Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2026 NC HS Scout Blog: Week of March 16 - 21

March 23, 2026
Prep Baseball
North Carolina

2026 NORTH CAROLINA SCOUT BLOG

As the 2026 spring season gets underway, Prep Baseball North Carolina remains committed to delivering comprehensive scouting coverage from high school diamonds across the state. Our scouting staff will be on the ground throughout the spring, evaluating top prospects, identifying emerging talent, and providing detailed analysis on the players shaping this season.

North Carolina continues to establish itself as one of the premier talent-producing states in the country, consistently sending players to collegiate programs at every level and into professional baseball. Through consistent in-person evaluations, advanced metrics, and video coverage, our goal is to spotlight the next wave of impact prospects while delivering trusted insight for coaches, recruiters, professional scouts, and fans alike.

Each week, the NC High School Scout Blog will feature in-depth reports from recent looks, breaking down tools, performance trends, and projection. Follow along throughout the spring as we provide inside access to the state’s top talent and the players poised to make noise in 2026.

Games covered this week

Providence 11 Cox Mill 1

Saturday March 21, 2026

Brax Thompson, RHP, Providence HS, 2028
Average build. 5-foot-11, 156 pounds. Athletic mover. Loose with twitch present. Slightly side saddle on his setup. Simple lift, hand pump over the head, closing his hips and shoulders with heavy coil around the back hip. Short strider. Lands on-line. Medium arm action through a high-3/4 slot. Very quick, whippy arm. Fastball at 86-89, 2300rpm - 2500rpm. Held 86-88 into the 5th inning. Hard, late, boring run into right handed hitters. Used the change-up as his second pitch. Ranged 76-78, 1800 - 2000rpm. Heavy fade. Good arm speed. Created discomfort and swings and misses in the zone. Curveball at 70-72, 2500rpm. Early tilt with a sharp turn. Length over depth. Good athlete around the mound with advanced arm speed suggests he is primed to continue to grow his stuff as he matures. Showed an ability to hold runners and field his position. Flashed good feel for all three pitches but also had stretches where the feel wained.

Whit McCammon, SS, Providence HS, 2027
Campbell commit. Lean with length at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. Solid mover. Good bend in the hips. Plays with good depth through the hips on defense. Feet work direct. No waisted action. Hands are out front, working to funnel to the midsection. Good rhythm in the hands and feet. Simple exchange. Some length in the release. Right handed hitter is balanced and even. Tall in the box with his feet under his shoulders. Hands are relaxed, just off his shoulder and chin. Early, slow load, pushing the hands back, the bat head getting to a slight tipped position. Average stride. Stable head. Average to above bat speed with solid barrel feel. Occasional length. Ran 4.43 down the line. Long strider.

Jacob McCarter, LHP, Cox Mill HS, 2028
Long, lean frame at 6-foot-3, 160 pounds. Athletic build. Creates whip in the arm. Stuff seemed to jump on hitters creating some discomfort. 3B side setup on the rubber. Swing leg through balance. Some side to side action over the rubber as he works to an on-line landing. Long arm stroke has quickness through a 3/4 slot. Angle to the fastball and breaking ball confused hitters timing. Fastball at 84-88, in the zone at 84-85. Spin at 2000rpm. Better feel for the arm side. Curveball has deception through the window and release. Ranged 70-74, 2050rpm. Abrupt turn, early at times. 2/8 tilt with length over depth. Flashed a change at 79, 1800rpm. Late fade and a potential weapon as he continues to mature. Worked down in the zone with some ease. Did not show command of any one pitch or any one spot. Around the zone with all three. Occasional big misses. Potential for a high ceiling as he continues to mature.

West Rowan 3 West Stanly 6

Saturday March 21, 2026

Sam Carpenter, 3B/RHP, West Stanly HS, 2026
Catawba Commit. Carpenter did a little bit of everything. He had 9K's in 5 innings pitched, adding a double and homer from the box. Rhythmic delivery on the bump. Repeatable with good direction. Arm works through an over-the-top slot. Good arm speed. First outing of the spring.
Right handed hitter is quiet and still. Small load. Stable head. Not a lot of pre-pitch rhythm but seems to be on time a lot. Quick hands and good barrel feel. Pull side strength.

Luke Ponczka, 3B/RHP, West Rowan HS, 2026
One of the top uncommitted 2026s still on the board. Broad shoulders. Physical strength evident in the build. 6-foot, 209 pounds. Body has trimmed, creating better movement patterns and more quickness. Right handed hitter. Open and sitting on the back side. Flat bat with the hands above the back shoulder. Big leg kick, rocking further into the back side. Average stride. Aggression is present at the point of decision. Quick bat. Advanced strength. Impacts the baseball at a high level. Homered to the pull side.

