Prep Baseball Report

North Carolina Class of 2019 Rankings



By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

Follow us on Twitter: @PrepBaseballNC 

 

Prep Baseball Report of North Carolina launched in June with a mission of covering high school baseball across the state.  Through the summer and fall countless games, workouts, and practices were seen.  Over 200 players appeared on the scout blogs, between the summer and fall.  PBR also worked to run high level events, providing college coaches and pro scouts with information on players in the Tarheel state.   Today, PBR releases its initial Class of 2019 state rankings.

There is a lot of growth left to do in the players of the 2019 class.  There will be a lot of development in the players in the coming year which will lead to shifts, and additions, to the class rankings moving forward.  At this time, the top 4 players have all committed to an ACC or SEC school.  Eight of the top 10 have committed as well. 

 Checking in at No. 1 is Brennan Malone of Porter Ridge HS.  Malone is an imposing 6-foot-3, 175 pounds and has run his fastball up to 90mph.  There is athleticism in the delivery and room for the body to continue to rise.  The University of North Carolina commit is the highest ranked player from NC in the Overall Rankings, checking in at No. 8.

Pitchers dominate the top 10, holding down nine spots.  Chris Villaman (LHP, Ledford HS), Isaiah Bennett (RHP, Pine Forest HS), and JD Brock (LHP, Hough HS) have each committed to an ACC school.  Villaman, ranked No. 2, works with long levers in his 6-foot, 170 pound frame, touching 86 consistently with his fastball.  The ceiling continues to be high for the North Carolina State commit. 

Bennett is a high waisted athlete that has been up to 91 as part of the Team USA 40-man trials last summer and is committed to North Carolina.  The velocity can fluctuate at times as Bennett plays soccer in the fall.  Very athletic and loose, there is more in the tank for the No. 3 ranked right-hander.   

Brock possesses a mature 6-foot-1, 180 pound frame with loose hips that drive down the line well.  The fastball has been up to 86 for the Clemson commit, flashing advance pitch-ability at times.  Brock rounds out the pitching heavy top four in the rankings.

Ray Torres is the top ranked position player.  A catcher from Providence HS in Charlotte, NC, Torres is committed to LSU.  Still developing, the bat has come a long way in the last year for the switch hitter, but it is the defensive skills that separate the 5-foot-10, 185 pound backstop.  Pop times have ranged 1.96-2.14 in game situations, consistently on the bag, with carry on the throws.    

The top ranked uncommitted player is LHP JT Killen (Charlotte Christian).  A dual sport athlete, splitting his time with football, Killen has a fastball that works up to 87.  There is some effort in the delivery, but the 6-foot-2, 190 pound athlete has the time and athleticism to transition his strength in to his motion. 

 

Below is a sneak peek at the Top 10.  The full rankings list is available to PBR+ subscribers.

CLICK HERE for the full North Carolina Class of 2019 Rankings

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CLASS OF 2019

Updated on Dec 20, 2016


RANK NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
1 Brennan Malone NC Porter Ridge HS 2019 RHP North Carolina
2 Chris Villaman NC Ledford 2019 LHP North Carolina State
3 Isaiah Bennett NC Pine Forest 2019 RHP North Carolina
4 JD Brock NC William Amos Hough 2019 LHP Clemson
5 Ray Torres NC Providence 2019 C Louisiana State
6 JT Killen NC Charlotte Christian 2019 LHP  
7 CJ Neese NC Grimsley 2019 RHP North Carolina State
8 David John Herz NC Terry Sanford 2019 LHP North Carolina
9 Cody Benton NC West Columbus 2019 RHP East Carolina
10 Caleb Cozart NC Wesleyan Christian Academy 2019 RHP