Mississippi Preseason All-State: Event Preview

January 30, 2026
Colin Chamblin
Deep South Operations, Scout

Our largest event of the preseason is finally here. After hosting a trio of Preseason ID's across the North, Central and Southern parts of the state, we are excited to welcome the top talent that the state has to offer in Starkville this weekend at one of the top venues in all of college baseball.

Year after year, our invite-only showcases serve as a true gathering of the state’s elite, bringing together the top prospects in Mississippi high school baseball while helping set the tone for the spring season ahead.

This Sunday, many of the state’s top players from the 2026-2029 classes will come together at the Palmeiro Center for another edition of this marquee event, marking the official start of the high school season for our staff. Now in its seventh year, the Mississippi Preseason All-State, has established itself as a winter staple, consistently attracting high-level talent, many of whom go on to compete at every level of college baseball. As the depth of talent across Mississippi continues to grow, so does the importance of this event as a final, high-caliber stage for players to display their offseason progress in front of Prep Baseball scouts and college coaches.

Below, you’ll find key details related to the event, including the full itinerary, event history, and more. To view the complete Mississippi Preseason All-State roster, CLICK HERE.

HEADLINE NAMES COMING TO STARKVILLE

A look at the roster quickly reveals the level of talent set to take the field, as a number of the state’s highest-ranked prospects are scheduled to be in attendance. The Preseason All-State offers these players an ideal platform to showcase the physical gains and skill development made throughout the offseason, while also giving our staff an opportunity to update player profiles with the latest metrics and data. With the high school season just over a month away, this event serves as a premier tune-up and an early statement opportunity for Mississippi's top prospects as they open the 2026 calendar.

Below, we highlight several of the top-ranked players expected to compete at the Mississippi Preseason All-State:

Highest Overall Ranked Class of 2026 Prospects

No. 19 Nelson Barthel (Northwest Rankin)
No. 31 JD Harvey (Seminary)
No. 60 Brayden Edmiston (New Hope)
No. 80 Carlos Robinson (South Panola)
No. 95 Connor Yarbrough (New Albany)*

* = denotes uncommitted

Highest Overall Ranked Class of 2027 Prospects

No. 1 Trent Buckley (Columbia Academy)
No. 5 Drew Davis (Sumrall)
No. 10 Crews Albritton (Tri-County Academy)*
No. 16 KJ Roberts (Oak Grove)
No. 21 Jones Roberson (Washington School)
No. 22 Parker Hicks (New Albany)*
No. 32 Kade Buchanan (MRA)
No. 34 Luke Wesson (Hartfield Academy)*
No. 40 Reed Bridges (Presbyterian Christian)*
No. 43 Bradley Carroll (Magnolia Heights)*
No. 44 Parker Orr (Jackson Academy)*
No. 45 Chad Davidson (St. Joseph Catholic)
No. 48 Pierce Anderson (MRA)*
No. 50 Blake Lipe (Hernando)*
No. 63 Tucker Hux (Seminary)
No. 65 Weston Stanton (Myrtle)*
No. 66 Jacen Edwards (Itawamba AHS)*
No. 69 Gavin Austin (St. Joseph Catholic)*
No. 72 Bryce Bowlin (Starkville Academy)*
No. 73 Hayes Algee (Simpson County Academy)*
No. 74 Carson Speed (Sumrall)*

* = denotes uncommitted

Highest Overall Ranked Class of 2028 Prospects

No. 1 Axton Westmoreland (Hernando)
No. 3 Ethan Killough (Kossuth)
No. 4 Jaxon Herod (West Union)
No. 6 Braylon Edwards (Madison Central)
No. 7 Parker Israel (Hernando)
No. 8 Rob Upchurch (Oxford)
No. 10 Drew Stanton (Myrtle)
No. 11 Seth Welch (Hamilton)
No. 12 Bowen Vaughn (Oxford)
No. 13 Jaylen Lee (Petal)
No. 14 Case Simmons (Brookhaven Academy)
No. 17 Isaiah Nichols (Hamilton)
No. 19 Alexander Orman (Saltillo)
No. 20 Jett Smith (Poplarville)
No. 23 Noah Scott (Amory)
No. 25 Dawson McMillin (Mooreville)
No. 26 Lanston Kent (Saltillo)
No. 27 Anson Bright (South Panola)
No. 29 Christopher Poole (Oak Grove)
No. 33 Kyler Todd (Marshall Academy)
No. 34 Nelson Irving (Germantown)
No. 40 Elliot Grimes (East Webster)
No. 43 Bryce Bukvich (Hartfield Academy)
No. 44 John Baker Boykin (Amory)
No. 53 Jack Vance (Kosciusko)
No. 55 Parker Burrow (Clinton)
No. 56 Manny Huffman (Ocean Springs)
No. 57 Jake Turner (Lawrence County)
No. 58 Walker Whitehead (Pisgah)
No. 59 Landon Johnson (Jackson Prep)

