2026 High School Team Preview: Banks County

The 2026 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each GHSA classification and Power 25.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.

Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each GHSA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Banks County Leopards
Head Coach: Jared Jones
Classification: GHSA Class 1A-DI
Region: 8-1A-DI
2025 Record (Finish): 10-12
Returning starters: 5
Team Strengths: Team defense and pop in the line up. 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS 

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

TEAM OUTLOOK

The Banks County Leopards broke the school record for wins in a season last year and now bring back the pieces to make another run in ‘26. The difference maker for this squad is 2026 C/RHP Gaven Sears (Western Carolina) who brings a potent hit/power combo to pace the offense after hitting 13 home-runs a year ago. Sears also lives in the low 90’s on the bump and has a chance to be a vital piece to the bullpen after returning from injury. All-State production comes from 2026 SS/RHP Owen Miller who will be a pivotal piece in the lineup as he yields a present feel to hit while anchoring the staff as SP1. 2026 1B Warren Leftwich showed well in our looks a season ago as he is armed with big-time strength in the frame and could be a key source of power in the middle-of-the-order. Another focal point of the offense is 2027 C/INF Judd Schmakel who boasts high-level bat-to-ball skills while providing a strong glove at a plethora of positions. Junior OF Brady Hill looks to step into an everyday role in the outfield and give consistency. A pair of seniors including 3B/RHP Cole Anderson and OF Walker Brown are geared up to take on larger roles this season as they bolster the depth of the lineup. Two-way impact comes from a pair of sophomores including RHP/2B Gatlin Green and LHP/OF Macade Huff who both will be key pieces in the lineup and rotation. Green saw valuable time a year ago and has made a velo jump this offseason as he looks poised for a breakout year. Huff, a multi-sport athlete, anchors the outfield defense in CF and holds plenty of upside in an athletic 6-foot-3 frame. The duo of freshmen 3B Ethan Miller and MIF Seaton Trotter look to breakthrough and earn roles in the infield. There are some new faces that will need to step up, but Coach Jones and staff will have this group ready to go on February 9th as they look to win a region championship and so forth.

Find more information on the 2026 Banks County program below:

+ Follow them on X: @BCbaseball2024
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2026 Team Previews

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook
+ Podcast: Peach Fuzz on YouTube

UPCOMING EVENTS