Summer Rankings Update: NC Class of 2027
August 20, 2026
North Carolina Class of 2027 Rankings: Summer Update
The summer evaluation period has come to a close, and the North Carolina Class of 2027 Rankings have expanded to the Top 350 players in the state.
It has been a big year for the 2027 class. After an extensive spring of high school coverage, the Prep Baseball scouting staff entered the summer with a strong foundation on the class. The summer circuit then provided another layer of evaluations, putting players into highly competitive environments while allowing the staff to continue evaluating tools, performance, athleticism, and projection.
The class continues to be led by Connor Salerno (LHP, Sun Valley HS), a 2025 and 2026 Prep Baseball All-American Game invite. Behind Salerno is a deep collection of committed and uncommitted talent that has continued to evolve throughout the spring and summer.
Summer evaluations began at the National Program Invitational (NPI) at LakePoint, where a number of the state's top 2027 prospects were in attendance. From there, the summer schedule included Prep Baseball ID events, tournament coverage, the NC/SC Border Battle, and additional live evaluations across the state and region.
The summer eventually built toward two of the biggest evaluation opportunities on the calendar: the Senior Future Games and the inaugural Tobacco Road State Games.
Future Games week at LakePoint put North Carolina's top uncommitted 2027 prospects on the field with Team Carolinas in front of 495 college coaches. With recruiting attention turning heavily toward the rising senior class, the week provided another major opportunity for players to perform on a national stage.
The summer concluded this past weekend in Charlotte with the inaugural Tobacco Road State Games. Top talent from across North Carolina competed through a two-day event featuring a pro-style workout and game action. More than 20 college programs were in and out throughout the weekend, giving the 2027s in attendance another opportunity to perform in front of decision-makers. The talent level and college presence helped set the tone for the Tobacco Road State Games to become a major in-state marker event moving forward.
With thousands of evaluations accumulated from the spring and summer, the August update provides the clearest picture yet of North Carolina's 2027 class.
VIEW THE FULL NORTH CAROLINA 2027 RANKINGS
MOVERS | STOCK CONTINUES TO RISE
Every rankings update creates movement as new evaluations are added and players continue to develop. The summer provided several prospects with opportunities to make significant statements against high-level competition.
Five players in particular made notable moves in the August update:
Kellen Rogers | SS | Wake Forest HS | NC State
New Rank: No. 4
Rogers moves into the state's Top 5, joining an impressive group at the top of the class. The NC State commit is now the highest-ranked shortstop in North Carolina's 2027 class.
VIDEO
‘27 SS Kellen Rogers (NC @pack9) dropping some thunder to this one for a 💣💣 that travels 3️⃣6️⃣4️⃣ at 98mph.
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) June 5, 2026
Bouncy defender who plays with pace and energy.
Like the look. #NPI26 || #MLBDraft || @PrepBaseballNC pic.twitter.com/PaZGbfJxZH
SCOUT NOTES:
Hurt during the spring season, Rogers was back full-go on the summer circuit, making a huge splash at the NPI. The hit tool is loud and Rogers has increased his strength level, carrying the ball with some ease off the barrel in the high level event.
Jude Carter | RHP | Alexander Central HS | Kennesaw State
New Rank: No. 17
Carter's summer pushes him firmly into the Top 20. The right-hander is now committed to Alabame after flashing a premium fastball from a physical frame.
SCOUT NOTES:
Carter built on his good spring by turning the dial up on the bump this summer. The physical frame continues to move down the hill with more efficiency. Prep Baseball scouts saw 94 early in the summer. There are reports the fastball notched a bit higher during some pro driven events.
Brennan McKenna | RHP | Holly Springs HS | NC State
New Rank: No. 20
McKenna climbs into the Top 20 as another arm in a deep and talented pitching group. The Holly Springs right-hander is committed to NC State.
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
McKenna missed part of his Jr. year but was back on the bump this past spring. After closing for Holly Springs, the summer circuit provided McKenna the opportunity to show off the growth in his stuff. Entering the Senior Future Games, McKenna was a known commodity but his performance on the national stage created a higher demand and increased his value. McKenna committed to NC State shortly after the Sr. Future Games outing.
Cooper Holland | LHP | Charlotte Latin | NC State
New Rank: No. 26
Holland moves inside the Top 30 after his summer evaluation period. The Charlotte Latin left-hander is committed to NC State.
