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Preseason All-State Underclass: Quick Hits, Pitchers

January 18, 2026
Prep Baseball Georgia
Staff

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - The Preseason All-State Underclass Showcase travels to IVSA where this invite-only event that features the top prospects from the 2028 and 2029 grad classes. Every year, the Preseason All-State Showcase highlights the "Who’s Who" of the Georgia baseball landscape. This event is limited and exclusive to the top prospects in Georgia and serves as a springboard as you enter the high school season. Throughout the week we will be pumping out the content from this event. 

View all stats from the event HERE 

Today, we take a closer look at the top pitching performers from the event on Saturday . ⤵️

Preseason All-State Underclass Quick Hits- Pitchers

Lawson Moore, LHP/1B, 2028, Gatewood
The potent two-way profile was on full display for the Gatewood sophomore across the entirety over the event. Stands a physical 6-foot-0, 213-pounds with a stout lower half and aggressive drive down the mound, and present arm strength . Innate feel for a 3-pitch mix and operates from a higher slot. Fastball shows excellent carry through the zone at 86-87 (T88 MPH) and pairs a curveball with sharp break off it at 76-79. Quality third offering as well with a late, arm-side fade changeup at 80.82. At the plate, Moore is armed with immense strength in the stout frame and delivers a heavy barrel. Pull-side oriented approach with explosive bat-speed through the zone and great utilization of his lower half. Moore will hold a major two-way role this spring and has a chance to continue to climb in the ‘28 ranks.

Thomas Gentry, RHP/SS, 2028, Citizens Christian
The #7 ranked player in the class for the state continues to get more physical with each look and continues to stack impressive showings one right after the other. Stands a physical, athletic 5-foot-11, 189-pounds with plenty more to project. On the mound, Gentry is an easy mover and creates good drive down the mound followed by a quick, strong arm from a shorter arm action, and shows innate feel for the three-pitch mix. Fastball was consistently spotted down and away with heavy arm-side run at 89-91 (T92 MPH) and 2400+ RPM. Changeup tunnels well with late-fade at 70-73 and flips over a curveball with depth at 69-71 and 2400+ RPM. At the plate, Gentry shows thump in the barrel from both sides of the plate backed by present bat speed and leverage through the zone as he finished with a max (97.8) exit velocity and a max (372ft.) distance. Must know name in the class with much more to project towards a significant ceiling.

Wesley Thiry, RHP/3B, 2028, Norcross
The Norcross two-way exudes projection in a physical high-waisted frame at 6-foot-2, 193-pounds and continues to make strides across the board. Effortless mover down the mound with present arm strength and repeatability from a shorter arm stroke and ¾ release slot. Fastball lived 87-88 (T89 MPH) with life out of the hand and more to come. Shows advanced feel for the slider that pairs well off the heater with bite at 79-81. Sinker is worked in at 85-88 and mixes in a quality changeup as well at 81-83. At the plate, Thiry holds immense strength throughout as he put together a loud round of BP. Creates good length in-zone backs by plus bat speed (Max 86.3) and good balance with leverage in the barrel. Ended the round with a max (97.4) exit velocity and a max (370ft.) distance. Thiry will carry a major role for the Blue Devils this Spring with the potential for an even big jump up in production in just a few months time.

Dylan Schmidt, RHP/SS, 2028, Rabun Gap
Schmidt stands a physical, high-waisted 6-foot-1, 173-pounds with strong projection on both sides of the ball. Pitchability on the mound with feel for a deep four-pitch mix and shows present arm speed from a ¾ slot. Arm-side run on the fastball at 84-86 with command throughout. Slider creates depth at 70-75. Changeup shows some tumble and tunnels at 74-77 as well as mixing in a splitter that disappears at 74-76. In the box, the RHH stays balanced with some length in-zone and present feel for the barrel. Finished the round with an average (88.5) and a max (96.3) exit velocities. 

Derrick Aull, RHP, 2028, Union Grove
We heard rumblings of the velo jump for Aull this off-season and it came to fruition as the right-hander put together an impressive pen to kick off the weekend. Stands a physical, broad-chested 5-foot-11, 182-pounds and deploys a long and loose operation with whippy arm speed. Excellent mover and creates drive down the mound with ability to repeat well out of a low slot. Showed good feel for a deep four-pitch mix as the fastball was heavy at 85-86 (T87 MPH) with 2400+ RPM. Sinker consistently spotted on the inner half to righties with sink and run at 84-85. Feel to spin a sweeper at 72-73 with command throughout. Changeup thrown at 78-80 with tunnel. Aull looks to shoulder a significant amount of innings in the rotation for Union Grove with a potential breakout in the works.

James Callaway, RHP, 2028, Denmark
The projection jumps out for the Denmark right-hander as he stands an imposing 6-foot-5, 210-pounds. Quality mover and creates good drive down the mound with a loose arm stroke. Works from a higher ¾ slot and repeatability in the delivery. Fastball lived 86-87 (T88 MPH) with ride through the zone and pairs it with a slider that creates depth at 75-79. Changeup is thrown at 75-76 with tumble as well. Callaway looks poised to provide key innings for the Danes staff with a jump into the low 90’s looming.

