North Carolina Class of 2028: Rankings Update

With the conclusion of the summer season and the start of the school year, Prep Baseball North Carolina releases its latest fall rankings updates. While the Class of 2028 is still in its early stages, the rankings are beginning to take shape. This update expands the class by 50 players, bringing the total to the top 140 prospects in the state.

See the full Class of 2028 Release Here.

Stability at the Top

As our scouts continue to evaluate players across North Carolina, the top prospects have largely maintained their positions. Several key events highlighted players now emerging in the 2028 rankings. Most notably, the East Coast Super Sophomore Games showcased standout performances, including Brax Thompson, whose play at UNC and Burlington Athletic Park vaulted him into the top 10. While it is still early in the evaluation process, we anticipate significant movement in the rankings over the next year as players grow, develop, and our scouting staff gathers additional data from games, practices, workouts, and events.

A Summer of Growth

Following the high school season, players across the state participated in a full slate of summer competitions. Many competed at national events such as the Prep Baseball NPI and the Prep Baseball National Championships, while others made their mark in American Legion play, highlighted by Asheville’s run to the World Series in Shelby, NC.

Beyond team achievements, players used the summer to update their Prep Baseball profiles with new statistics, analytics, and video. Standouts from events such as the NC/SC Border Battle, Summer IDs, and organizational scout days earned invitations to represent Team Carolina at national showcases, including the Future Games, Super Sophomore Games, and Top Prospect Games.

The 2025 East Coast Super Sophomore Games, now in its second year, was a resounding success. Hosted at UNC and Burlington Athletic Park, Team North Carolina competed against nine other teams with top players from 12 states. The event attracted significant attention, with stats, notes, and video already informing college coaches’ evaluations for the 2025–2026 cycle.

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10 Players Making Big Moves

Ten names that saw their stock rise this summer.

Sean Rodesiler LHP / 1B / Davidson Day School, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 134 / POS: 9 Move from No. 36 to No. 8 Big winner from the Top Prospect Games in August.  An elite mover down the mound, with a clean arm, Rodesiler showed advanced stuff with good athleticism.  He will be a name to watch in the coming months to see how high the stock could rise.

Duncan Carver RHP / SS / AC Reynolds, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 168 / POS: 43 Moved from No. 24 to No. 10 Pitch-ability and stuff... This will play now and in the future.  At the Super Sophomore Games, Carver did not have hit top end stuff but still found ways to create discomfort and attack hitters with an arsenal that allows each pitch to play above its own grade.

Zach Taylor SS / OF / James Hunt High, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 23 / POS: 8 Moved from No. 44 to No. 23 The Hit Tool drives a prospect's status... Taylor has a chance to hit at a very high level.  There is strength present with good bat speed.  His ability to recognize spin and be on time for fastball played at the Super Sophomore Games.

Parker Williams RHP / OF / North Lincoln, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 26 / POS: 4 Moved from No. 42 to No. 26 We saw Williams at the Mountains Preseason ID. While we came away impressed and followed him, eventually getting him an invite to the Super Sophomore Games, we were light.  The stuff and pitch-ability was better than our grades, across the board, at the Regional end-of-summer event.

Luke Douglas 1B / OF / Marvin Ridge High, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 34 / POS: 4 Moved from No. 65 to No. 34 Douglas impressed with his stroke and movement patterns at the Charlotte Baseball Academy Scout Day in June.  Still early in the process, Douglas will be a name to follow.

Austin Baxter 2B / 3B / Hopewell, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 35 / POS: 2 Moved from No. 59 to No. 36 Combine style events can be important and useful in the evaluation process. While we value the input from the workout settings, there is no substiture for game play.  Baxter's ability in game to make adjustments and find the barrel against elite level pitching at the Super Sophomore Games moved his prospect status up and we are excited to see what he continues to do on the field.

Cole Harris 1B / 3B / Parrott Academy, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 38 / POS: 5 Moved from No. 62 to No. 38 Long and lean, Harris catches the eye based on his physical build.  Players with this type of length can take some time to find their leverage and barrel feel. Harris showed power and barrel feel throughout the summer, peaking at the East Coast Super Sophomore Games.

Cooper Bolton RHP / C / Sanderson, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 48 / POS: 7 Moved from No. 74 to No. 48. Clean arm. Easy mover. Lean frame that will fill out in the coming years.  All of this with some feel for pitching and getting outs with his fastball.  Bolton is positioned to continue to tick up the list as the stuff continues to evolve.

Brody Michel OF / OF / Middle Creek, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 54 / POS: 7 Moved from No. 77 to 54. Right handed hitting outfielder continues to see his hit tool tick up as he adds quickness and strength to his frame.  In multiple workouts, there was easy barrel ability in the swing.

Ellis White OF / 1B / Cox Mill High School, NC / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 61 / POS: 9 Moved from No. 90 to No. 61. White was part of Team NC at the 2024 Jr. Future Games.  In the next year, he body transformed as he added multiple inches to the frame.  With that, he kept the fluidity and rhythm in his swing, showing good barrel feel at the Charlotte Baseball Academy Scout Day.