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North AL Preseason All-State: Quick Hits, Pitchers

January 22, 2026
Austin Sharp
Alabama Scouting Director

HARTSELLE, AL - The North AL Preseason All-State, one of the premier events on the Prep Baseball calendar, was held on Saturday, January 17th at Hartselle High School Indoor in Hartselle, AL. This invite-only showcase featured top prospects from the 2026-2029 classes, each looking to make a statement ahead of the spring season.

Participants took part in an extended, pro-style workout that included batting practice tracked by TrackMan and Blast Motion, 30-yard dash testing powered by VALD Performance, and a full defensive evaluation. Pitchers threw simulated bullpens during the workout, capturing advanced metrics via our TrackMan unit such as pitch velocity, spin rate, and horizontal and vertical movement. The event featured a strong mix of familiar standouts continuing to build on previous performances, along with several new names who emerged with eye-opening showings.

Continuing our post-event coverage, we highlight several of the top pitchers in attendance at the showcase. Check back throughout the week as we release additional leaderboards and comprehensive scouting reports on every participant.

View full event statistics HERE.

+ RHP/SS Paul Barnett (Mountain Brook, 2027) delivered one of the most electric bullpens of the event, further reinforcing his status as the top-ranked prospect in Alabama’s 2027 class. Standing 6-foot-2, 178-pounds, he owns a lean, athletic frame with plenty of room to continue adding strength, and the projection remains elite on the mound. He lived at 92-93 mph with the fastball, pairing the velocity with premium metrics, including 21.1 inches of induced vertical break and a 2469 RPM max spin rate, allowing the pitch to play up with late life and carry through the zone, especially when elevated. The curveball showed hard, snappy 11-5 depth at 74-75 mph with spin rates topping at 2294 RPM, while he also killed spin effectively on a 77-78 mph changeup that showed consistent arm-side fade. The combination of premium fastball traits, feel for spin, and elite athleticism gives Barnett one of the highest ceilings on the mound in Alabama’s 2027 class, with his projection continuing to trend firmly upward.

+ RHP Hudson Olive (Bob Jones, 2028) turned in one of the most intriguing pitching performances of the preseason, showing both present stuff and a ceiling that stands out among underclassmen. A 6-foot-2, 173-pounder, he’s a highly projectable, lean athlete with the frame and arm speed to continue making meaningful jumps over the next few years. Working from a quick high three-quarter slot, the right-hander lived 88-89 mph and topped at 89.5 mph, pairing the velocity with eye-opening fastball traits, including a 24.1-inch induced vertical break and a 2477 RPM max spin rate, giving the pitch big carry and the ability to miss over barrels up in the zone. His slider showed true out-pitch qualities at 80-81 mph, spinning north of 2400 RPM with late, deceptive action, and he rounded out the arsenal by turning over a 80-81 mph changeup with good pronation. With this blend of metrics, athleticism, and projection, Olive continues to separate himself as one of the premier arms in Alabama’s 2028 class and a high-priority follow as the spring approaches.

+ RHP/3B Ivan Hand (Briarwood Christian, 2028) brought an edge to the mound and backed it up with some of the most electric stuff thrown all day. A 6-foot, 209-pounder, he owns a compact, physical build with a strong lower half and attacks hitters with a true bulldog mentality. The sophomore right-hander sat 90-91 mph and topped at 91.7 mph with the fastball, showing typical arm-side action while consistently pounding the zone and earning a 104 Hop+ score. His slider worked 75-76 mph with short, deceptive break and effective tunneling off the fastball, and he rounded out the mix with a 78-80 mph changeup that added another look. He also flashed legitimate two-way upside, pairing the mound performance with a physical right-handed swing that produced a 98.1 mph max exit velocity during BP.

+ RHP/3B Dalton Dardin (Grissom, 2027) continued to show why he remains one of the more intriguing two-way prospects in the state, pairing polish with upside on the mound. Listed at 6-foot 164-pounds, he’s a lean, highly projectable athlete who moves cleanly down the slope with easy actions and a quick arm from a high three-quarter slot. The fastball worked 89-90 mph and topped at 90.7 mph, showing consistent spin north of 2350 RPM, a 20.0-inch max induced vertical break, natural arm-side run, and a 100% zone rate. His slider was a true separator at 74-75 mph, spinning up to 2710 RPM with hard, sweeping action and averaging 21.1 inches of horizontal movement, while the 81-82 mph changeup added a reliable third look with arm-side fade. Living in the zone with all three offerings, Dardin continues to reinforce his upside on both sides of the ball as a high-level uncommitted arm in Alabama’s 2027 class.

+ RHP/1B Gibbs White (Tuscaloosa County, 2027) continues to trend upward on the mound, pairing added physicality with an athletic, whippy arm. Carrying a 6-foot-1 192 pound build, he’s added nearly 15 pounds since last June while still carrying room for more strength as he matures. He worked the fastball at 86-88 mph, topping at 88.2 mph, showing natural arm-side tail and sinking action that played well in the zone. The curveball showed sharp 11-5 depth at 73-75 mph, spinning up to 2584 RPM, and he rounded out the mix with a 81-82 mph changeup that showed late dive. With clean mechanics, growing strength, and a three-pitch mix that continues to sharpen, White remains one of the top uncommitted arms in Alabama’s 2027 class and a 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games alum to follow closely this spring.

+ LHP/OF Drew Jackson III (American Christian, 2028) showed high-level two-way athleticism on the mound, continuing to stand out as one of the premier multi-sport prospects in the class. Standing 5-foot-10, 176-pounds, the left-hander pairs twitchy athleticism with arm speed, traits that also show up on the gridiron as a quarterback. He worked the fastball at 86-87 mph and topped at 87.4 mph, with the pitch playing up thanks to consistent spin rates north of 2500 RPM and carry through the zone. His breaking ball mix featured two distinct looks, with the curveball showing more vertical depth at 74-76 mph and the slider operating 75-76 mph with sweeping action across the zone. He rounded out the arsenal with a 77-78 mph changeup, giving him a complete four-pitch mix and reinforcing his upside as a high-ceiling left-handed arm in Alabama’s 2028 class.

+ RHP/1B Coston Mahan (Florence, 2029) showed advanced polish on the mound for a freshman, pairing physicality with an already well-defined three-pitch mix. A 6-foot-2, 240-pounder, he brings obvious strength and presence while moving with surprisingly low effort through one of the smoother deliveries at the event. The fastball worked 85-86 mph and topped at 86.1 mph, showing carry with a 19.6-inch induced vertical break and clean release from a high three-quarter slot. His slider operated 73-77 mph with firm 11-5 shape, spinning up to 2481 RPM and tunneling effectively off the fastball, while the 74-75 mph changeup killed spin at 882 RPM and showed late diving action. The right-hander shows plenty of intriguing components and traits to build on in the future.

+ RHP/OF Kade Brantley (Thompson, 2027) showed a clean, low-effort look on the mound with plenty of projection remaining in the profile. Standing 6-foot-2, 199-pounds, he carries a strong build with room to continue adding strength as he matures. Working from a higher slot, he sat 84-86 mph and topped at 86.4 mph with the fastball, showing carry through the zone with a 20.0-inch induced vertical break. His curveball operated 73-75 mph with good depth, while the firmer slider at 77-78 mph added a lateral breaking look to round out the mix. Also a strong right-handed hitter with quality two-way abilitites to follow this spring.

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