2024 GHSA Preview: Newnan Cougars
January 10, 2024
The 2024 Georgia high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in mid-May inside one of Coolray Field, AdventHealth Stadium, or JI Clements Stadium at Georgia Southern University. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.
Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: Newnan Cougars
Head Coach: Marc Gilmore
Classification: 6A
2023 Record (Finish): 15-13 (Lost in first round)
Team X Handle: @NewnanBaseball
Team Strengths: pitching and versatility
No. of Returning Position Players: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
TOP SENIORS
- Wills Maginnis (Georgia State commit)
- Carson Daniel
- Cam Barnes
TOP JUNIORS
- Dax Kilby (Clemson commi)
- Cole Gilmore
- Ben Edge
TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS
- 2026 Evan Rusell
- 2027 Brodie Campbell
- 2027 Hayes Maginnis
TEAM OUTLOOK
Newnan is going to be an intruiging team to this spring. Clemson commit, Dax Kilby has semmingly exploded over night, and is a name to know the '25 class. Carson Daniel and Georgia State commit, Will Maginnis will lead the charge on the mound. Cason Rhodes will round out their rotation. The line up is going to be stacked with upperclass talent incudling Ben Edge and Cam Barnes. They relief crew on the mound will be a couple underclassman in Evan Russell and freshman Hayes Maginnis. Maginnis is a nationally ranked 2027, and will be a name to know for years to come. Freshman, Brodie Campbell will also be a freshman to know, he has been a big name on the youth circuit, and could be a big piece for them for the next few years. The Cougars look to improve on their first round appearance in 2023, and could be a region title contender in 6A.
Upcoming Events
| SHOWCASE | DATE | LOCATION |
| South Georgia Preseason ID | January 6th, 2024 | Coffee County High School |
| East Georgia Preseason ID | January 7th, 2024 | IVSA Training |
| North Georgia Preseason ID | January 13th, 2024 | Georgia Highlands College |
| Georgia Preseason All-State | January 14th, 2024 | IVSA Training |