With the high school season once again closing in on San Pedro for both San Pedro and Mary Star Of The Sea High Schools, here are the 2016 Top Ten Prep Football Impact Players To Watch. Both schools will open their respective seasons 25 days from now on August 26, with the Pirates hosting Downey, and the Stars taking on old league rival Bosco Tech of Rosemead at Daniels Field.

1) Nicolas Ford, San Pedro, OL/DL, sr.

The three-year veteran and All-Marine League performer already has an incredible nine college offers, leaning towards Nevada.

2) Nick Zabatta, San Pedro, TE/LB, sr.

Another heavily recruited prospect on the Pirates. The two-time All-Marine League and 2015 All-CIF Los Angeles City Section second team defensive selection had 65 tackles and scored two touchdowns on a pick six and a 25-yard touchdown catch from tight end last season. Zabatta has also seen a little time as a wildcat quarterback.

3) Raymond Geha, San Pedro, WR/DB, sr.

The All-City and two-time All-Marine League returner has established himself as the best deep threat in town, catching 18 passes for 428 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago. Geha has amazing speed.

4) Daichi Kusunoki, Mary Star, OL/DL, sr.

The Japan import played his first full year on varsity for the Stars and was an immediate force, leading the team in tackles for loss in garnering an All-Santa Fe League first team selection.

5) Mikey Hernandez Jr., San Pedro, WR/DB, sr.
Hernandez Jr. is a two-time All-Marine League selection who does all things well on both sides with his explosive speed and unparalleled instincts. Hernandez caught 18 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing 12 times for 119 yards and another score. Defensively, Hernandez Jr. registered 42 tackles and a team-high three interceptions, plus is also an excellent punter.

6) Xavier Martinez, Mary Star, WR/DB, sr.
Martinez is Mary Star's best two-way threat leading the team with three interceptions, including a pick six against St. Genevieve. He also led Mary Star with eight catches in their run-heavy no-huddle spread offensive attack.

7) Kai Kaneshiro, San Pedro, RB/LB, jr.
The returning All-Marine League first team running back didn't score his first varsity touchdown until the fourth game of the season last year, but when Kaneshiro did cross the end zone twice in that game against Culver City, he made a lot more frequent house calls for the Pirates. Kaneshiro finished with 894 yards and 13 touchdowns on 143 carries (6.3 yards per carry), even posting a four-touchdown game against Gardena.

8) Jaime Casiano Jr., Mary Star, WR/DB, sr.
The returning All-Santa Fe League pick had two interceptions and eight pass deflections to pace the Stars' secondary and also caught a 63-yard touchdown pass last season.

9) Izzy Amalfitano, Mary Star, TE/DL, sr.
Another All-Santa Fe League defender with great instincts. Amalfitano led the Stars with 3.5 sacks in 2015 as one of many catalysts towards their return to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs in the East Valley Division.

10) Austin Jackson, San Pedro, QB, sr.
A huge wild card in San Pedro's 2016 season. Jackson got his feet wet early with two starts last season, but now emerges as the main man under center. Jackson completed 10 of 20 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for the Pirates last season as the backup to four-year veteran Jacob Miller, but he is also not afraid to run out of the pocket.

TOP TEN NEXT BEST PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR: Hunter Bjazevich (Mary Star, WR/DB, senior); Tanner Carcamo (San Pedro, K, senior), Matt Sestich (Mary Star, TE/DT, senior); Robert Enciso (Mary Star, QB/DB, senior); Sohl Gafa (San Pedro, LB, senior); Brandon Johnson (San Pedro, WR/DB, senior); Corey Fausto (San Pedro, WR/DB, junior); Luke Sabra (Mary Star, RB/LB, sophomore); Nathan Linayao (Mary Star, TE/DL, senior); Sean Davenport (San Pedro, RB/LB, junior).