Video - FEB 2026 - Preseason All-State South

AC Reynolds 0 North Lincoln 9

Friday March 20, 2026

Parker Williams, RHP, North Lincoln HS, 2028
Average build. 6-foot, 165 pounds. Efficient mover. Loose hips. Arm has tremendous whip, creating some deception on the fastball and change-up. Athletic over the rubber. 1st base side with a slight side saddle setup. Simple rocker and turn. Lift to the mid-chest. Level and on-line, lands just across his line with a square foot-strike. Long arm swing. Athletic and very quick through a high-3/4 slot. Excellent arm speed. Fastball created swing and miss in the zone and some chase when elevated. Fastball jumped on hitters, giving them issues throughout the night with timing. Fastball at 88-90 in the first two innings, settling at 85-88 and still touching 89 in the 6th. Spin ranged 2350-2450rpm. Slows the arm a bit on the change-up. Early run and fade at 80-82. Breaking ball ranged 71-74, 2000rpm. Bumps out of the hand. Early downer action with good depth through the zone. Arm speed was not quite as explosive as the fastball. Punched 11 in a 7 inning no-hitter. Threw 88 pitches, 53 for strikes (60%). Good feel for "bigger" moments, making several pitches to close innings, showing some feel for adding to the fastball at will.

Video - FEB 2026 - Preseason All-State West

Duncan Carver, RHP, AC Reynolds HS, 2028
Lean, athletic frame. Easy mover. Stands 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Stretch only. Worked on-line with a stable head. Closed toe at foot-strike. Athletic lower half creates leverage. Long arm swing, slightly wrapped behind the body with a small plunge out of the glove. High-3/4 slot. Good extension and direction. Fastball at 86-88, 2250rpm. Played true to the gun reading. Occasional run to the arm side. Slider was in heavy rotation with the fastball, ranging 73-77, 2450rpm. Slider created freeze and some off balance swings. Similar window and tunnel as the fastball. Sweeping tilt across the zone. Seemed to manipulate the length based on the count. Good feel. Change-up featured as the 3rd pitch. Late fade with solid arm speed. Worked 4 inning striking out 4. Threw 67% strikes in the 70 pitch outing.

Video - FEB 2026 - Preseason All-State South

Greyson Evans, OF, North Lincoln HS, 2027
5-foot-7, 145 pounds. Right handed hitter is a table setter for a deep and talented North Lincoln HS lineup. Put together good at-bats throughout the night, on time for fastballs early in the count and showing an ability to barrel the baseball gap to gap. Balanced and even. Feet underneath his shoulders. Hands off the back ear with the bat in a vertical position. Sits in his legs a bit. Stable and strong. Quiet in his setup. Subtle load with a small stride. Efficient path. Average strength. Has twitch in the body. Setup to be in a lot of good positions as he continues to add strength to the frame. Ran 3.85 down the line on a drag single.

Video - FEB 2026 - Preseason All-State West

Beckett Rinkus, OF, North Lincoln HS, 2027
Average frame with length at 6-foot-2, 191 pounds. Right handed hitter put together two good at-bats to get his night started. Handled 87-88 middle elevated, staying in the middle of the field with a flat path and solid hand strength. Balanced and even in his setup. Hands off the back shoulder and ear. Neutral barrel setup with a slight tip into his load. Small rock into the back side with a small stride. Average to above bat speed.

Video - FEB 2026 - Preseason All-State West

Holly Springs 10 Cary 2

Friday March 20, 2026

Hodge Williams, C, Holly Springs, 2026
One of the top uncommitted backstops in North Carolina’s 2026 class, he continues to impress every time out. At the plate, he produced the loudest barrel of the game, driving a ball to left-center that exploded off the bat, and later drew an intentional walk in his final at bat. Behind the dish, he was equally impactful, recording pop times between 2.10–2.18 in between innings. He shows a willingness to block, handles the staff with confidence, and manages the game well. He consistently gives early, quiet targets and works in sync with his pitchers, allowing them to operate with rhythm and trust.

Video - July 2025 - Prep Baseball Sr. Future Games

Calen Renn, LHP, Holly Springs, 2027
A polished left-handed pitcher with an advanced feel for the strike zone. He features a fairly compact delivery with a slight hip coil and throws from a high 3/4 arm slot. His fastball sits in the 80–84 mph range, touching 85, with some sinking action. The changeup is his best secondary pitch, showing late fading action with consistent arm speed, making it a significant swing and miss offering. His third pitch is a breaking ball in the low 70s. He will occasionally drop his arm slot when throwing it, which affects its consistency.

