State Games of Georgia: Scout Blog

EMERSON, GA: The summer is here and the State Games of Georgia kicks off our summer season at LakePoint. Teams from all over the counry were here as our scouting staff was out in full force watching games all weeekend long. We will be publishing scout blogs at the end of every tournament. Check out notes and videos on players than made an impression on our scouting staff in the 1st weekend back. 

State Games of Georgia- Scout Blog

14U

Easton Stephens, OF, 2030, Cartersville (GA)
Stephens, who is 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, is a kid with a very mature mindset in the box and a very smooth swing through the zone. Stephens in a 1-0 count took advantage off a missed FB and hit a hard line drive into LF for an RBI 1B which would tie the game back up at 1-1. In the OF, he showed a very comfortable look by easily tracking fly balls hit and always knowing where to go with the baseball when it was hit to him. With Stephens weighing 165 and being 6-foot-1 he will have plenty of more time to grow and get even stronger with time. Stephens showed really high maturity and a kid with a good future ahead of him. 

Wells Allen, 3B, 2030, Bayside Academy (AL)
Allen had strong plate appearances throughout the tournament, finishing 2 for 5 with a .400 batting average while drawing two walks and striking out just once. He showed great barrel control with a smooth, balanced swing and a controlled toe-tap load that kept him on time throughout his at-bats. He consistently made quality contact and stayed composed throughout the tournament. 

Vinny Cammarota, SS, 2030, North Gwinnett
Cammarota showed off his offensive prowess early in the State Games as he led his team to a 10-0 win going 2 for 3 with a .667 batting average driving in 3 RBI’s. He would continue to impress by hitting .571 and driving in four with only one strikeout over the whole tournament. He showed patience at the plate by staying in his approach and working the count in his favor. Once he got the pitch he liked, he always put a solid barrel on it. Cammarota is also not afraid of being in the moment resulting in a 2 out rbi which shows his mentality towards adversity. He has a quiet load which helps him see the ball better with minimal head movement. He has a good frame at 5-foot-10, 140-pounds and will only continue to fill his body more creating an even more dynamic player. Cammarota’s offensive skillset is already on the upside and as he grows and fills out, he will have even more eyes on him as the XBH’s and homers start to rack up. 

Anthony Butler, RHP/C, 2030, Morrow  
Butler came to play this weekend and had a great showing at the plate. Stayed patient and was able to find his pitch while battling at the plate. The 14 year old had great poise at the plate as well and stayed calm and delivered when he called too. Also, had great hand speed to bring his bat through the zone.One game he went 2 for 2 and was able to find a barrel and drive in runs every time he was up to bat. A consistent hitter through and through as the weekend went on, also a great athlete on the bases as well. This kid has a bright future as he is only 14 with time to continue to work on his craft and get better. 

15U

James Whittingham, 1B, 2029, Walker
Whittingham came to play in the early games as he didn’t take long to find quality contact and extra bases. In a good AB ahead in the count, he read a hanger and stayed level through the zone as he smashed a LD into the OF and got to 3B on the error. The swing is simple and stays compact through the middle of the field as he fires the upper half. Later in the game, he had a good opportunity to drive one in as he worked back UTM for a well struck LD RBI 1B. At 5-foot-10, 171-pounds, he has plenty of room to grow up and mature into the already present frame. At 1B, he showed a comfortable look as he was able to hop off the bag while holding and pick multiple short hops. With the good game feel and baseline mechanics, Whittingham seems to have a good floor and ceiling ahead. 

Quentin Cooper, RHP/SS, 2029, Knoxville Catholic (TN)
Cooper, who is 5-foot-11, 145-pounds, impressed on the mound and at the plate on Tuesday. He started on the mound looking sharp, showcasing a FB sitting at 83-85 topping out at 86. Had life at the top of the zone and generated a lot of swing and miss. He also showed a CB sitting at 68-72 with 12-6 action. Cooper also came through at the plate as he hit a ringing triple into the left center gap showing great flow and a flat bathead through the zone. 92 EV of the bat showing the potential power. Cooper will be a name to keep an eye on as he develops. 

Teagan Heether, CF/SS, 2030, Harrison
Teagan put together a nice tournament at the plate during three games. Over the weekend, he went 3 for 8, driving in a total of 5 runs. Heether looked very comfortable at the plate, with a big, but controlled leg kick that allows him to whip the barrel through the zone. He stayed through the middle of the field, especially on a 96.3 EV on a RBI triple that burned the center fielder. The class of 2030 CF/SS, already at 6-foot-0, 160 pounds, has plenty of room to grow into his frame. Displayed power and clutch ability, driving in runs all tournament. 

