VIDEO: Bryce Harper, High School Catcher on Sports Illustrated Cover

Hope this isn't a jinx for him!

VIDEO: Bryce Harper, High School Catcher on Sports Illustrated Cover
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Las Vegas High sophomore catcher Bryce Harper is the ‘most exciting prodigy since Lebron.’

The power-hitting Harper, who batted .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs this spring, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Thursday with a headline proclaiming the 16-year-old is ‘Baseball’s Chosen One.’ The subhead makes the comparison to NBA star Lebron James.

“It is just amazing. I’m so proud of him for all the work he has done,” said Ron Harper, his father. “I don’t know if anyone in the country deserves it more than him. He just busts his butt for something he loves.”

By the time Harper, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound, smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, walked into his first-period class this morning, word had already spread to teachers and classmates of Harper's soon-to-be national notoriety. Las Vegas baseball coach Sam Thomas e-mailed the cover to staff at the school.

"This is so awesome. There are no words to describe it," Bryce Harper said. "With everyone seeing the magazine, that will put a big target on my back. But I don't care. I love that."

VIDEO: Bryce Harper, High School Catcher on Sports Illustrated Cover