Most Likely to Make a Huge Jump in the Rankings in 2024:
Jamie Vicens, RHP, Marist
Gut feel pick here with Vicens, as the right-handed arm committed to Georgia Tech who saw the vision with this one right away back in early September. It’s an athletic, long 6’4”/190 with so much to project on in terms of overall stuff and velocity down the line. We’ve already seen the fastball up to a verified 90-mph on multiple occasions here and he can spin it some too with a depthy low 70’s curve. Overall it’s just a very athletic looking package with projectable traits all over, getting down the slope easily and repeating his delivery well over the course of his starts. He allowed a measly .171 average this year in 20 innings of work, posting 28/13 K:BB ratio as well. Keep an eye on Vicens to make a jump at the state and national level. -Michael Albee
Matt Pearch, RHP, Dunwoody
This is one of the more talented uncommitted right-handed arms in the state and figures to be off the boards sooner rather than later. There is still a lot more left on the frame in terms of projection at a lean 6’1”/180 and he has the arm speed and feel to pitch that you look for when trying to map out a player long term. We have seen the four seam up to 89-mph at our events and he can sequence in a solid low 70’s curve that will get whiffs and chases. We’ve seen Pearch have success since the summer of ‘22 and a jump in velocity and stuff is certainly in the cards. -MA
Eston Simpson, RHP, Jefferson, Ga.
Simpson is one of the names in the state that has a serious chance to fly up the rankings in 2024. The Clemson commit has already been up to 90 mph and sits comfortably in the upper-80s with a lot more to project on as he adds strength to the 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame. He’s an athletic mover, a consistent performer and has great command of the strike zone. Make sure to keep tabs on Simpson as the velocity continues to trend up. -Cameron McElwaney
Michael Dee (2025) St. Pius X Catholic High School (Ga.)
The quick-footed shortstop is maturing into his 6-foot-3 frame and should continue his rise up the PG rankings. The Georgia Tech commit is primed for an even bigger jump up the rankings in 2024 with his size and athleticism and hitterish actions in the box. Dee has always showcased a feel for the barrel and as he matures into his long and lean frame, the power projection is sure to follow. -Jason Phillips
Noah Allen (2025) North Oconee High School (Ga.)
Allen has added 7 mph to his fastball over the past year and at 6-foot-6, 190-pounds, the long and lanky right-hander is ready to make the next step. The University of Georgia commit is already up to 92 mph and showcased a solid breaking ball and changeup for a quality three-pitch mix. If Allen can add more size to his frame and command the fastball at a higher rate, he will most definitely shoot up the rankings and a potential major league prospect. -JP
Most Likely to Hit .500 in PG Events in 2024:
Judson Hartwell, OF/1B, Prince Ave Christian
Why not roll with a guy who has done this before in Judson Hartwell? Granted it was a smaller sample size, but there may not have been a hotter bat in the country than Hartwell over a twenty game stretch that saw him hit .537 with a 1.586 OPS. It’s a rare blend of pop and barrel skills here for a prep product that walks more than he strikeouts with three bombs to the slash line and eleven extra base hits overall. Hitting .500 is of course no easy mark but considering Hartwell did it this year and hitting over .400 the year prior in a larger sample, this feels like a pretty safe pick all things considered. -MA
William Johnson, OF, Watkinsville, Ga.
Johnson wasn’t too far off the mark in 2023 finishing off the year hitting .413 over 109 at-bats. The Georgia Tech commit has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the state and has shown the ability to leave the yard to the pull-side often, finishing with four home runs in 2023 as well. Johnson has been a consistent riser in the rankings as of late and it wouldn’t shock me if he achieves the feat in 2024. -CM
Ty Peeples (2025) Franklin County High School (Ga.)
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound left-handed hitting outfielder can flat out rake. The Georgia commit has quick hands and barrel control and the ability to make in at-bat adjustments. Good hitters can handle velocity and that is where Peeples is at his best. His barrel adjustability and two-strike approach allow him to control the zone and consistently hit the ball hard. Hitting .500 is nearly an impossible feat but if there is a must-see at-bat in Georgia it will be Peeples in the box. -JP
Most Likely to make a Velo Jump into the Mid-90s in 2024:
Jackson Peavy, LHP, Peach County
The University of Georgia did an outstanding job jumping on Peavy here and keeping him in state, recently securing the top left-handed arm’s commitment. Already up to 91-mph at our events, Peavy feels like a really good bet to hit the mid 90’s sooner rather than later. He has arm speed, efficient movement patterns and the frame that suggests more velocity is on its way as a 6’3”/170 sixteen and a half year old prep arm. Envisioning Peavy touching 93+ in the next year is a very real possibility. -MA
Tyler Bayer, RHP, Cumming, Ga.
