JMU commit Hill Naski wants to be next great Herndon baseball alum
HERNDON, Va. (BVM) – One of the last best uncommitted senior baseball players from the state of Virginia made his decision on where he will play at the next level. Herndon High School shortstop Hill Naski announced his choice on April 22, joining the program at James Madison University.
“I’m definitely excited,” Naski said. “This process has been so long, a lot of thought put into it with coaches and family but at the end of the day I felt that James Madison was the best route for me socially and baseball-wise. I love the school, loved the coaches when I went and I know a couple guys that are going down there to play. It’s a great fit for me.”
https://twitter.com/HillNaski/status/1517527724537036801
With eight total college commits on the roster including six other seniors, Naski’s ability to differentiate himself from the rest of his talented teammates shows just how much skill the senior has. Over the course of the past year, Naski has worked his way into the Division I conversation by attending various camps and playing a strong fall season this past year.
“[I put in] individual work on days that we don’t have practice or after practice whether that was getting a lift in or going to practice early to field ground balls with the other guys on weekends, just little stuff like that,” Naski said.
Fall Ball highlights pic.twitter.com/M5hyOiuWVm
— Hill Naski (@HillNaski) October 1, 2021
Naski has seemingly picked up where he left off during his fall season as he has established himself early as one of the key seniors on the Hornets’ roster. During the early part of the season, Naski hit two grand slams and had 13 RBIs in a five-game span, showing off both his power and ability to hit with runners in scoring position.
“It feels like we’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Naski said. “[Since our 0-2 start] we’ve been playing well, only one loss in district play. We’ve been playing with a lot of confidence.”
Hill has 2 Grand Slams and 13 RBI in 5 games. Oh, and he is a stud SS who leads our team in many ways- winning player. Great learner. Tons to like about him as a Player and a young man. https://t.co/phjCAGrjEq
— Stephen Frank (@CoachFrank22) March 27, 2022
Just prior to his announcement, Prep Baseball Report Virginia executive director Jerry Shank had nothing but nice things to say about Naski following a Herndon game he watched.
“Hill Naski was one who really stuck out for me,” Shank said. “Very tall, lanky, athletic frame for Hill. He plays shortstop and I think he’s going to stay there at the position. Really good feet, quick feet and the hands work really well. I was really impressed with his athleticism…I was really impressed with him defensively and offensively it stuck out offensively for me as well.”
Shank even admitted to being surprised to learn the senior wasn’t committed at that point.
“I looked and found out he still isn’t committed and I was taken aback by it, it surprised me because I was very impressed with his ability on the offensive end and the defensive end and at the end of the game he pitched,” Shank said. “Really intriguing with Hill. He’s a 2022, so he’s an uncommitted senior still hanging out there that I think some people should go out and take a look at because it’s very intriguing and a lot of athleticism there.”
High & Tight:@HHornetBaseball '22 Hill Naski had a big impact last week in game and Executive Director Jerry Shank breaks down his performance.
See the full breakdown 👇https://t.co/m2W48c6ekf #ShapeTheState pic.twitter.com/XHHdNUQSsk
— Prep Baseball Virginia/DC (@PrepBaseballVA) April 14, 2022
Naski will join a program seemingly on the rise in James Madison. The Dukes are currently 23-17 and were a 30-plus win team in 2019, their last full season prior to two COVID-19 impacted campaigns including last year’s 11-17 record. Naski will also look to develop his game in the way a current Dukes infielder has in Chase DeLauter, JMU’s top player who is expected to be the program’s first MLB Draft first round pick since 2007.
“It shows me how hard you have to work to get there,” Naski said. “It shows they also do a great job developing players. When I went down there they said a bunch of their starters were shortstops in high school and then they switched to catcher or right field or center field so they develop guys very well down there.”
It wouldn’t be unprecedented for Naski to eventually hear his name called during an MLB Draft following his time at JMU with many former Dukes being selected over the past handful of years. For Naski, he is looking to become the next Herndon High School draft pick following in the footsteps of former major leaguer Brandon Guyer who played seven MLB seasons from 2011-2018 after being selected in the fifth round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
“I don’t like individual goals like I said I just want to win, but to be honored next to him would be awesome because he’s done great stuff in his career,” Naski said. “It would be an honor.”
With his future set, Naski will look to help the Hornets wrap up the season with a strong postseason run before heading to James Madison for the next step in his career.
“As a team right now our focus is to win the district,” Naski said. “We came up short last year, we were one game away. That was definitely a heartbreak so we want to get that back and win that on our own turf. We want to be number one at the end of the regular season which we have a shot at now. Just take it one game at a time and we’ll get there.”
While his time at the prep level is coming to a close, Naski is far from being done with baseball and should be a name for Virginians to keep an eye on on the diamond.
“I put the team first so I want to win,” Naski said. “I will do whatever is best for the team whether that’s playing outfield, playing infield, whatever. I don’t have individual goals, I just want to win.”
