatility – as well as a talented arm on the mound – highlight the first half of the University of San Francisco baseball team's 2020-21 signing class, which includes 12 total signees hailing from right here in San Francisco to farther reaches of Northern California, Southern California, Nevada and Colorado.
Read about the first six signees here:
Jared Breedwell | Vacaville, Calif. | Vacaville HS
Position: Outfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190
B/T: R/R
Jared Breedwell has seen his prep career accelerate exponentially at Vacaville High School, going from playing junior varsity as a freshman to batting .400 as a junior for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champs … He was moved up to the varsity squad as a sophomore in 2018 after smashing his junior varsity competition with a .532 batting average and being named the JV MVP … That season, he helped lead the varsity Bulldogs to a section championship by hitting over .300 and carrying an OPS of over .900 … He earned an all-Monticello Empire League honor in 2019 while helping Vacaville High defend its section title, hitting .400 with eight doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs and eight stolen bases, slashing .400/.518/.533 … Breedwell has also been named all-academic in each of his three years of high school.
What They're Saying…
USF Assistant Coach Mat Keplinger
"Jared is a leader and a winner. He has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup for the Vacaville Bulldogs, who have won back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championships. Jared also plays for NorCal Baseball, which is one of the most elite programs in the country. Jared has a strong arm and will look to have an immediate impact to play right field for the Dons."
Mario DeMera | San Mateo, Calif. | St. Ignatius Prep
Position: Infield/Outfield
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
B/T: R/R
A two-time Perfect Game World Series All-Tournament Team honoree, local product Mario DeMera will come to The Hilltop as a versatile utility player with multiple tools … Though injuries limited his playing time in the middle of his prep career, he still batted over .300 in each of his first three seasons, totaled 18 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs, 48 runs scored and 30 stolen bases for St. Ignatius Prep … He helped lead the Wildcats to an appearance in the CIF Central Coast Section Division II playoffs last spring when he batted .317 with seven doubles, 11 RBIs, 22 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a home run … While playing for CCB Elite over the past two summers (2018, '19) he batted .383 and .435, totaled eight doubles, three triples, two home runs, 28 RBIs, 26 runs and 12 stolen bases.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach Nino Giarratano
"We are very excited to land a local superstar from Saint Ignatius Prep.
"Mario is an outstanding athlete that will have a wonderful opportunity to help us with his bat, speed, and defensive versatility. He has the opportunity to be a middle-of-the-order hitter that can play all over the field. We are proud and honored that Mario chose USF."
Cameron Faris | Castro Valley, Calif. | Castro Valley HS
Position: Infield
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
B/T: R/R
Another incoming signee already showing significant growth, Cameron Faris enters his third season of varsity baseball this spring after moving up his sophomore year … In his first season, he helped the Trojans reach the CIF North Coast Section Division I playoffs. He played in 13 games that year with five RBIs, a double, six runs scored and four walks … Last spring, his numbers shot up astronomically, leading the team with a .353 batting average and tallying 12 RBIs, four doubles, a home run and eight runs scored while carrying an OPS of over .900 … He earned a Rawlings "Finest in the Field" award from Perfect Game in 2017 and was named Player of the Year last spring by the Bercovich Foundation.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"Cameron is an electric athlete. He has the ability to change the game with his glove, arm and bat. His athleticism and versatility can place him at second base, third or shortstop for us. He's a tough, gritty, throwback-type of player that will do anything he can to help his team win. When Cameron is not competing for Coach Sears at Castro Valley, he's developing in the Bercovich 24 Athan program.
Tyler Imbach | Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. | Palos Verdes HS
Position: Catcher/First Base
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
B/T: L/R
Tyler Imbach is a decorated offensive catcher that already has plenty of experience playing at the highest levels … He was the Palos Verdes High School team MVP as a junior last spring and was named all-Bay League first team after slashing .329/.425/.589 in 30 games … He led the Sea Kings in home runs (5), on-base percentage and slugging and was second with 19 RBIs … He was also dangerous from behind the plate, throwing out 14 base runners, including 11 would-be base stealers … He was part of both of PVHS' CIF Southern Section Division III playoff runs in 2018 and '19 … Prep Baseball Report ranked him as one of the top 2020 catchers in California and one of the top-125 players in the state … He was one of only seven catchers invited by PBR to participate in their SoCal ProCase held last summer, which was attended by MLB scouts.
What They're Saying…
USF Associate Head Coach Troy Nakamura
"We have been extremely impressed with Tyler's development since his commitment and look forward to getting him on campus. His offensive and defensive tools both project very well at the professional level. In the meantime, his energy and work ethic will give him a chance to make an impact from the first day he steps foot on campus. Both Tyler and Elijah (Tolsma) come from the prestigious SoCal Giants program and the Fick family of coaches."
Max Jones | San Diego | Patrick Henry HS
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
B/T: R/R
There are not many awards left for Max Jones to earn as he enters his senior season at Patrick Henry High School, having raked in numerous accolades as a junior last season … Named the City League Pitcher of the Year, first team all-City League, as well as the Patriots' team Pitcher of the Year, Jones helped lead his team to the league title with a 7-1 record and 1.82 ERA, striking out 86 in 77 innings of work … He was 10th in San Diego County for strikeouts and was named as one of the top San Diego Baseball prospects last summer by the San Diego Union Tribune … He carried a 2.86 ERA as a sophomore, and as a freshman in junior varsity, he had a 1.87 ERA in 37 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts … He pitched the Patriots to the league title with a complete game two-hitter.
What They're Saying…
USF Assistant Coach Mat Keplinger
"Max is a fierce competitor. He came to camp this summer and wowed the entire staff with how he commanded and attacked the strike zone. Max has a three-pitch mix with a good feel for his changeup and a wipeout breaking ball. He profiles to pitch in the back end of games.
"Max brings a mentality that will give him the opportunity to throw in high-leverage situations as a freshman for the Dons."
Luke Keaschall | Watsonville, Calif. | Aptos HS
Position: Infield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
B/T: R/R
Luke Keaschall is a multi-sport letterwinner at Aptos High School, earning all-league accolades in both baseball and wrestling … On the diamond, he's a two-time all-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League honoree (first team, 2019; second team, 2018) and a third-team all-CIF Central Coast Section member as a junior last spring … As a junior in 2019, he batted .395 with a .495 on-base percentage, driving in 30 runs, scoring 35 runs and collecting five doubles, four triples and three home runs while stealing 25 bases … As a sophomore in 2018, he batted .348 and had an on-base percentage of over .400. He stole 17 bases that year and scored 16 runs … He's a two-time captain of the Mariners' baseball team and has also been captain of the wrestling team, where he was a SCCAL champion and finished among the CCS's top-eight as a junior last season.
What They're Saying…
USF Head Coach Nino Giarratano
"Luke has a very high baseball IQ that will give him a wonderful chance to play right away in our program. He is the type of player that will make those around him better. His toughness and ability to play shortstop will allow him to make an immediate impact. USF is a perfect fit for an aggressive ballplayer of this caliber. Look for Luke to be a presence on defense and offense.
