Georgia's Class of 2020 Rankings: The Uncommitted
January 11, 2019
Over the holidays last month, the PBR Georgia team released its first edition of the state’s Class of 2020 Rankings. After breaking down each of the top-10 juniors in the state on Tuesday, we’ll turn our attention to the top uncommitted prospects on the top-50 board today. This group is an example of how the state of Georgia continues to uphold its reputation as one of the nation’s hotbeds for prep baseball talent.
In our complete breakdown of the top ranked uncommitted talents in Georgia, a familiar name is perched at the top: Dalton Pearson (North Gwinnett). We covered the outfielder at length in Tuesday’s post, so we won’t rehash it here, but the No. 4 prospect in the state is athletic and looks like he’s getting stronger, too. He’ll be coveted in the early parts of spring.
The next-best ranked player without a commitment in the state is another prospect with bloodlines: Marquis Grissom Jr. (Ed. Grissom Jr. committed to Georgia Tech on 1/11/19), son of the former Atlanta Braves outfielder Marquis Grissom Sr. His dad was a two-way star coming out of Florida A&M, and Grissom Jr. has the potential to follow in his father’s footsteps – though he’s currently a better prospect on the mound. He’s starting to show present velocity with plenty more upside in the tank. The Counterpane righty has the baseball IQ and moxie to continue standing out on both sides of the ball for now.
CLASS OF 2020 TOP UNCOMMITTED
| NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POS |
| Dalton Pearson | GA | North Gwinnett | 2020 | OF |
| Nate McCollum | GA | Eagle's Landign | 2020 | OF |
| Tervell Johnson | GA | Mays | 2020 | 3B/C |
| Josh Davis | GA | Cartersville | 2020 | 3B/2B |
| Johnathan Ponder | GA | Parkview | 2020 | OF |
| Caleb Ketchup | GA | Holy Innoncents' Episcopal | 2020 | SS/2B |
| Collin Caldwell | GA | Harrison | 2020 | LHP |
| Brandt Pancer | GA | North Gwinnett | 2020 | RHP |
| Geoffrey Watkins | GA | Lassiter | 2020 | RHP |
| Kobe Braddock | GA | River Ridge | 2020 | 2B/3B |
| Matthew Cassandra | GA | West Forsyth | 2020 | OF |
| Brendan York | GA | Mill Creek | 2020 | SS/2B |
| Rhett Hammontree | GA | Dalton | 2020 | INF/RHP |
| Garrett Howe | GA | Hebron Christian | 2020 | SS/2B |
| Dalton Strickland | GA | Loganville Christian | 2020 | OF |
| Brandon Lawrence | GA | Georgia Premier Academy | 2020 | C |
| Jackson Kemp | GA | Gainesville | 2020 | OF |
| James Heramb-Eckert | GA | Grovetown | 2020 | SS |
| Landon Pope | GA | McIntosh | 2020 | SS |
Grissom Jr. is followed by Nate McCollum and Tervell Johnson, who are ranked back-to-back-to-back on the 2020 board. The No. 12-ranked McCollum is as twitchy as anyone in this class or this state. The Eagle’s Landing product is an elite runner and a true burner on the basepaths. That impact speed plays on the bases and in the outfield, but finding more consistency at the plate will be the key for him at the next level.
As for Tervell Johnson, he can be described, simply, as both compact and powerful. He has the ingredients to be a next-level threat in the right-handed batter’s box. Johnson is balanced and short to the ball, and his intrinsic strength plays especially well off the barrel. The question marks that surround his future home defense, but the Mays prospect might actually fit best behind the dish. This year is critically important one for Johnson, in which he can show his future value isn’t exclusively tied to his powerful bat.
Tervell Johnson (10/5/18)
At Nos. 26, 27, and 28 are three position players who can make sizable impacts in the fall of 2020. The top-ranked among the three is infielder Josh Davis, from Cartersville, a fast-twitch prospect with bat strength from the right-handed batter’s box. He’s looking to improve his glovework in 2019, and his future home might be second base, but Davis has the offensive profile to carry him to playing opportunities beyond the spring of 2020.
Johnathan Ponder had a tough time breaking into Parkview’s lineup as a sophomore, one of the deepest and most talented lineups in the state, but he’s always had the tools to make his mark on the game. He’s an athletic player with a medium-sized frame who can really run and is improving at the plate. Ponder’s outlook is an exciting one.
Finally, there’s Caleb Ketchup, from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal. The 5-foot-9 middle infielder competes and is a total gamer. He plays a heads-up shortstop and has sneaky pop for his size. Easy to overlook at first glance, Ketchup will help a program earn Ws, as early as spring of 2021.
Josh Davis (Spring, 2018)
MORE UNCOMMITTED PROSPECTS
+ LHP Collin Caldwell, Harrison: Caldwell is an undersized southpaw who’s a very good competitor on the mound. He’s aggressive and goes right after hitters, the the makings of a go-to changeup. He’s had a had a solid jump in velocity over the past couple years, too.
+ RHP Brandt Pancer, North Gwinnett: A medium-sized righty who makes it look easy, Pancer throws strikes and reaches the upper 80s with his fastball. He doesn’t yet have a true outpitch and has a low front side, allowing hitters to get a good look at his release, but he’s going to give his future home some solid innings.
+ RHP Geoffrey Watkins, Lassiter: This tall right-handed arm is getting stronger and pitcher from a good angle with a high ¾ arm slot. Watkins has been up to 88 mph but there’s clearly more coming.
+ 2B/3B Kobe Braddock, River Ridge: Braddock is a hard-nosed kid who makes consistent contact and has a good feel for his zone.
+ OF Matthew Cassandra, West Forsyth: He projects best in left field but the bat is going to play. He’s a good-looking hitter already with room to add strength.
+ SS/2B Brendan York, Mill Creek: York is an undersized middle infielder who can really compete. His bat is presently packed with doubles power and has reliable hands on the dirt.
+ INF/RHP Rhett Hammontree, Dalton: He’s a two-way prospect with good actions on both the mound and at the plate. Hammontree has the chance to make a jump in 2019 in either role, helping clarify his future position.
+ SS/2B Garrett Howe, Hebron Christian: Howe looks like he has what it takes to stick in the infield at the next level. A left-handed hitter, he’s compact, has strong hands, and is always looking to do damage at the plate.
+ OF Dalton Strickland, Loganville Christian: Strickland has a projectable frame with solid actions across his game. After a busy offseason, he’s primed to make a jump in overall tools.
+ C Brandon Lawrence, Georgia Premier Academy: He’s been reliable in handling some big-time arms from behind the plate. His bat has come on recently, too.
+ OF Jackson Kemp, Gainesville: Kemp looks like he’ll be a corner outfielder at the next level, but given his physical frame, his bat is going play there. He has some power, too.
+ SS James Heramb-Eckert, Grovetown: He’s an excellent defender at shortstop and is a work-in-progress at the plate.
+ SS Landon Pope, McIntosh: Pope has the size and tools, in addition to the soft hands and range on defense, but is looking to improve from the right-handed batter’s box.
For a complete look at Georgia’s Class of 2020 Rankings, click here.