Cal Williamson, LHP, 2028, North Atlanta
The southpaw made a name for himself in the playoffs last year as he went toe-to-toe with one of the more potent lineups in the state. Fast forward to now and Williamson looks poised for another strong campaign in ‘26. XL frame at 6-foot-5, 235-pounds with a stout lower half and moves well down the mound. Works from a shorter arm action with real arm speed and shows present pitchability with feel for the deep four-pitch mix. Heavy fastball through the zone at 83-85 (2300+ RPM) and pairs it with a curveball at 70-71 with depth out of the same tunnel. Sinker sat 83-84 and shows a changeup at 76-77 with diving action and arm-side fade.

Carter Jeske, RHP, 2028, Kennesaw Mountain
The 5-foot-11, 160 pound Carter Jeske from Kennesaw Mountain had one of the most impressive rounds on the mound for the ‘28 class. Has a 3 pitch mix that he commands well and tunnels effectively from his higher ¾ arm slot. Jeske throws a heavy arm side run fastball running from 84-86 and a good feel for spin on his curve 75-76 with 2600+RPM. Also has a tight slider 78-81, 2300+RPM that can be effective against righties. Still projecting higher for Jeske making him one of the pitchers to watch out for this spring.

Brant Davis, RHP/OF, 2029, PCA
Brant Davis, a Freshman at PCA, showed an advanced, athletic look on the mound with a quality three-pitch mix. The fastball topped at 85.5 mph and averaged just above 84, featuring heavy horizontal movement and above-average spin (2259 average RPM), allowing it to play with late life through the zone. The slider stood out as a true weapon, working in the zone with very high spin, sharp right-to-left sweep up to 19.6 inches of average horizontal break, and a strong velocity differential at 74.4 mph. The changeup fills the gap effectively, averaging just over 79 mph with traditional fading action and good separation from the fastball. An athletic, projectable frame with clean mechanics and present arm speed, Davis also showed well as a position player, reinforcing his two-way potential and overall upside for the 2029 class.

Jax Choi, RHP/OF, 2029, Mill Creek
At 5-foot-9 and 149 pounds, the Freshman from Mill Creek showed a competitive, high-quality four-pitch mix with impressive metrics. The four-seam fastball averaged 83.9 MPH with a noticeable firmness and over 2000 RPM, giving it true carry through the zone. The slider is a true swing and miss pitch, flashing top tier movement with nearly 20 inches of horizontal break and 6.5 vertical, showing a max spin rate of 2441. The changeup shows heavy fade down and in with strong deception and a 10 MPH differential from the fastball. The curveball acts as a sweeper. The sweeping curve had the most vertical break on average for the day at 17.7 inches, as well as 12.9 inches of horizontal movement on average, making it another offspeed option. All four pitches operate with 80%+ spin efficiency, highlighting a clean release and feel for the baseball. Despite a smaller frame, Choi competes with a high intensity and confidence. High upside for the young pitcher from Mill Creek as he continues to grow and mature.

Banks Halcomb, RHP/OF, 2028, North Gwinnett
The 6-foot-2, 185 pound, number 5 RHP in GA for the 2028 class, Banks Halcomb from North Gwinnett, showed a very athletic frame with explosive arm speed and spin. Works from an upper three quarters slot, popping off the mound with a snappy arm and slight glove tap to create repeatable rhythm. The fastball averaged 81 mph and topped at 83.7, carrying over the plate with high spin and late life, posting an average of 2377 RPM, which is near the top of his class. The changeup shows excellent separation with over 10 mph in velocity difference, as well as sharp down-and-in action. The true offspeed weapon was paired with a quality curveball. The 1 - 7 shape showed a strong vertical depth of 16.3 inches of drop with slight horizontal movement. With a big, athletic frame, clean mechanics, and a quality three-pitch mix, Halcomb carries real upside and profiles as a great arm for the Bulldogs.

JB Nichols, RHP/3B, 2029, Cartersville
The physical 6-foot-2, 198 pound freshman JB Nichols displayed his quality arm on the mound on Saturday. Strong projection and a player to watch in the future as he develops. A 2025 Junior Futures Game participant, Nichols displayed a good running fastball 82-84, topping out at 85. To go along with the fastball, he threw an aggressive slider 75-77 (2150+RPM), and an impressive looking arm side fading changeup. Nicholas is a quality mover and projects to have an impact in the Cartersville rotation.

Banks Hopkins, RHP/OF, 2028, Vidalia
The wiry, long-limbed 6-foot-2, 143 pound Banks Hopkins from Vidalia showed his quick arm on the mound on Saturday. An impressive fastball from his ¾ quarter arm slot ranging from 83-85 has some good arm side run and pairs well with his maturing slider that has movement. His changeup will be his outpitch, as he impressively showed off his lack of spin and slight fade. Hopkins, a sophomore, has projection and will be another player to watch as he further develops his pitch mix.

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