Jabari Walthour Jr, SS/OF, 2028, Chapel Hill
Jabari had a tournament batting .500, going 3 for 6, adding in 2 walks as well. His fast hands were able to cover the zone well all weekend, showing an ability to hit the ball to all fields. Walthour showed a very relaxed approach, staying calm and working counts in every game. He showed great leadership as well as being very vocal in the field and dugout. Quick leadoff guy who is going to get on base. 

Jacob Dockter, 1B/LHP, 2029, Mount Vernon
Dockter had a very strong tournament including an outing on the mound where the 15 year old LHP topped 85 with good feel on all his pitches, filling up the zone while moving really well down the mound. In the same game he was on the mound he hit a pull-side single showcasing a very smooth load while his barrel to ball feel was on display. Dockter is a very talented player looking to continue his dominance on the mound the rest of the summer. 

Grayson Albert, C, 2029, Marist
Albert finished the tournament with an impressive offensive performance, going 3 for 5 at the plate for a .600 batting average, highlighted by a double, a home run, and an RBI double. His quick hands and leg kick helped him generate power consistently, producing extra-base hits. He showed the ability to stay on outside pitches and drive the ball with authority to deep left field, demonstrating both strength and barrel control. Behind the plate, Albert also stood out defensively. The catcher transitioned smoothly on balls in play, showing solid instincts whether preparing to throw runners out or tracking pop flies. His overall composure and athleticism were evident throughout the tournament. 

Hudson Allen, OF/LHP, 2029, Cartersville
Allen went 3 for 6 at the plate with 2 RBI during the tournament, showing the ability to use all fields while keeping a quiet head and controlled approach through contact. He adjusted well to pitches and showed the ability to both push and pull the ball, depending on the defense's shift. On the mound, Allen pitched 3.1 innings with a 0.00 ERA and 5 K while working with a 67-72 mph FB. His CB showed good shape with late downward action and slight inward movement to RHH, making it difficult for hitters to get the timing right. 

Malachi Owens, 3B, 2029, Maynard
Owens has great bat to ball skills and was able to drive an inside pitch down the line for a 2B in just one of his ABs during the state games. He pushed the count to 3-2 working above 5 pitches staying stable in a 2K approach. He keeps his hands back and lets his lower halve guide his barrel through the zone. Worked the box well with a 3 for 6 performance with only 1K on the tournament. Looks comfortable on the corner doing his job when it matters and demonstrating athleticism with a smooth approach when fielding the ball. At 5-foot-10 155 pounds Owens has a good ceiling to develop great tools as a prospect. 

Jack Graviss, RHP/OF, 2029, Dunwoody
Graviss had a standout start going 6 innings, 9 K’s, and 3 BB’s while only giving up two earned runs. He showed the ability to use his offerings effectively in the zone only allowing three hits and letting his defense work behind him. Graviss painted the corners with his fastball sitting 83-87 and also used it to blow hitters away. He had a good feel for his curveball sitting in the mid 70’s with almost 2500 RPM’s. He has a simple and repeatable delivery with an aggressive mindset to mow the hitters down. He is already throwing up to 87 mph and he is only 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Once he fills out to his full size, who knows what this young arm is capable of. 

Bryson Burch, RHP/OF, 2029, Perry
Burch had a quality start throwing 4 innings of one run ball striking out three and only walking two. With his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, he shows a larger mound presence for his age and the stuff plays too. He mixed up his pitches well keeping a really talented squad off-balance. Almost half of his K’s were looking, which shows that Burch knew what to throw when. He also had a lot of weak groundouts and he was able to efficiently get outs while maintaining a decent pitch count through each inning. Hitters should expect a first pitch strike because Burch does not waste them throwing around the plate. He sits 84-87 on the FB with extra life up in the zone and 70-72 on the CB with 2400+ RPM’s. Bryson Burch will be an up and coming arm to lookout for in the coming years. 

Hudson Ritchey, OF/RHP, 2028, Chamblee Charter
Ritchey had a great tournament hitting .500 with a trio of XBH’s including a 2B at 95 EV. He had an OPS of 1.667 through three games. An opposite field approach allows him to sit back and drive the ball with power. He showed an exceptional ability to hit the low ball and go UTM with it. Fast and twitchy hands create backspin and the ball carries off his bat with ease. His 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame is only going to get bigger allowing him to become an even more dynamic athlete. 

