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Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU adds for future with 8 signees
12/11/2025 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
Wallis adds 4 pitchers, 4 position players with southwestern tilt
Grand Canyon baseball continued to elevate its long-term roster foundation with the signing of eight future Lopes, a group blending high-impact junior college additions with toolsy high school talent from four states. All eight signees will complete their prep or college seasons this spring and arrive on campus next fall ahead of the 2027 baseball season.
Under head coach Gregg Wallis, assistant coaches Nate Causey, Nathan Bannister and Paul Panaccione led the recruiting efforts that produced a balanced class across the diamond.
"I want to thank Coach Bannister, Causey and Panaccione for the hard work they put in to identify, evaluate and sign this class," Wallis said. "It is a good mix of established junior college performers and exciting high school prospects. We feel this class addresses some immediate roster needs while also adding interesting upside talent to lead us toward our goals of being a perennial Omaha contender."
The signing class features: Jacob Bitonti, Grant Hill, Landon Hovermale, Emmanuel Hoyos, Jack McGuire, Ryan Prater, Hayden Smith and Reece Van Devander.
MEET THE 2025 CLASS |
JACOB BITONTI
First baseman / third baseman - Hesperia, Calif. - Aquinas HS
THE PLAYER: Bitonti is a 6-foot-3 left-handed hitter with natural power and feel for the barrel. A four-year varsity player and upcoming team captain, he brings the ability to impact the game offensively and defensively at multiple positions. He hit .305 with 18 RBIs as a junior in 2025.
THE PERSON: He comes from a strong athletic lineage, with both parents competing collegiately (baseball and volleyball) and his brother, Eric, currently in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Bitonti enjoys fishing and plans to study criminal justice. He chose GCU "because me and my family loved everything about the school. We love that it is a Christian school. We also love the baseball coaches and the baseball program."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jacob has huge offensive upside and the ability to hit for average and for power at the next level. Defensively, Jacob has some versatility, as he has shown the ability to play both corner infield and outfield." — Causey
GRANT HILL
Right-handed pitcher - Chelsea, Ala. - Chelsea HS
THE PLAYER: Hill features a low-90s fastball and one of the strongest changeups in the prep class—a true swing-and-miss pitch that defines his repertoire. His size, poise and ability to miss barrels give him quick-impact potential.
THE PERSON: Hill intends to major in Christian Studies and is passionate about ministry and serving others. He credits the opportunity at GCU as "an answered prayer." His dad played baseball and his older brother, Brock, played baseball at South Alabama and UAB.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Grant comes from Birmingham but his changeup belongs on the West Coast. He throws a low 90s fastball with a swing and miss changeup. Grant is a great fit for both the program and university, and we are looking forward to coaching him and watching him compete in a Lopes uniform." — Bannister
LANDON HOVERMALE
Left-handed pitcher - Norco, Calif. - Norco, Calif.
THE PLAYER: Hovermale, a four-year varsity starter, brings imposing competitiveness to the mound with a 90-92 mph fastball and two sharp breaking balls. His mound presence and track record - 18 career wins and a 2.14 ERA - make him one of the most polished prep arms in the class. As a junior in 2025, he went 9-2 with a 1.66 ERA and four complete games.
THE PERSON: Hovermale enjoys sports cards and memorabilia, playing basketball and golfing, and he comes from an athletic family with his sister currently playing softball at South Carolina. He chose GCU for the Christian education and great baseball program, and he intends to major in business.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Landon is a competitive left-handed pitcher and wants the ball in the big moments. He competes with a 90-92 fastball but puts you away with his curveball or slider. Landon has a chance to have a huge impact as a freshman and we're looking forward to having him compete in a Lopes uniform." — Bannister
EMMANUEL HOYOS
Catcher - San Tan Valley, Ariz. - Queen Creek HS
THE PLAYER: Hoyos is a physical, game-ready catcher with advanced defensive instincts and one of the top arm tools in the Arizona prep ranks. A four-year varsity player and two-time all-conference honoree, he excels at controlling the run game. As a sophomore on a state championship team, he was named honorable mention all-conference. He earned second-team honors as a junior in 2025.