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Players develop in different ways and at different times. While there was a lot to like last summer with Holland’s stuff and pitch-ability, his increased strength and mobility on the bump led to a big uptick in stuff. The lefty caught the eye of the Wolfpack and committed late in the summer period.
Jackson Brooks | 3B/RHP | Emsley A. Laney HS
New Rank: No. 50
Brooks makes his move into the Top 50 and remains uncommitted in the August update.
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Brooks played both ways for Wilmington Post 10, showing promise in the box and on the bump. There is quickness with advanced strength in the frame. In the box, Brooks has the ability to do damage with each swing. Adding to the prospect, Brooks also flashed a fastball that was up to 91mph at the Sr. Future Games.
NEWCOMERS | NEW NAMES ENTER THE RANKINGS
Even with the rankings now reaching 350 players, the evaluation process remains fluid. Players continue to emerge through live coverage, tournaments, ID events, and major summer events.
Five newcomers make notable debuts in this update, including several players who immediately jump well inside the Top 150.
Brooks Hemphill | OF | TC Roberson HS
Rank: No. 69
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Advanced tools play… Hemphill showed up and showed out at the Gardner-Webb Summer ID, running sub 6.60. The right handed hitter has strength and twitch with solid barrel feel in the box as well. Earning an invite to the Sr. Future Games, Hemphill showed an ability to stick in the middle of the field with his speed.
Bryson Josey | RHP | Metrolina Christian Academy | Western Carolina
Rank: No. 92
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Josey was part of a very deep staff at Metrolina Christian in the spring. Attending the Prep Baseball Scout Day with CBA, Josey popped with a good bullpen, showing a fastball up to 87 with life. He continued to grow through the summer, reaching 89mph at the Prep Baseball National Championships. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, there is room to the ceiling.
Jake Zobel | RHP | Marvin Ridge HS
Rank: No. 116
VIDEO
Jake Zobel
— Prep Baseball NC (@PrepBaseballNC) August 16, 2026
2027 RHP | Marvin Ridge HS |
FB Top: 86.3 #TRSG26 pic.twitter.com/APYaYJns6r
SCOUT NOTES:
Zobel was very impressive at the Tobacco Road State Games. Still working to fill out the frame, Zobel looks to be a high floor, high ceiling prospect. Up to 88mph with good carry through the zone, he also flashed a tight, late breaking ball.
Drew Brown | LHP | Manteo HS
Rank: No. 126
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Lean, athletic frame, Brown is an athletic mover with loose hips moving down the hill. It is a clean, athletic, quick arm. Brown impressed at the multiple workouts and the State Games of NC this summer.
Kaiden Cox | 2B | Jacksonville HS
Rank: No. 181
VIDEO
SCOUT NOTES:
Cox is a solid athlete that has good bat to barrel skills from the left side of the plate. He has put up solid numbers in multiple BP sessions this summer. The swing has translated in game, giving him some potential to be a quick asset at the next level.
PREVIEWING THE TOP 10
There is plenty of depth throughout the updated Top 350, but the top of the board features some of the most established prospects in North Carolina.
Salerno continues to hold the No. 1 position. The Mississippi State commit is followed by LSU commit Jacob Seamon, while Auburn commit John Hucko rounds out an SEC trio at the top of the rankings.
The summer also created movement immediately behind that group, with Rogers climbing to No. 4. The remainder of the Top 10 is loaded with committed talent, with six players from No. 4 through No. 10 committed to ACC programs.
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THE DEPTH OF THE 2027 CLASS
The names at the top will naturally draw attention, but the strength of this rankings update may be what exists beyond the Top 10.
The board now stretches to 350 players, with prospects continuing to emerge and make substantial jumps. There are committed players throughout the rankings, while a large group of uncommitted prospects remain available heading into the fall. Pitchers continue to develop velocity and secondary stuff, position players are adding strength and athleticism, and players who may have been relatively unknown entering the spring have forced their way onto the board.
That depth made the spring and summer evaluation periods especially important. From the high school season through NPI, the Border Battle, Future Games and Tobacco Road State Games, the scouting staff has been able to evaluate the class in different environments and against different levels of competition.
The August update is the culmination of that work — but it is not the finish line.
With the 2027s entering their senior year, the fall and upcoming preseason will provide another opportunity for players to make jumps, earn recruiting attention, and continue to shape one of North Carolina's deeper classes.
FULL NORTH CAROLINA CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS
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