Highest Overall Ranked Class of 2029 Prospects

No. 1 Reese Parker (West Harrison)
No. 2 Eli McDaniels (Mooreville)
No. 3 Noal Timmons (Tupelo)
No. 4 Christian Mumford (Germantown)
No. 7 Grady Bledsoe (North Pontotoc)
No. 8 Knox McCardle (Northwest Rankin)
No. 9 Carson Richardson (Baldwyn)
No. 11 Aden Bell (Hartfield Academy)
No. 13 Kaysen Wiggins (Lewisburg)
No. 15 Tucker Elliott (Myrtle)
No. 17 Hayes Leach (Regents of Oxford)
No. 18 Price Grantham (Oxford)
No. 21 Easton Smith (Lewisburg)
No. 23 Gavin Bramlett (Sumrall)
No. 25 Griffin Moss (Houston)
No. 30 Will Andrews (Yazoo County)

In addition to these players, there are going to be many more players that are sure to make their names known at the Mississippi Preseason All-State. If you want to see the full roster for this event, CLICK HERE.

THE HISTORY OF THE PRESEASON ALL-STATE

The Preseason All-State Showcase is an invite-only event designed to bring together the very best players from across Mississippi, consistently highlighting the true who’s who of talent within the state. Limited in size and exclusive by design, the event has become a launching point for elite prospects as they transition from offseason training into the high school season. Since its inception in 2020, the Preseason All-State has continued to grow in both prestige and impact, earning a reputation as one of the most competitive and talent-rich showcases on the winter calendar. To ensure a controlled, high-level evaluation environment, each edition has been held indoors, accounting for the uncertainty of winter weather.

The event’s history is also marked by its strong track record of college commitments. Over its first seven years, a combined 281 participants have gone on to commit to college programs at every level, underscoring the caliber of talent that consistently passes through this showcase. The 2026 edition is shaping up to be no different, with several high-end uncommitted prospects still on the board. Below, we take a look back at some of the notable committed players who have competed in the Preseason All-State over the years.

2020 Mississippi Preseason All-State (42 total commitments)

Braden Montgomery (Texas A&M)
Aiden Moffett (Texas)
Lawson Odom (Southern Miss)
Justin Robinson (Louisiana-Monroe)
Jackson Parker (Mississippi State)
Ross Highfill (Mississippi State)
Ethan Surowiec (Ole Miss)
Austin Tommasini (Mississippi State)
Logan Forsythe (Louisiana Tech)
Karson Evans (Louisiana Tech)
Jackson Cheek (North Alabama)
Caston Thompson (Pearl River CC)
Patrick Spencer (Pearl River CC)
Jayden Adcox (East Central CC)
Cy Craig (Northwest Mississippi CC)
Bran Boyd (Hinds CC)
Brice Deaton (Jones College)
Adam May (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)

2021 Mississippi Preseason All-State (37 total commitments)

Colton Coates (Louisiana Tech)
Ross Highfill (Mississippi State)
Duncan Mathews (South Alabama)
Hudson Mattox (Ole Miss)
Aiden Moffett (Texas)
Joshua Paul (Louisiana Tech)
Justin Robinson (Louisiana-Monroe)
Ethan Surowiec (Ole Miss)
Austin Tommasini (Mississippi State)
Wes White (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
Landon Waters (Meridian CC)
Eli Waters (Pearl River CC)
Mason Morgan (Mississippi Delta CC)
Turner Leathers (East Mississippi CC)