Bayer is a name that jumped onto the radar last year and he put together impressive performances throughout the 2023 circuit. He’s already been up to 93 mph but there’s some serious physical projection here at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds and it wouldn’t shock me if he opens up sitting 93 mph in the spring. This is one of the more intriguing names that will be heavily followed in the high school season. -CM
Dean Livingston, RHP, Suwanee, Ga.
Livingston, a Georgia commit, has a serious chance to make a jump into the mid-90s in 2024. He has an extremely loose operation on the mound and it’s another arm with serious physical projection at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. He’s already ran it up to 92 mph in PG events prior but nobody in the state would be shocked if that number increases in 2024. -CM
Most Likely to Back Up a Breakout in 2024:
Dax Kilby, SS/2B, Newnan
Kilby really burst on the scene in a big way late in the summer with Team Elite, first catching our eye at North Gwinnett where he pieced together multiple quality at-bats before teeing off on a pull-side bomb (as seen in the tweet). A no-brainer to commit to a P5 school here before his prep career is up, he has a quick and compact left-handed swing with adjustable hands and good pitch recognition. He can spray it to all fields and flashed some pop with the wood as well, just overall really looking the part in the way he goes about his game. He can pick it some with the leather and while his defensive outlook will depend on how his lateral mobility and arm strength develops, he can stick on the dirt. Unranked at all levels just three months ago, Kilby is now the #249th ranked prospect in the country and will prove it on the circuit next year. -MA
Josh Gibbs, SS, Forsyth Central
This is another prospect who has ascended in the rankings since last year and deservedly so, culminating in being crowned the number one prospect in the state with a #53 national designation. Gibbs simply performs and it’s easy to project out yet another fruitful year for the highly ranked prep prospect. He hit .425 this year with four homeruns, pointing towards some of that anticipated power coming into the picture here. The swing is violent and explosive but controls his levers well and stays within himself during the process, keeping the head still and utilizing a strong lower half. He has limited swing and misses up to this point and will take a walk with no issue. The arm plays on the left side of the infield and the hands are extremely smooth, leading many to think he can stick at short long term. Gibbs is going to be a must watch guy here in the state and figures to get some looks from pro guys in the area as well checking in on his skillset. -MA
John Stuetzer, SS, Marietta, Ga.
Stuetzer has quickly become one of my favorite players in the entire 2025 class and I’m expecting him to back up an impressive showing in 2023 with even louder performances in 2024. He’s a dynamic athlete with big time tools across the board. The top end speed might be the best in the state with a mix of bat speed and power that’s at the top of the class too. Everything is setting up for Stuetzer to not just back up what he did in 2023 but exceed it. -CM
Terrance Bowen (2025) Alexander High School (Ga.)
Bowen broke out at the 2022 National Underclass Showcase Main Event and carried it right in through 2023 with four All-Tournament Team selections in five PG events. The athletic shortstop brings a physicality to the position with his strong frame and first step quickness. The added size and strength are showing up in the box with his bat speed and extra-base production. -JP
Most Likely to Lead Region in Home Runs
Miles Mador, C, Pace Academy
Mador flexed the pop this year with eight home runs in total on the circuit, leading the way at PG events for the ENTIRE ‘25 class across the country. Naturally, picking against this is going to be hard so I will take the chalk and ride with Mador to once again lead the state in this category. He packs a punch with his current swing as it’s built to create loft and punish baseballs to the pull side… keep tabs on his home run count this year. He possesses some of the best raw power in the state for this class. -MA
Chase Fralick, C, Peachtree City, Ga.
Fralick put together some monstrous numbers throughout 2023 including fifteen home runs split between the high school season and numerous PG events. He may have the best feel to hit in the state with unreal feel for the barrel and ability to hit the ball way out to the pull-side. He is my pick to click going into 2024 to lead the region in home runs. -CM