VYPE Austin’s Preseason Private School Softball Player of the Year: Whytne West.
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Fulshear Chargers
Strake Jesuit Crusaders
Foster Falcons
Alief Elsik Rams
George Ranch Longhorns
Alief Taylor Lions
Alief Hastings Bears
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: John Hebert, Strake Jesuit
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kaden Mendenhall, Alief Elsik
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Evan Ferns, Fulshear
BREKAOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ryland Forks, Fulshear
ON THE CUSP: Alief Elsik Rams
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Strake Jesuit Crusaders
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Fulshear is coming off a stellar season, which saw the Chargers go 12-1 and reached the Regional Semifinals. Fulshear will be under new leadership this year as Stephen Hill takes over the program. Last season, Hill was a co-Offensive Coordinator for the State Champion Randle Lions. In his career, Hill has been a head coach at St. Pius X, on staff at Texas State, OC at Westfield among his coaching stops. Fulshear is set to return first-team, all-district quarterback Ryland Forks, who passed for 1,783 yards and 20 scores. Other key returners include first-team, all-district selections TE Trey Giametta (119 yards, 2 TD), OL David Collum and OL Florentino Diaz and second-team, all-district picks RB Kaden Bean (356 yards, 3 TDs) and OL Righteous Spencer. Defensively, first-team, all-district ILB Evan Ferns (75 tackles, 6 TFL) and CB David Obanor (1 INT) and second-team cornerback Elijah Anderson (15 tackles) are set to be back. Other key returners include first-team, all-districkicker Alejandro Quinonez and second-team deep snapper Trey Giametta.
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Strake Jesuit is coming off a 9-4 season that saw the Crusaders reach the third round of the playoffs. Last year, Strake Jesuit was led by rushing king John Hebert, who rushed for 3,542 yards and 38 touchdowns. Hebert’s single-season performance was historic, ranking 7th all-time in Texas High School Football history. Hebert returns for his senior season and all eyes will be on the reigning District 20-6A MVP. What will help Hebert the most is the return of first-team, all-district OL JC Martinez and second-team, all-district selections Mitchell Rahim and Brady Kerrigan on the line. Second-team, all-district WR Dario Contreras is also set to return. Defensively, first-team, all-district DL Macgregor Byers and ILB Wesley Stewart are key returners along with second-team safety Luke Leone.
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Foster went 4-7 in 2024 and reached the Bi-District Round of the playoffs. Eleven starters, with seven being on offense, return for coach Shane Hanks. Quarterback Kaleb Lawson is back after passing for 599 yards and six scores a year ago. UTEP-commit Shaun McDowell will anchor the Falcons offensive and defensive line this year, while LB Jahshel Ivey will quarterback the defense after registering 75 tackles a year ago. Other players to watch include WR Riley Blanton (101 yards, 2 TDs) and safety Caden Bateman (54 tackles, 2 INT). Keys to success for Hanks’ crew include leaning on the returning seniors and a talented junior class, cashing in on size on the offensive and defensive lines and tapping into speed in key areas.
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Alief Elsik made the playoffs last year after posting a 2-4 record in district play and finished 2-9 overall after a first-round loss to Katy. First-team, all-district QB Kaden Mendenhall is set to return after passing for 2,517 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for another 343 yards and five touchdowns. His top target returns in first-team, all-district wide receiver Dajon Patterson, who had 670 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Second-teamer Jaden Thompson (WR) is coming off a 320-yard campaign with one score. Also returning on offense is second-team, all-district OL Corian Sims. First-teamer Reilarean Phillips (Tulsa-commit) is a dominant force on both sides of the ball. Defensively, first-team, all-district ILB Cordell Flowers and CB Courtney Thompson are back along with second-teamers Maurice Smith (ILB) and Ja’Seer Colbert (S).
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George Ranch has 13 starters back on the roster in 2025 and second-year coach Casey Vogt hopes that translates into a return to the playoffs. The Longhorns went 3-7 in his first season but return plenty of talent. Key returners on offense include OL Michael Gonzalez, FB Charlie Weaver, TE Elijah Zurek, RB Hayden Drinkard and WR Nick Perez. Defensively, the Longhorns bring back DL Kaegan Mahone, DB Vance Raval, DB Cade Marino, DB Ellison Collins IV and kicker Josh Matula. All players were all-district selections a year ago. Keys to success include taking care of the ball, taking the ball and staying healthy, according to Vogt.
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Alief Hastings went 3-7 overall and 2-4 in district play, finishing just on the outside of the playoff picture. The Bears return second-team, all-district QB Madden Harvey, who passed for 909 yards and five touchdowns in eight games played. First-team, all-district OL Xavier Obiero Hyter and second-team OL Yannis Jimenez and Quinton Walters are also set to return. Defensively, first-team, all-district OLB Azeem Solabi and deep snapper Yannis Jimenez are set to return.
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Alief Taylor went 1-9 overall in 2024. The Lions will look to bounce back in 2025 and try to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
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Four-Star Cypress Springs ATH Paris Melvin Jr.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Melvin, now entering his senior year, is an athlete in every sense of the word.
Offensively, he lines up in the backfield or in the slot. Defensively, he locks down receivers at corner or flies around as a nickelback. Wherever the Panthers need a spark, Melvin delivers.
Last season, he totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards, 21 touchdowns, and added an interception with four pass breakups on defense – enough to earn District 16-6A MVP honors and turn heads across Texas.
“Really, it’s something that I’ve been doing since I was a kid,” Melvin said. “Now, it’s come to the point where I just don’t like being off the field. When I’m not out there doing everything I can to make a play, it makes me feel like I’ve done something wrong.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That mindset – never sitting still, always impacting the game – has helped shape him into one of the most dynamic two-way athletes in the country. His skill set draws natural comparisons to Travis Hunter, the Colorado star turned No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But for Melvin, the inspiration goes even deeper.
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“Most people would assume that it’s Travis Hunter. Of course, he’s an athlete I aspire to be like… But I have two favorites: Deion Sanders and CeeDee Lamb.”
Deion’s once-in-a-generation versatility and Lamb’s explosive playmaking – especially meaningful given his roots in the Houston area, where he starred at Foster before ascending to Oklahoma and, ultimately, the Dallas Cowboys – both resonate with Melvin.
“CeeDee is my favorite current player and plays at my favorite position,” he said. “I’m not on his level yet, of course, but I do get a lot of comparisons to him.”
That confidence comes naturally. Ask Melvin what sets him apart, and his answer is simple but revealing.
“It’s the way I’m built,” Melvin said. “There’s nothing you could tell me that I can’t do. If you doubt me, I’m just going to go out there and prove it.”
Now in the latter stages of his high school career, Melvin ultimately announced his future program after committing to the University of Houston in July. The Coogs will be getting more than just a recruit – they’re getting a mentality.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
And that distinct mindset has been forged at Cy Springs, a program that didn’t always get the attention it’s starting to now.
“When I first got here after eighth grade, there wasn’t anyone on the outside who believed in this program,” Melvin said. “When everyone turned left, I turned right. I’m grateful that I stayed and have been able to build something with Coach [Oji] Fagan and his staff. Now, we’re in the process of becoming one of the top teams in the state. Stay tuned for that.”
If Melvin Jr. has anything to say about it – and he usually does, on every down and on every side of the ball – Cypress Springs won’t just be in the conversation. They’ll be leading it.
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