2022 Mississippi Preseason All-State (56 total commitments)

John Abt (Jacksonville State)
Hank Eaton (Auburn)
Aiden Fancher (Mississippi State)
Seth Farni (Ole Miss)
Keondre Fields (Missouri)
Ian Herrington (College of Charleston)
Ross Highfill (Mississippi State)
Everett Johnson (South Alabama)
Jack Ketchum (Alabama)
Duncan Mathews (South Alabama)
Maddox Miller (Mississippi State)
Aiden Moffett (Texas)
Nickolas Monistere (Southern Miss)
Cooper Pratt (Ole Miss)
Cooper Waddle (Southern Miss)
Eli Wheat (Jones College)
Banks Teater (MississippI Gulf Coast CC)
Eli Rankin (Meridian CC)
Drew Prosek (Gulf Coast State College)
Will Howell (Northeast Mississippi CC)
Carter Hathcock (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Cole Gideon (Meridian CC)
Logan Fontenelle (Pearl River CC)
Caleb Doty (Northwest Mississippi CC)

2023 Mississippi Preseason All-State (52 total commitments)

Reid Garrett (Liberty)
Jack Ketchum (Alabama)
Cayden Prestage (North Alabama)
Cole Prosek (Ole Miss)
Baylor Roberts (Alabama-Birmingham)
Justin Word (Southern Miss)
Gardner Young (Pearl River CC)
Jarvis Woody (Pearl River CC)
Ayden Wilbanks (Meridian CC)
Ty Wiggins (East Mississippi CC)
Walker Van Meter (Meridian CC)
Aidan Strong (Itawamba CC)
Banks Teater (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Brady Saxton (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Woods Roberson (Meridian CC)
Eli Rankin (Meridian CC)
Ty Ramage (Hinds CC)
Collin Pipkins (Jones College)
Jackson Moore (Northeast Mississippi CC)
Ty Jones (McLennan CC)
Harlin Hovater (Meridian CC)
Miller Finn (Jones College)
Corbyn Clayton (Jones College)

2024 Mississippi Preseason All-State (55 total commitments)

Tre Adcox (New Orleans)
Rece Atkinson (Southern Miss)
Tre Bryant (Arizona State)
Drew Davis (Alabama)
Ethan Dodson (Memphis)
Kevin Landry Farr (Southern Miss)
Tyner Flynt (Troy)
Cannon Hensarling (Nicholls State)
Jackson Meehan (Southern Miss)
Maddox Miller (Mississippi State)
Quincy Pratt (Ole Miss)
Cayden Prestage (North Alabama)
Wes Pritchard (Mississippi State)
Cole Prosek (Ole Miss)
Tucker Rice (Alabama)
Jones Roberson (Central Arkansas)
Gardner Young (Pearl River CC)
Adyn Westmoreland (East Mississippi CC)
Ryder White (East Central CC)
Austin Sanders (Hinds CC)
Reed Sandberg (Pearl River CC)
Aiden Peets (East Central CC)
Caden Nelson (Jones College)
Matthew McKinley (Meridian CC)

2025 Mississippi Preseason All-State (39 total commitments)

Trey Barnes (Southern Miss)
Ethan Dodson (Memphis)
Deuce Jenkins (Mississippi State)
John Lindsey III (Alabama-Birmingham)
Sullivan Reed (Mississippi State)
Jones Roberson (Central Arkansas)
Justin Word (Southern Miss)
JD Whitaker (Pearl River CC)
Cameron Sandel (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Carlos Robinson (Itawamba CC)
Brady Rodgers (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Peyton Pharr (Northeast Mississippi CC)
Trey Myers (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)
Tate Murphy (Pearl River CC)
Wyatt McDaniels (Pearl River CC)
Christian McKinney (Meridian CC)
Garrett Latham (Jones College)
Tai Jones (McLennan CC)
Braedyn Lackie (East Mississippi CC)
Parker Gray (Itawamba CC)
Adam Clower (Pearl River CC)
Jax Coker (Northeast Mississippi CC)
Kade Buchanan (Pearl River CC)
Chad Bates (Pearl River CC)
Caleb Authement (Jones College)
Cooper Bierman (Northeast Mississippi CC)

EVENT SCHEDULE & ITINERARY

Below you will find all check-in times and the complete event schedule for the day. New for this year, the Preseason All-State will be broken into position-based sessions, a change designed to improve the overall flow and efficiency of the event. This updated structure allows for more streamlined evaluations and ensures a smooth experience for both players and our scouting staff throughout the day.

