UPLAND - If it were piano, the prodigy would be playing at Carnegie Hall right now.

This is football, and Jake Van Ginkel is a kicker. He's no ordinary one, either.

Last year, Van Ginkel kicked field goals of 58 and 57 yards in the same game for Upland High's freshman team. He bench-presses 265 pounds and doesn't turn 16 until September.

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Stan Lim / The Press-Enterprise

Upland sophomore Jake Van Ginkel is projected to be one of the top kickers in the Inland area.

His 60-yard field goal in eighth grade on an empty practice field has been viewed on YouTube more than 70,000 times. Van Ginkel should get more chances to add to the highlight reel when he moves up to varsity this season for the Highlanders, one of the favorites in the Baseline League.

Van Ginkel, whose two older brothers also kicked for Upland, will have punting duties as well. In a talent-rich league that had three teams tie for the title last season, every bit of field position can be crucial.

That thought wasn't lost on Van Ginkel, who spent the summer refining his punting technique and, of course, making sure his kickoffs result in touchbacks.

"If it's not in the end zone, it's not a good kick," the sophomore said. "I try to get every kick out of the end zone. This year I'm mainly working on my hang-time."

That big leg might be a ticket to a Division I scholarship. Neither of Van Ginkel's older brothers played in college.

"That's one of my dreams, to play for a D-I college," said Van Ginkel, who has kicked in front of USC coach Pete Carroll at a camp. "My first choice would be USC. I've loved that school for so long."

Reach Gerald Tang at 951-368-9531 or gtang@PE.com.

OTHER KICKERS TO WATCH

Jaime Garcia, Sr., San Bernardino

Trevor Layne, Sr., Corona

Rory Perez, Jr., Moreno Valley Canyon Springs

James Rodriguez, Sr., King

Trevor Romaine, Jr., Corona Centennial