Video - JULY 2025 - Prep Baseball Future Games

Owen Green, OF, Cary, 2026
An athletic left handed hitting outfielder with above average bat speed. He showed the ability to drive the baseball, lining a ball back up the middle and squaring up another with authority. Despite playing with a sore hamstring, he still posted a 4.15 home to first time.
He profiles as one of the top-end speed threats in the state and remains uncommitted.

Weddington 1 Charlotte Catholic 9

Friday March 20, 2026

Beckett Denton, RHP, Weddington HS, 2027
App State Commit | Big frame. Strong lower half. Broad shoulders. 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. High-¾ to over-the-top slot. Arm works well. Fastball up to 89, sitting 86-89. Fringy feel on the night, making several big pitches to close out innings. Slider at 73-74. Change-up at 78-79. Worked 3 innings, striking out 1.

Video - FEB 2026 - North Carolina ProCase

Griffin McKain, LHP, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2027
Clemson Commit. Lean frame with length in the limbs. 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Plenty of room to continue to add strength and size to the frame in the coming years. Easy mover with long arm action. Good arm speed with solid direction through a high-¾ slot. Quick arm. Stuff will continue to grow and he is positioned to handle gains with his athleticism over the rubber. Attacked hitters. One walk and 8 strikeouts in 5.1 IP. Fastball has late life, darting to the arm side at 86-88. Played up at times as hitters struggled to be on time. Four pitch mix included a cutter 82-84 and breaking ball at 70-72. Good feel and arm speed on a change-up at 78-79.

Video - FEB 2026 - North Carolina ProCase

Luke Danser, 1B, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2027
Dayton Commit. Right handed hitter. Strength present in an average frame. Slightly open stance with a short, compact swing. Stable head. Works gap to gap. Really tough out. 2 RBI double in the 5th. Showed zone feel. Tough out that set a tone for the Cougars offensive performance on the night.

Farris Carinci, 2B, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2028
Youthful look and frame. 5-foot-7, 140 pounds. Right handed hitter. Average bat speed, flashing solid barrel feel. Got the scoring started with an RBI single to left field in the 2nd inning. Later squeezed a run home. Average to above runner. Effort and production flashed in a big conference matchup.

Brady Marconi, C, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2026

College of Charleston. Physical presence with good bend in the hips. Stable stance receiving. Hands worked with some ease, keeping pitches in the zone and working to create strikes on balls that may have been off. Stole a ton of strikes for his team behind the plate tonight. Continued to swing a good bat in the middle of the order. Right handed hitter. Upright, using a small leg kick and average stride. Bat head has early waggle with a demonstrative tilt just past vertical in his load. Stable bat head at launch. Natural loft with advanced strength. Two hits on Friday with a double.

Video - FEB 2026 - North Carolina ProCase

Charlotte Catholic 10 Weddington 2

Wednesday March 18, 2026

Alex Hoffman, RHP, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2026
Virginia Tech commit. Physical. Defined muscular strength in the lower half. Thick, sturdy legs. Listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. Methodical pace. Controlled delivery over the rubber. Side saddle setup with a small rocker and preset pivot foot. Lift to the belt. Worked level and on-line. Stable head. Clean, strong arm action through a medium path. Lands slightly open to his line with a square foot strike. Allows for the hips to clear early. High-3/4 slot with good arm speed. Arm strength over arm speed. Fastball ranged 90-92, touching 92.7 with the spin hovering just north of 2400rpm. Occasional hard, boring run when located to the arm side. Solid feel for the zone. Control over command. Held stuff and velocity into the 6th. Slider flashed out-pitch potential with late, explosive movement. Inconsistent shape and action throughout. When tight the slider is a wipeout pitch. Ranged 81-84 at 2400rpm. Four pitch mix on the night also include a change-up at 83 with late depth and good arm speed. Curveball has hard downer action at 77-78. Both pitches have big upside. Change-up is positioned to continue to tick up with usage. As hitters mature and handle the raw power of the fastball, the change-up is ready to create a lot of discomfort. Worked 5.1 innings walking 1 and striking out 7, 4 swinging on the slider. Fastball did not get a lot of swing and miss in the zone but tied hitters up when located on the inner half, allowing the slider to create more distance from the fastball plane.