+ Check-in Times:

Registered Outfielders: 8:00 AM
Registered Infielders: 11:15 AM
Registered Catchers: 3:15 PM
Registered Two-Way Players Return: 4:45 PM
Registered Pitcher-Only's: 5:30 PM

*Catchers will stay to catch bullpens.

*Times subject to change

Players should wear turfs, tennis shoes, or molded cleats for the event. Please note that sunflower seeds and gum will not be permitted inside the facility. Each participant will receive a numbered Prep Baseball t-shirt and hat, and players are encouraged to bring their own drinks and snacks as well. Based on the current weather forecast, there is a strong possibility that the workout will take place exclusively indoors.

As a reminder, players will be checking in at different times based on position. This structure is designed to minimize downtime, improve overall flow, and create a less crowded environment for players and parents while allowing our staff to operate more efficiently within the available space.

Because of this position-based schedule, we will not conduct an in-person pre-event meeting on site. Instead, we have recorded a detailed pre-event video covering all important information about the event and the post-event process. The video was included in your check-in email and can also be viewed HERE. Please watch it in advance and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Registered Infielders, Outfielders, and/or Catchers

Stretch
Running Times (laser-timed 10, 30 & 60 yard splits)
Offensive Evaluations
- Mechanical evaluation
- Live batting practice
- TrackMan ball flight analysis
- Blast Motion swing analysis
Defensive Evaluations
- Arm strength
- Agility/range
- Positional analysis/profile

Registered Pitchers & Catchers

Pitching Evaluations
- 15-20 pitch bullpen (fastball and secondary pitches from both windup and stretch)
- Mechanical evaluation
- TrackMan pitch velocity, movement, spin analysis
Catcher Evaluations (while receiving bullpen)
- Receiving/pitch presentation
- Blocking/mobility

SCOUTING, TECHNOLOGY, AND DATA ANALYSIS IN ONE EVENT


Prep Baseball Player Profile
+ Expand to learn more Each prospect's recruiting process starts and ends with the Player Profile, and our showcases revolve around building up that profile, maximizing its content and reach. For first-time attendees, a new player profile will be created, hosting all of your information, videos, head shot, metrics and more, making it one of the most important tools in a prospect's recruiting process. Repeat showcase performances will continue to update your player profile, creating a history of prospect progress and ensuring the most up-to-date information is easily accessible throughout the fast-paced scouting community. These profiles are also searchable by a range of data points and metrics through our advanced search engine, making it a one-stop shop for recruiters and scouts.
Player Data
+ Expand to learn more Prep Baseball stats captured at its showcases, published inside its player profiles, are the industry standard in the scouting community, carrying the highest level of credibility in actionable data. Prep Baseball profiles are the most reliable resources for prospect information due to this reason alone. Stats are collected using only the highest of standard equipment including Swift laser timers, TrackMan ball tracking technology, Blast Motion swing sensors, and Stalker radars. All stats are hosted in player profiles accompanied by Performance Tiers that show where a prospect ranks among his peers.
Performance Video
+ Expand to learn more All prospect performances will be professionally video taped, edited and uploaded into their Prep Baseball Profile. Videos will consist of multiple angles and record all aspects of the showcase including 60s, live batting practice, bullpen sessions, and defensive performances. Videos are hosted in Prep Baseball Profiles and used for video spotlights, content, social media and more. Videos are accessible to all PBR+ subscribers.
Scouting Reports
+ Expand to learn more Prep Baseball is built at the hands of some of the most tenured and respected scouts in the industry. We pride ourselves on our level of prospect knowledge, most of which is gained through our events. Showcases are designed and engineered by state Scouting Directors with the goal of collecting as much information about a prospect as possible and relaying our findings to the public through data collection and scouting reports.
Post-Event Content
+ Expand to learn more One of the many results of a Prep Baseball showcase is getting all the information collected to the public in a timely and digestible manner. Every showcase will be featured on the Prep Baseball website and social channels through various forms of post-event content, leaderboards, video spotlights and more.
Account Dashboard
+ Expand to learn more In an effort to elevate the post-event experience for players who attend a showcase, the Account Dashboard is now the prospect's one-stop shop to view all of his post-event deliverables, including showcase video, data, Vizual Edge Score, and more. The Account Dashboard also gives players a window into upcoming events, calendar management, among other organizational tools.
Mizuno Apparel
+ Expand to learn more All showcase participants will receive a numbered Prep Baseball showcase shirt and hat sponsored by our partners at Mizuno. The Mizuno Tee is the all-around t-shirt for every activity, made from lightweight textured fabric, and used to identify prospects throughout the showcase process.

