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.

The Rankings Process

Throughout the summer, our scouting staff compiled extensive notes and evaluations from both in-game performances and showcase settings. With this update, the Class of 2028 rankings expand to include the top 140 players statewide, adding more than 50 new names and reflecting notable movement throughout the list.

Prep Baseball’s ranking methodology is structured, thorough, and impartial. Player evaluations are based on live scouting, event data, and video review. Once graded, players are entered into a class-specific database with all identifying information temporarily removed to minimize bias. Rankings are then finalized with names reintroduced, ensuring accuracy and fairness.

Previewing the Top 10

In the coming week, Prep Baseball North Carolina will spotlight individual standouts from the updated rankings. For now, here’s an overview of the Top 10 prospects in the Class of 2028:

• The group includes four pitchers, one catcher, three infielders, and two outfielders.
• Among position players, three are left-handed hitters.
• The next ten players in the rankings carry similar overall grades, highlighting how competitive the class is. Within the Top 50, player evaluations are as tight as any class we’ve ranked in recent years.

Over 100 players in the 2028 rankings attended a Prep Baseball event this summer, updating profiles and video. Most maintained or slightly improved their internal player grades.

The Class of 2028 is entering a pivotal year of growth. With new recruiting rules in place, this group has the opportunity to refine their skills while college coaches and pro scouts begin to familiarize themselves with these rising prospects. Prep Baseball’s scouting staff is eager to track the continued development of this talented class.

FULL RELEASE - CLASS OF 2028 RANKINGS

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Recent North Carolina Rankings