By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

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It has been a little over 2 months since the Class of 2018 rankings for NC were released.  In that time, players have continued to work, as the PBR staff has scoured the state to see and report on as many players as possible.  Several players have taken significant jumps forward, which is to be expected, as they continue to develop their tool sets and continue to mature.

 

Throughout the fall the PBR NC staff has been working to see as many games, practices,  and workouts as possible.  On top or working the state, PBR has hosted numerous events, to continue to identify all of the talent across the state.  Over 100 players were written up in the Fall Scout Blog alone. 

 

While there were some sizeable shifts in the updated, and expanded rankings, the top three remain unchanged.  Owen White (Carson HS) continued to impress on the national circuit and remains one of the top uncommitted players in the 2018 class, across the country.  Georgia Tech commit, Logan Jarosz (Eastern Alamance), and North Carolina commit Will Sandy (Leesville Road HS), round out the top 3.  Jarosz, a big bodied righty, with a power arm that has been up to 91 with an old-school delivery.  Sandy has a lanky build, working from the left side, up to 86 with a high upside with his pitch-ability. 

 

Big movers in the updated rankings begin with UNC Wilmington commit Justin Jarvis (Mooresville HS), and catcher Aaron McKeithan (TC Roberson).  Both impressed through the fall season.  Jarvis, an ultra-competitive RHP, moved up to #4, jumping 15 slots.  Athletic, the arm worked up to 87 and featured an advanced breaking ball that projects to be a weapon as he continues to mature.  McKeithan, listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, moves to #11 overall and the #1 ranked catcher in the class.  Arm strength and accuracy are advanced, but McKeithan showed progress in the box with the frame beginning to produce loud contact.

 

As the rankings continue to update and expand, there will be newcomers making their way up the board.  CJ Conrad, a CF from Apex HS and Matthew Helms, a RHP from Marvin Ridge HS make their debut at the #23 and #24 spots respectively.  Conrad uses a quick bat to produce some power from a lanky build, generating college interest.  Helms has been up to 88 per reports, utilizing a projectable body and quick arm to pound the zone.  Helms should continue to make progress in the spring as he is fully recovered from his Tommy John procedure.

 

Jason Hudak (Southlake Christian Academy), a RHP/OF that has committed to UNC Wilmington, comes in at #28, his debut in the rankings.  Hudak jumped on the radar in the fall as he attended a few college camps and the PBR NC Prospect Fall Review in Mooresville.  Athletic and strong, the arm worked up to 87 and he showed power potential with the bat in Mooresville.

 

Below is a peak at the Top 10 in the NC Class of 2018 rankings.  The full Top 150 is available to PBR+ subscribers.

Class of 2018

>>  CLICK HERE to view complete Top 150 NC 2018 Rankings