THSCA SET Rosters Highlight Regional Depth

By LONNIE KING | © Big Daddy’s Texas Sports

Every summer, the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) unveils its Super Elite Teams for the previous school year—a curated collection of the most outstanding high school athletes from around the state.

And while the term “Super Elite” may sound like something out of a Marvel franchise, it’s a well-earned title for these players, whose performances stood out in one of the most talent-rich states in the country.

But what struck me most about this year’s 2024–2025 list wasn’t just the individual talent. It was the regional diversity represented.

From the Piney Woods to the Panhandle, from small towns to suburban powerhouses, this year’s SET selections read like a roll call of Texas geography.

🗺️ The Regional Breakdown

East Texas is alive and well on the diamond. Players from schools like Garrison, Rivercrest, and Centerville earned nods in Class 2A, while Spring Hill sent two players (Grant Burton and Trent Thompson) to the Class 4A list. It’s a good reminder that East Texas baseball is always a force in the lower classifications come playoff time.

Central Texas and the Hill Country made their presence felt, too—Taylor Tracey (Dripping Springs HS) was the 6A Player of the Year and Colt Brown (Seguin Navarro HS) took home Slugger of the Year honors in Class 4A. And even though their high school careers are done now, they’ll still be playing baseball on even bigger stages next year: Tracey in the SEC at Tennessee and Brown in Lafayette for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

T.J. Woodson, a future Baylor Bear, and David Litle, who’s committed to Odessa College, both earned 6A Gold Glove honors for Waco Midway, highlighting the kind of elite defense being played in the heart of the state.

And Liberty Hill’s Carson Sharp landed the 5A MVP award after a phenomenal season that I had the chance to witness up close during Liberty Hill’s state semifinal series against Kingwood Park. Just a junior, he is the kind of all-around gamer every coach dreams of.

South Texas continues to produce gritty, disciplined players. Look no further than Graham Charboneau (Kingwood HS), who earned 6A MVP honors after an outstanding junior campaign.

A key piece of Kingwood’s state championship run, Charboneau—an outfielder currently committed to Baylor—came up big on the biggest stage, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly RBI in the Mustangs’ 5–4 win over Tomball in the title game.

He’s the kind of player who rises when the pressure peaks—and that’s exactly what you’d expect from someone deemed a Super Elite selection.

And speaking of small-school reps, how about El Campo’s Lane Schulz and Victoria East’s Ryan Steele making the cut?

🎯 Spotlight on Houston-Area Talent

Greater Houston was particularly well represented in Class 6A—and not just by Charboneau. Blake Beheler from George Ranch HS (Lamar CISD) earned Slugger of the Year honors and is headed to Texas State, one of the state’s most respected current mid-major programs, and soon to be tearing up the Pac-12.

Based on his own announcement and the school’s signing day release, it’s clear that Beheler and the Bobcats are equally excited about what’s ahead in his baseball journey.

Several other Houston-area standouts also earned SET recognition:

• Blaine Bullard, Klein Cain HS (Klein ISD)
• Lucas Fanco, Cinco Ranch HS (Katy ISD)
• William Hill, Summer Creek HS (Humble ISD)
• Bryce Krenek, Katy Taylor HS (Katy ISD)
• Caldwell McFaddin, Magnolia West HS (Magnolia ISD)

That kind of representation across multiple school districts is a testament to the coaching, development, and deep baseball culture thriving throughout the Houston metro area.

DFW Metroplex schools are almost always a lock to be well represented, and this year is no different. Grapevine—this year’s state champion in its 5A classification—landed standout Gianni Corral on the SET roster, and schools like Boyd, Maypearl, and Collinsville also made appearances. From the city suburbs to the rural fringe, the Metroplex continues to be a powerhouse pipeline when it comes to baseball depth.

West Texas may not have the population density of Houston or Dallas, but it continues to punch above its weight. Big Country-area stars like Dylan Dominguez (Greenwood HS) and Gage Reichenau (Wall HS) represented the region well, and it’s no surprise—if you’ve watched Friday Night Lights or Landman, you know West Texas kids grow up with dust on their cleats and toughness in their DNA.

Small-town Texas still matters, too. In Class A and AA, names like Fayetteville, Hamlin, and New Home keep appearing. These aren’t always programs with flashy budgets or massive enrollments, but they’ve got ballplayers who know how to win at that level.

👀 A Front-Row Seat to the Future

I got a firsthand glimpse of what Super Elite talent looks like during the state semifinal series between Liberty Hill and Kingwood Park. Carson Sharp was a force in that series—catching all three games, recording a save in Game 1, and starting Game 3, where he gave up just one earned run in five gritty innings.

Kingwood Park may not have had any names on this year’s Super Elite Team, but don’t be surprised if that changes soon. In that same series, I saw juniors Landon Coburn and Nate Eveler make strong early cases to be included in next year’s honors. Their poise, skill, and competitiveness stood out—even against elite-level opposition.

That series reminded me of something easy to forget when reading award lists: there’s a lot of high-level baseball being played across Texas, even by athletes who aren’t earning accolades—yet. The state of the game is alive and well, with plenty of talent waiting in the wings.

🧩 The Bigger Picture

What does it all mean? It means that high school baseball excellence isn’t confined to a few ZIP codes or urban strongholds. It’s everywhere in Texas. It’s in the Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast. It’s in towns you drive through without noticing. And it’s being coached by men and women who care deeply—not just about wins, but about shaping kids into something more.

One thing is clear: whether you’re in San Saba or San Antonio, Henderson or Houston, there’s probably a THSCA Super Elite athlete not too far from home.

And in a state as big as Texas, that’s exactly how it should be.