Cooper Gornet, SS, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2026
North Carolina State commit. Average build at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. Has gotten off to a very quick start in 2026 and with the scouting interest around the Cougars arms, Gornet has taken advantage, seeing his stock grow. A very sure handed infielder with excellent rhythm in the hands and feet. Very secure with the routine ball, turned several tough chances on the night into routine plays with his actions and feel. Accurate arm with solid carry across the diamond. Right handed hitter. Balanced. Feet under shoulders with a little bend in the knees. Rocks and bounces for pre-pitch rhythm, loading with the hands pushing back and the bat head working to a vertical, slightly tipped, position. Average stride. Stable head. Quick hands and excellent turn in the body. Worked from the pull side line to the oppo gap with some authority. Four barrels in four at-bats. Good leverage and back spin on three at-bats resulting in a single and double for the night.

John Hucko, OF, Charlotte Catholic HS, 2027
Auburn commit. Strength present. Proportioned build. Athletic build. 6-foot, 195 pounds. Left handed hitter showed an excellent feel for the barrel throughout the night while working to stay on his plan and adjust throughout each at-bat. Slightly open. Feet underneath the shoulders. Quiet and relaxed with a small waggle in the bat head. Bat head works from a flat position, loading to a neutral slot with a leg kick and slight weight shift back. Average stride, back to even. Aggressive intent. Flat through the zone. Lots of room for error with a quick bat. Excellent strength at the point of contact. Showed strength to all fields on the night. In four at-bats, walked and produced three hard barrels. Single through the middle, through the six-hole and a double down the 3B line. Defined two strike approach, relaxing his leg kick and getting to the evaluation point a bit earlier in his process. Still showed strength and quickness with the adjustment. Continues to check a ton of boxes for evaluators as they are watching.

Tyler Cain, 1B/RHP, Weddington HS, 2026
Cleveland CC commit. Long and rangy. Listed at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds. Good athlete with solid feel for his space and movement. Still growing into the frame. Right handed hitter has strength through impact with a chance to develop an advanced power tool. Balanced. Works to be flat. Length in the arms creates some length through the zone. Handled velocity down in the zone, still recognizing spin. Elevated fastballs created some discomfort. Two barrels on pitches at 90mph or higher.
Also worked off the bump. Tall through the delivery. Loads the front hip with a small turn at balance. Lands on-line with a square foot-strike. Long arm action. The elbow can climb a bit in the back of the action. Some effort to clear the hand as he gets to a high-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed. Athletic, when he finds his rhythm, he shows extended stretches of feel and control. Fastball at 84-86, 2300rpm. Early but sharp action to the breaking ball at 73-74, 2400rpm. Struggled to land the breaking ball in this short outing. Fastball ride through the zone created issues for hitters.

Porter Ridge 4 Cuthbertson 9

Wednesday March 18, 2026

Reece Montgomery, RHP/INF, Porter Ridge, 2027
Lean frame. 5-foot-10, 165 pounds. Youthful look. Simple delivery. Repeats. Stable head. Good lines, working level and on-line. Good rhythm. Long arm swing with an easy release through a high-¾ slot. Fastball up to 81. Late action created some soft contact. Worked 5 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 Earned Run, striking out 2.

Video - July 2025 - CBA Scout Day

Brady Williamson, C/INF, Cuthbertson, 2027
Physical frame. Broad shoulders. Strength present. 6-foot-1, 230 pounds. Right handed hitter. Feet under the shoulders. Solid rhythm. Aggression and intent when he launches. A couple of loud barrels through the middle of the field. Solid mover for the size.

Video - June 2026 - NC/SC Border Battle

Karter Hayden, INF, Porter Ridge, 2029
Young athletic frame. 5-foot-10, 135 pounds. Right handed hitter. Good twitch. Flat through the zone, willing to use the full field. Two hits and two RBIs on the night.

Ryan Virgilio, OF, Cuthbertson, 2026
Belmont Abbey commit. 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. Strength and quickness present. Left handed hitter. Flat path. Quick hands. Consistent feel for the barrel. Shows zone discipline and feel.

Parkwood 1 Mount Pleasant 12

Tuesday March 17, 2026

Jon Kunai, OF, Parkwood, 2028
Slightly open stance/upright, gets loaded back with good rhythm allowing quick hands to take over from there. One hit in three at-bats on Tuesday, hitting in the leadoff slot for the WolfPack.

Video - NOV 2025 - Parkwood HS Scout Day

Eli VonCannon, OF, Mount Pleasant, 2028
Left handed hitter. Lean frame. Solid strength present. Balanced and even. Looseness with some wiggle early in stance. Becomes stable and quiet, getting into the load with a short stride. Stable head. Works to be direct. Two hits on the night with a double, two runs scored and 2 RBI.

Recent Scout Blogs