Cole McMurry, RHP/3B, 2029, South Effingham
Cole McMurry of Wilson’s National had a tremendous weekend at the Georgia All-State Games. At 6’0 195, the rising sophomore’s presence is made known physically, and he certainly took advantage of his strength on both sides of the ball. McMurry didn’t need to use his breaker until the second time through the lineup in the 5^th inning of his second pool play game. His fastball sat 84-86 the entire game, not losing any velo or action from start to finish. Attacking early in counts, McMurry forces awkward at bats offensively that lead to whiffs and weak contact. Offensively, he didn’t miss the barrel. When he wasn’t on the mound in G2, he didn’t hit a ball under 90 MPH, after a lineout to left and ground out to short, he finally found a gap when he ambushed a fastball off the left field wall for extra bases. A definite name to circle and will without a doubt be a weapon for his team this summer, and South Effingham for years to come. 

Tate Broom, C/RHP, 2029, Sonoraville
Tate Broom had a great showing in the first tournament of the summer. Broom has an extremely mature swing for his age and keeps it simple while still checking all the boxes. Great hands work well to keep his barrel in the zone and find solid contact constantly. Broom not only stands out offensively but the arm action in the field really separates him from the crowd. As he continues to grow and get even more physical, his advanced mechanics and athleticism will only propel him even further ahead. Off the mound, Broom sat 79-82 with some serious ASR and sinkage that missed barrels all day. The CB hit 2400 RPM and he played it well off the heater to keep batters confused; again, as he continues to develop the action on these pitches will only make matters worse for hitters. N2K! 

16U

Mason Kennerly, OF, 2029, Decatur
Kennerly, who is 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, has fast hands, great feel for the strike zone and great barrel control. He showed off his power hitting a back side home run that was 95 EV in game one. Displayed a gap to gap approach with power to the gaps and the ability to stay short to the baseball. Kennerly is always a threat to produce loud contact at the plate. 

Landin Grant, 3B/RHP, 2028, Veterans (GA)
Landin had himself an outstanding weekend at the plate. In just 4 abs, he had himself 2 hits and 5 RBI’s, including a monster 367 foot shot with a 99 EV. Also was able to work himself two walks. Grant stands at 6-foot-1, and weighs 185-pounds at just 16 years old. Lots of room for further growth and should be an exciting player to watch develop over the rest of his career. 

Lucas Smith, C/RHP, 2028, Powell (TN)
Lucas took advantage of his only start during the tournament, completing a no-hitter over 5 innings while striking out 8 and only walking 2. He was able to use a two-pitch mix extremely well, locating both his FB and CB throughout the start. FB sat 81-84 during his outing; he was able to spot it consistently, creating weak contact and a lot of swing and misses. The CB was 71-74; he was able to throw it for strikes and in any count; tunneled it well with his FB. Rising junior who will be a name to keep an eye on. 

Jake Pennix, SS, 2028, Lambert
Jake had a great day at the plate this weekend. Went 2-4 the whole weekend and showed great patience at the plate.Pennix is a fighter, even when deep in the count he is able to perform well under pressure. Found himself deep in counts at the plate but was able to connect on hits and drive the ball to add key insurance runs when his team needed them. Knows exactly what he is looking for when those pitches are coming away and keeps his swing within his base and shoots his hands fast to ensure hits.The 2028 will be a name to look out for this summer as we continue. 

Parker Lively, C, 2028, Cartersville 
Lively had a great outing this weekend, going 3 for 4 on the weekend. He worked well through the zone and had a great approach at the plate whenever he went up to the plate. Really strong lower body that made it easy for him to drive the ball deep. Also quick and fluid hands through the zone. Lively made great strides all weekend and will for sure be someone to look out for in the future. 

17U

Jose Doubront, RHP, 2027, P27 Academy
Uncommitted. It was impressive movement to a two-pitch mix as both the FB and SL spun well. The FB had heavy SNK to it as it was 86-90 all outing. It bore into RHH hands as well as picked up good S/M. Handfuls of weak GBs littered his outing. The SL really tunneled well off the FB and produced many off balance swings. Across his 5IP, he picked up 6Ks, 1H, and an unearned run. With the low arm angle and snappy release, he produces natural ride to the FB and HZB on the SL. Doubront has good feel for the two pitches in any count and is a RHP uncommitted name to stay on the lookout for. 

Sullivan Reed, 3B/1B, 2027, Lamar (MS)
Mississippi State Commit. Reed seems to have another scorching hot bat this summer as he opens up the season with a 2-2 effort, and an overall high power week. His first AB, he got on after the leadoff man was retired as he did a great job to whip the hands to a lower 1/3 pitch and roast it through the 6-hole for a 1B. His next opportunity, he maintained his simple cut up through the zone and exploded on one to the CF wall for a 2RBI 2B. Later in the week he showed off with a near 400 foot bomb at 105 EV that got out in a hurry. The swing utilizes a strong lower and upper that fire simultaneously for good barrel control and pop. Reed continues to impress and keeps rising as a very potent power stick in the lineup. The ability to get good wood and loud barrels at any time provide for a high floor and projectable ceiling. 

