Prep Baseball Report

NC/SC Border Battle: South Carolina Superlatives - Position Players


Sammy Esposito
PB SC Director of Scouting

NC/SC Border Battle: Leaderboards, Notes & Analysis

The 2026 NC/SC Border Battle once again brought together many of the top underclass prospects from the Carolinas, as more than 120 players from the 2027, 2028, and 2029 grad classes gathered at UNC Charlotte's Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium for two days of evaluations and competition.

The event began on Tuesday, June 9th with a complete workout day. Position players participated in offensive and defensive evaluations while collecting a wide range of measurable data and advanced metrics. Hitters went through multiple rounds of batting practice with TrackMan technology capturing batted ball data and BLAST Motion providing swing analytics. Defensively, players worked from their primary positions, allowing the Prep Baseball scouting staff to evaluate athleticism, range, footwork, arm strength, and overall feel for the game.

Players also completed athletic testing throughout the day, including laser-timed 60-yard dashes with 10-yard and 30-yard split times, along with jump testing to measure explosiveness and overall athletic ability.

Competition shifted to game action on Wednesday, June 10th as players took part in 8-11 innings of controlled scrimmages. The live game environment allowed scouts to evaluate how each player's measurable tools translated at game speed while providing valuable opportunities for hitters and pitchers to compete against some of the top talent from both North Carolina and South Carolina. Pitching data was collected throughout game play using TrackMan technology, providing advanced metrics and in-game performance analysis.

Following the event, each player's Prep Baseball profile will be fully updated with statistics, advanced metrics, video, and scouting reports, allowing college coaches and professional scouts to continue tracking player development throughout their high school careers.

Prep Baseball North Carolina and Prep Baseball South Carolina would like to thank all of the players, parents, coaches, and scouts who helped make the 2026 NC/SC Border Battle another outstanding event.

Over the coming days, Prep Baseball will release statistical leaderboards, scouting notes, and player reports highlighting the top performers from both days of action.

More information, including the full roster, statistics, and advanced metrics, can be found here:


SUPERLATIVES - POSITION PLAYERS

TOP ATHLETES

Finn Kucaba

Class of 2027 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: SS
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Future Baseball.
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 191.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Cade Lanning

Class of 2029 / 2B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2029
  • Primary Position: 2B
    Secondary Position: SS
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: South Charlotte Panthers
  • Height: 5-9
    Weight: 152.4lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Jacob Neff

Class of 2027 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: Nation Ford High School
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: On Deck Academy
  • Height: 5-10
    Weight: 149.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Jackson Livingston

Class of 2028 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: OF
  • High School: D.W. Daniel
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Diamond Cutters
  • Height: 5-11
    Weight: 141.3lbs
  • Bat/Throw: L/L
 

Reeves Israel

Class of 2027 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: Southside Christian
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Diamond Devils 17U Black
  • Height: 6-1
    Weight: 160lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

TOP HIT TOOLS

Finn Kucaba

Class of 2027 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: SS
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Future Baseball.
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 191.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Mason Iser

Class of 2028 / 3B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: 3B
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: River Bluff
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Palmetto Blacksmiths
  • Height: 6-1
    Weight: 189.2lbs
  • Bat/Throw: L/R
 

Carter Epting

Class of 2027 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: LHP
  • High School: P27 Baseball Academy
    State: NY
  • Summer Team: Palmetto Blacksmith
  • Height: 5-10
    Weight: 179.5lbs
  • Bat/Throw: L/L
 

Kaden Lank

Class of 2028 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: 3B
  • High School: North Myrtle Beach
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: South Charlotte Panthers Marrucci 2028
  • Height: 5-7
    Weight: 172.5lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Will Nations

Class of 2029 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2029
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: 3B
  • High School: Lexington High
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Palmetto Blacksmiths 2029
  • Height: 5-11
    Weight: 181.9lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

TOP POWER POTENTIAL

Finn Kucaba

Class of 2027 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: SS
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Future Baseball.
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 191.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Tucker Siffri

Class of 2028 / 1B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: 1B
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: J. L. Mann High Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Greenville Anchors
  • Height: 6-2
    Weight: 208.6lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Mason Iser

Class of 2028 / 3B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: 3B
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: River Bluff
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Palmetto Blacksmiths
  • Height: 6-1
    Weight: 189.2lbs
  • Bat/Throw: L/R
 

Sam Painter

Class of 2027 / 1B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: 1B
    Secondary Position: 3B
  • High School: Hammond
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Sba national 2027
  • Height: 6-2
    Weight: 192.5lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Brewer Cannon

Class of 2027 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: OF
  • High School: Conway
    State: SC
  • Height: 6-2
    Weight: 198.9lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

TOP ARM STRENGTH

Reeves Israel

Class of 2027 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: Southside Christian
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Diamond Devils 17U Black
  • Height: 6-1
    Weight: 160lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Jacob Wiggs

Class of 2027 / 3B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: 3B
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: Southside Christian
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: SBA Bolts American
  • Height: 5-10
    Weight: 180.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Arthur McFadden

Class of 2029 / SS

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2029
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: RHP
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Power Baseball SC
  • Height: 5-10
    Weight: 158.2lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Cash Conner

Class of 2028 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2028
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: Eastside
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: USA Prime National 16U
  • Height: 5-10
    Weight: 149.6lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R
 

Finn Kucaba

Class of 2027 / OF

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2027
  • Primary Position: OF
    Secondary Position: SS
  • High School: Oceanside Collegiate Academy
    State: SC
  • Summer Team: Future Baseball.
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 191.1lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R