Power 25 HS Preview: #21 Starr's Mill Panthers
January 23, 2023
We will begin to preview our Power 25 rankings each day until the season begins. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each GHSA classification as well as a Power 25. Be sure to follow PBR Georgia on twitter for live action each week, as our staff travels throughout the state to cover baseball in the great state of Georgia.
High School Name: Starr’s Mill
Coach’s Name: Brent Moseley
Classification: GHSA Class 4A
2022 Record: 19-14
Region: 4-4A
No. of Returning Starters: 9
Team Strengths: Team Chemistry; Junior Talent
Top Returning Players:
-
C Ariston Veasey (UGA, 2024)
-
OF/RHP Bo Walker (Georgia Tech, 2024)
-
LHP/OF Heath Whitlock (Mississippi State, 2024)
-
RHP/1B Jack Ryan (2024)
-
SS Austin Sellars (2024)
-
SS Evan Harrah (2023)
-
RHP Andrew Scott (LaGrange, 2023)
Top 2024 Prospects:
-
2B Max Prozny
-
RHP/C Drew Richardson
-
OF Charlie Clem
-
LHP Jake Willoughby
Team Outlook
In 2022 the Starr’s Mill Panthers were a really young, but talented team. They rallied late in the season winning 10 straight, and proved that something clicked. The experience the sophomore group gained in ‘22 will be one of the key attributes of the 2023 squad. They are now bigger, stronger and have more experience at the varsity level. The chemistry of this 2023 will be fun to watch when they open the season in February. Their region schedule will look a little different this year, and will stack up against LaGrange, which is another top team in 4A. They will open up region play against them March 14th. The list of talented juniors for the panthers is never ending. We will start with UGA commit, Ariston Veasey, who seems to get better and better each time we see him. The top ranked catcher in the state (2024) continues to add strength to his swing. Expect a huge junior year from Veasey. GT commit, Bo Walker is another nationally ranked hitter in the Panthers line up. Heath Whitlock will be headed to Starkville in a couple years time, but will be the ace for the Panthers until then. His velo continues to climb, with some of the best pitchability in the class. 2023 should be an exciting year for this talented squad. If they can piece it all together they can find themselves back at Truist park competing for a state title.Ariston Veasey
Heath Whitlock#UGA ‘24 C Ariston Veasey(@SM_Baseball)
— Justin Goetz (@JGoetzPBR) January 11, 2023
Was throwing heat seaking missiles behind the dish @ 86 mph turning in a 1.89 pop time due to a smooth exchange & plus arm strength. Repeated hi level swing w/ gap 2 gap approach. Few C’s in nation are this toolsy@PBRGeorgia @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/2F3r7Z8lvW
‘24 #HailState commit Heath Whitlock (@HeathWhitlock1) in position for a win on the mound for @SMHSPanthers.
A primary bat, Whitlock showed good feel on the mound. Allowed only 1 R over 4 IP.
FB: 82-85
CB: 69-71
CH: 75-76 pic.twitter.com/wPYs6Orddc
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) February 19, 2022
Jack Ryan
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Projectable build, wide shoulders, developing strength throughout.
Hit: R/R. Open setup, hands start high with a barrel wrap, drop on load, short stride, finishes open. Swing path is short to the zone, level through, whippy bat speed, line drive hitter, uses the entire field, pull-side power.
Power: 92.52 max exit velocity, averaged 82.37 mph. 266.00’ max distance.
Arm: R/R. INF - 81.00 mph. Loose, clean arm action to a high 3/4 slot, throws carry, accurate across the diamond.
Defense: Plays through the ball, fields out front with a soft glove, fluid footwork, quick exchanges, good body control.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.