PREP BASEBALL TECH PACKAGE

Following a Prep Baseball event, players will receive unrivaled access to their advanced ball-tracking and swing metrics through the TrackMan and BlastConnect apps as well as visual skills through Vizual Edge testing. Furthermore, key metrics will live inside the player's official Prep Baseball profile to help them in their recruitment process.


TrackMan
+ Expand to learn more TrackMan is the global leader in ball-tracking accuracy. Following a Prep Baseball event, all players will get unrivaled access to their performance data in the TrackMan interactive app. Players can create custom dashboards that unlock both hitting and pitching data. Pitching Features Include: Pitching data access includes: release speed, spin rate, spin axis, release height, extension, horizontal and vertical break, and location on each pitch See each pitch trajectory in 3D from multiple viewpoints Create defined tags to label and compare pitches Pin pitches together to create tunneling visualizations between different pitch types Visualize each pitch location Hitting Features Include: Hitting data access includes: Exit speed, distance traveled, launch angle, launch direction, spin rate, contact depth and contact side/height for each swing. Visualize plate coverage Pairing of all data points on each swing All key ball flight metrics will live inside player profiles at prepbaseballreport.com for the benefit of college coaches and recruiters, which will help prospects advance to the next level.
Blast Motion
+ Expand to learn more Blast is the global leader in swing analysis and used by nearly every MLB organization. Following a Prep Baseball event, players will receive access to BlastConnect in the Blast App, which unlocks critical insights and actionable data from their performance. Features include: Swing Analysis and Blast Motion hitting assessment Professional-level swing analytics to help players improve their hitting performance Free 30-day trial to Blast Premium Services subscription Key hitting metrics and Blast Motion Scores will also live inside player profiles at prepbaseballreport.com for the benefit of college coaches and recruiters, which will help prospects advance to the next level.
Vizual Edge
+ Expand to learn more Vizual Edge is a market leader in visual performance assessment and training that multiple MLB clubs use for its players. During Prep Baseball events, players will take the Vizual Edge 15-minute baseline evaluation. Following the event, players will receive an email PDF of your results – labeled as your EDGE Score – that will identify your visual strengths and weaknesses and how they directly impact your on-field performance. Visual skills are critical for pitch recognition, reaction speed, timing, seeing spin on the ball, defensive performance and much more. Your EDGE Score will also live inside your Prep Baseball profile.
VALD Athletic Testing
+ Expand to learn more Prep Baseball events will be equipped with VALD Performance’s industry-leading athletic testing technologies to capture pinpoint accurate, actionable data for all participants, ultimately delivering new insights into athletes’ speed, explosiveness and power for recruiters to evaluate. VALD is the only system with a full 360-degree LED display on every gate, giving instant feedback to coaches and athletes. Through both systems, the VALD SmartSpeed Plus timing gates and Smartump mats, athletes will be evaluated on a multitude of metrics that goes beyond just the 60-yard dash. Participants will be put through a jump protocol as well as running the 30-yard dash with a 10-yard split. Athletic testing metrics include: Athletic testing metrics include: 30-yard dash with 10-yard split Reactive Strength Index Vertical jump
Additional Athletic Testing
+ Expand to learn more Body Composition Players' body composition will be officially measured using state-of-the-art, medical-grade technology that will provide precise insights into height, weight, skeletal muscle mass, BMI and more. Players will step on scales using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a method for measuring body composition, including muscle mass, body fat, and total body water. Our scales will then produce several metrics giving insight into the prospect’s body composition. Height will be measured using a digital stadiometer to get precise height measurements. Grip Strength Hitters' grip strength will be tested using a digital hydraulic dynamometer. Grip strength is an essential component to bat strength and controlling the barrel. Hitters will be put through a max strength test on both hands, shedding light on hand strength and potential power and bat control down the road.

UPCOMING 2026 EVENTS ⤵️

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Mississippi Preseason All-State	02/01	Mississippi State University - Starkville, MS
South Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/01	Mississippi Gulf Coast CC - Perkinston, MS
North Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/05	Elevate - Hernando, MS
Central Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/19	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS