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North Carolina Class of 2026: Rankings Update

Throughout the spring season, Prep Baseball North Carolina scouts were on the road extensively, attending more than 320 games to evaluate as many high school prospects as possible. As a result, our player database is due for a refresh. With the summer season now underway, we begin the process of updating our class rankings—starting with the Class of 2026.

Summer Spotlight: The Class of 2026

Heading into their final—and most critical—summer on the amateur circuit, the 2026 class in North Carolina continues to generate significant buzz. The top of the class features high-end talent with professional upside, while the overall depth of the group continues to impress statewide. As is often the case in North Carolina, the class includes a mix of early standouts and late bloomers—players who will likely emerge throughout their senior seasons and into their college careers.

This latest update is modest in scope, reflecting early insights from spring game action. While game play provides valuable context, there are still many players yet to be fully evaluated. The Prep Baseball NC scouting staff will continue coverage throughout the summer at marquee events, including the Team Carolina Summer ID series, NC/SC Border Battle, and the North Carolina Top Prospect Games. A comprehensive rankings overhaul is expected later this year as these events offer additional data and insight.

CLICK HERE to see the full 2026 Rankings
+ Expanded to the Top 325 in NC
+ Sortable by Top Ranked Players by Position
+ Player commitments listed 

Rankings Risers

While Prep Baseball scouts are working the road, seeing over 300 high school games this past spring, player evaluations and grades are being updated.   While players can have an adjusement made to their player evaluation, that does not necessarily reflect in the rankings as part of the rankings process is dependent on the other players in the list.  

These players saw an uptick in their player evaluation lead to significant changes in their state ranking. 

Maddox McRee RHP / Hickory High School, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 6 OverallRank: 389 / POS: 128 Moved from No. 23 to No. 15  03.19.25 Scouting Blog: NC State commit. Second outing out of basketball and still building pitch count. Long, lean, straight line build. Listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Fastball sat 87-91 in his first two innings. 4th innings saw it range 85-88. Occasional cut. Solid ride. 2150-2250 rpm. Downhill angle through the zone created a tough match for barrels at times. Two different breaking balls both played, allowing the fastball to tick up a grade. Late, cut action on the slider at 79-83. Hard, downer breaking ball with 11/5 shape sat 76-78, 1900-2100rpm. Curveball action created discomfort and bad check swings and chase swings. Landed it enough to keep hitters honest. Overall control was adequate, showing glimpses of solid feel for landing the fastball to the glove side. Level delivery, working on-line. Average stride. Under control with head stability. Square foot-strike. In-line with the upper half. Long arm swing. Over-the-top slot with average to above arm speed. Good downhill leverage on the fastball. Two sport athlete with a lot of projection left. The combination of the frame and tight action on the spin lends to projection of potential quick jumps coming.

Logan D'Amico OF / RHP / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 22 / POS: 5 OverallRank: 421 / POS: 74 Moved from No. 27 to No. 22 04.30.25 Scout Blog: Wake Forest commit. Athletic build with strength present at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. Heavy hip coil as he works through balance. Lands on-line with a square foot-strike. Long arm action. Shoulder present some uphill leverage. High-¾ slot. Arm is a bit laid off at the cocking phase as it works through a high-¾ slot. Creates leverage with the arm and front side. Heavy spin on fastball and curveball. Fastball ranged 88-91, 2450-2570rpm. Arm side misses at times. Heavy fastball created soft contact. Hard, sharp, downer action on the curveball. Curveball is a potential out pitch at higher levels as he continues to progress. Sat 76-80, 2600 - 2900rpm. Around the zone but created a lot of deep counts. Control over command. Pure stuff will have MLB scouts following his progression this summer and into the fall. His ability to refine his control and command, and using his stuff to attack areas of the zone will define his future prospect status.

Dylan Stacks RHP / 3B / North Brunswick, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 58 / POS: 24 Moved from No. 84 to No. 58 04.30.25 Scout Blog: Athletic build with strength present. Listed at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds. Third Base side of the rubber. Slight side-saddle setup. Simple turn and lift. High chest with the kick. Closed through balance, working level, landing on-line and square with his foot-strike. Long arm swing wraps behind the body line slightly. Elbow works just above the shoulder line as he works to the cocking phase. High ¾ slot. Solid arm speed. Fastball up to 87 and held 85-86 throughout. Slider at 74-77. Early with 10/4 tilt. Good length at times. Showed feel for expanding the slider away from swings in put-away counts. Change-up at 77-80. Down a bit in this outing from reports over the past few weeks. Competed and kept his club in the game. Worked 4 innings total, striking out 6 and walking 1. In the box, the right handed hitter recorded 3 hits with 2 hard barrels in 4 at-bats. Works for extension with a pull emphasis. Has strength to the pull side. Flat through the zone. Solid pitch recognition. Wide stance, sinking into his base slightly. Hands above the back shoulder with a flat barrel in his pre-pitch setup. Small kick and weight shift back as the hands load the bat head to a vertical position for launch. Small stride. Stable head. Works to be direct. Solid hand strength. Average to above bat speed for the age level.

Carson Everhart OF / RHP / Oak Grove, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 59 / POS: 15 Moved from No. 221 to No. 59 03.12.25 Scout Blog: Listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. Strength present. Average frame. Right handed hitter is simple and balanced in his setup. Feet just outside shoulders. Sits balanced. Hands off his back shoulder, relaxed. Vertical bat. Simple, smooth, easy load. Quiet, average stride. Quick bat. Natural loft. Strong with extension. Ball jumped off the barrel. Homered to right-center, getting it in the jet stream, but that ball was gone on most any day. On the mound featured a solid slider for a strike consistently. Early, horizontal action. Enough length to give hitters issues as it left the hand. Fastball ranged 80-84, spinning up to 2400rpm. Closed through balance, lands across his line working to create some angle. Short, scapular load action gets to an over-the-top slot. Solid arm speed.

Bubba Sims RHP / SS / Southeast Alamance, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 67 / POS: 28 Moved from No. 195 to No. 67 04.24.25 Scout Blog:  Intriguing prospect. Has strength and energy. Played at a higher pace than others on the field. Profiles more in the box, but we caught him on the mound on this day – potential two-way follow. Right handed hitter. Balanced. Feet outside shoulders. Hands pushed back off the back shoulder with a slight bat tip back toward the pitcher. Small weight shift and hand movement start the swing. Good rhythm. Aggressive stride. Linear, working flat through the zone, with a gap to gap approach. Advanced bat speed. Showed barrel feel with 3 barrels in 4 at-bats on this day. On the mound, the fastball worked 82-88, holding 82-86 through the 4th. 2350rpm spin on the fastball. Breaking ball was inconsistent, rolling through a top to bottom action at 69-73, 2250rpm. Long arm swing has whip through an over-the-top slot. Strong arm with solid arm speed. Good athlete around the mound.

Evan Burroughs SS / OF / Watauga, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 96 / POS: 15 Moved from No. 152 to No. 96 04.01.25 Scout Blog: Average frame. Listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. Average to above quickness. Left handed hitter showed good feel for the barrel. Recorded 2 hits and a walk in four plate appearances, on the barrel 2 times. Simple setup. Balanced. Weight shift back with a small kick. Small to average stride. Stays in his base. Solid turn. Hands work direct. Average bat speed.

Jack Beard RHP / Charlotte Christian, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 133 / POS: 44 Moved from No. 162 to No. 133 05.07.25 Scout Blog:  Listed at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Athletic presence. Preset pivot. Simple turn and lift to the low chest. Loose hips. Works level throughout. Lands on-line with a closed toe at foot-strike. High-¾ slot. Solid arm speed. Sink / slider profile. Heavy movement on the fastball at 84-87, 1850-2050rpm. Late, hard run, with length at times, gave hitters fits the first time through the order. Slider comes from a bit of a lower release. Late break across the zone is sharp at times. Slider ranged 73-76. Around the zone, showed good feel at times for his fastball. Threw strikes with both the fastball and slider. Walked 2 over his 3.1 innings pitched. Solid upside. Frame will continue to mature. Arsenal is equipped to have success as he continues to mature.

Brady Armfield OF / RHP / Southwestern Randolph, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 134 / POS: 25 Moved from No. 274 to No. 134 04.24.25 Scout Blog: Athletic presence. Broad shoulders with strength present at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Balanced and even setup from the right side. Simple load with a stable head. Small weight shift back as the hands trigger down and back up. Vertical bat. Inside-out swing, as the hands stay tight through the turn. Strong hands. Can around the back leg at times. Advanced bat speed for the age. Lots to like from Armfield in the box. Setup to produce and the production will lead his prospect status in the coming months.

Robert Johnstone C / 2B / Cuthbertson, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 153 / POS: 19 Moved from No. 178 to No. 153 04.30.25 Scout Blog:  Twitch and quickness is present in the 5-foot-9, 155 pound frame. Right handed hitter is in the 2nd spot of the order for a deep lineup. Open and tall with his hands above his back shoulder in the pre-pitch. As he sets for his load, he sinks into his base and calms his hands. Small leg kick with a hand movement back. Head remains stable. Average stride. Hands work flat through the zone with average to above bat speed. Tough out against solid arms on the day. Worked in the middle of the field. Behind the dish he is a very willing receiver and blocker, working to get the best out of his arms. Good hip bend. Showed solid carry and accuracy on throws through to the bag at 2B.

Aidan Murphy LHP / OF / Oak Grove, NC / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 183 / POS: 16 Moved from No. 205 to No. 183 03.12.25 Scout Blog: Length present. Listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Lean with projection left. Stretch only. Loose hips. Simple lift, working level and on-line. Square foot-strike, inline. Short arm action, loading the scapular with athleticism. High-3/4 slot. Average to above arm speed. Fastball at 83-85, touching 86. Gradual 2/8 shape to the breaking ball at 69-70. Showed feel for mixing. Around the zone, lacking command of any one spot. Frame and arm action suggest more to come, and potentially soon.

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