Marcus Lawler, 2B/SS, 2026, Oxford (AL)
Arkansas State Commit. Lawler had himself quite the weekend. Batted a perfect 1.000 in his 6 AB’s and also drew himself two walks. Has a nice little leg kick that helps him generate his pop. Swing looks effortless. Standing in at 5-foot-9 and weighing 175-pounds, Lawler has the ideal build for a middle infielder. Can toss sling the ball 92 from across the diamond. Look out for him in the coming years as he makes his way through college. 

Shelby Houston, OF/RHP, 2027, Southside (AL)
Uncommitted. In just two games this weekend Houston made an impact in both of them. Went 3-for-4 on the weekend with 2 RBI’s. Has a subtle, but effective leg tap that helps him get going. 5-foot-11 and weighs 161-pounds with a 6.88 60 yard dash. Would have gotten some more AB’s had his games gone on longer and not end up in a mercy rule. Look for him to have a big summer. 

Braxton Greever, SS/3B, 2027, Oakland (TN)
Uncommitted. Greever had a breakout first game of the tournament as he drove in four with two XBH. He really drove the ball to the left center gap with an RBI double and a homer coming off the bat at 93 EV. Greever showed a flat bat head through the zone with great barrel control and a no stride stance which really speaks to a powerful backside. Quick hands through the zone and the ability to hit a backspin line drive to all parts of the field. Really impressive day at the plate. 

Owen Helms, RHP, 2027, Denmark
Uncommitted. Helms got the start on Monday night and was impressive in his four innings of work. Worked from the stretch the entire outing while showing good balance and strength in the lower half. Fastball sat 87-89 with good life and arm-side run in the zone. Went to a cutter that played well off the fastball, showing tight east-to-west movement with the ability to miss barrels. Flashed a curveball at 73-75 with depth that generated chases out of the zone. The pitchability and confidence stood out throughout the outing as he consistently attacked hitters and stayed ahead in counts. Did a good job controlling the tempo on the mound and never looked rattled in tough spots. Shows the ability to mix pitches effectively and keep hitters from getting comfortable in the box. Expect Helms to continue refining his arsenal throughout the summer as he develops into a reliable arm to follow. 

Koa Peters, 1B/RHP, 2027, Lambert
Uncommitted. Peters lived on the barrel throughout the weekend. At 6-foot-4, 203 pounds, the bat speed is easy through the zone, producing loud contact to the pull-side. He does not get cheated early in the count and is always looking to do damage. Jumped on multiple fastballs early in counts and smoked them down the LF line for extra-base hits. The approach is simple with a slight leg kick, while the hands sit low pre-pitch and work efficiently through the zone. The power is present, and the hit tool continues to trend upward as he gains more experience against quality pitching. Shows good rhythm in the box with the ability to stay balanced throughout the swing. Handles velocity well and showed the ability to adjust to off-speed pitches throughout the weekend. Moves well around first base and shows the athleticism to make difficult plays look routine. Peters continues to show more confidence at the plate and looks poised for a big summer heading into his senior season. Expect Koa to keep trending upward as the overall offensive profile continues to develop. 

Kaden Walters, C/1B, 2027, Boaz (AL)
Uncommitted. Walters was on another level hitting .600 with 3 hits in 5 at bats including a 2B and a HR. He also showed the ability to wait for his pitches and take them if not given, resulting in 4 BB’s on 9 plate appearances. He showed his extremely quick hands on a PS homer off the light pole. He also had a barrel of a double with 94 exit velocity. He always barrels up the ball and works slightly up through the ball. His timing mechanism with his hands gives him the best ability to get into the right position on time in order to crank the ball. He is an exciting young catcher to watch and is definitely a name to look out for. 

Beau Bruns, C, 2027, Cherokee Bluff (GA)
Beau Bruns continued to impress this weekend after a strong high school season at Cherokee Bluff. Bruns athleticism will continue to serve him at the next level, his explosive lower half allows him to not only defend consistently behind the dish, but also allows him to field multiple different positions sufficiently. Sub 2 pop and plus arm strength behind the dish. Offensively, Bruns broke the game open for his squad in the top of the seventh, driving in the first run of the game after barreling a fastball into CF. The rising senior stands out physically on an already loaded roster in USA Scout Nike 17u, and expects nothing but growth into his swing this summer. Textbook load into his lower half and twitchy hands combine for ample bat speed, finds the barrel naturally and will be a tough out all summer. 

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