THE PERSON: A lifelong baseball player since three, Hoyos lists winning the 2024 state championship and a dramatic game-tying home run in the playoffs as favorite moments. He plans to major in business, lists his favorite subject as math and loves fishing in his free time.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Manny is a catcher out of Queen Creek here in Arizona. Manny has all the leadership qualities you want to see in a catcher, and the potential to be a plus defender behind the dish. His arm strength is impressive and ability to control the run game is advanced for any high school player. He has the potential to hit for power with the bat as well." — Causey
JACK McGUIRE
Right-handed pitcher - Orange, Calif. - Villa Park HS
THE PLAYER: McGuire, the younger brother of current Lope Tommy McGuire, is a long-levered 6-5 right-hander who earned Crestview League Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior. He attacks hitters with a unique fastball profile and growing command. As a junior in 2025, tossed 53 innings and posted a 2.64 ERA with a 6-3 record.
THE PERSON: McGuire enjoys basketball and video games and is a musician and marching band member. He hopes to pursue coaching in the future. Chose GCU "because it's a beautiful campus and I loved the coaching and facilities."
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jack is just scratching the surface of what kind of pitcher he will be in the next few years. He's a 6-5 righty who attacks you with his unique fastball. The size and the competitiveness make it a tough at bat. We are very excited to add Jack to the program and watch him compete over at GCU." — Bannister
RYAN PRATER
Left-handed pitcher - Colorado Springs, Colo. - Pine Creek HS
THE PLAYER: Prater is a three-time conference Pitcher of the Year who brings athleticism and full-count trust in multiple pitches. He also plays basketball at Pine Creek High School.
THE PERSON: Prater enjoys music, pickleball and golfing. He plans to study exercise science and comes from a family with a strong athletic background. Dad, Michael, played soccer at Missouri Southern and older brother, Josh, played baseball at Concordia Nebraska. His favorite athletes to watch growing up include Clayton Kershaw, Bryan Woo and Anthony Edwards.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ryan is in attack mode from the word go. He pounds the zone and can throw any pitch in any count. With his athletic ability we believe Ryan will can develop into a frontline college LHP." — Bannister
HAYDEN SMITH
Catcher - St. George, Utah - Snow Canyon HS / Glendale CC
THE PLAYER: Smith arrives from Glendale CC after a strong freshman season and brings experience and poise behind the plate. At Snow Canyon High School, he earned all-region and all-state honors and helped lead the Warriors to a state championship as a senior. In his first junior college season, he hit .286 and appeared in 56 games.
THE PERSON: Originally from St. George, Smith was high school teammates with Lope alum Isaac Lyon and current Lope Andrew Lyon. He enjoys golfing, fishing, and outdoor activities and plans to study in the pre-physician assistant track. He chose GCU for the "coaching staff and the culture around the program." His dad played rugby and football at Utah and Southern Utah, while his uncle, Derek, had a lengthy NFL career.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Hayden is originally from St. George, Utah, and comes in as a polished defender behind the dish and an advanced catch-and-throw ability. He has already had one very successful junior college season offensively and expect him to be a guy who can come in and play right away." — Causey
REECE VAN DEVANDER
Outfielder - Scottsdale, Ariz. - Chaparral HS / Eastern Arizona College
THE PLAYER: A powerful 6-foot-4 left fielder with standout bat speed, Van Devander brings middle-of-the-order potential shaped by a strong junior college freshman season. He excelled in wood-bat competition and has one of the best outfield arms in the class. Reece hit .323 in 48 games played at Eastern Arizona in 2025 with eight homers and 57 RBIs, backing up a Chaparral career where he had a .330 batting average.
THE PERSON: The Scottsdale native enjoys golf and is pursuing a finance degree. His favorite sports memory is a walk-off home run during his freshman season.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Reece is originally from Scottsdale and spent his high school days at Chaparral. Reece has light-tower power to all fields and has had a ton of success in a tough wood-bat league for junior college. At 6-4, he is an imposing presence in the box and has the unique potential to combine power and bat-to-ball skills at the next level. Defensively, Reece has one of the strongest outfield arms we've seen at the amateur level." — Causey
Players Mentioned
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