Updated 2027 Class: Big Expansion After a Summer of Coverage
September 12, 2024
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The start of the school year can signify the end of the summer season. With the end of the summer, and the start of the fall, our scouting staff went to work to compile information on all the players that were seen over the past 3 months. The Prep Baseball Scouting staff saw close to 1000 athletes this summer, updating and adding player grades in the rankings database.
The process of rankings players can be somewhat simple but it does take a ton of time and effort. For every player the Prep Baseball scouting staff in NC sees, they work to put a player grade on the player and a confidence rating on the grade. The confidence rating can be related to the number of times a player is seen, and the number of different ways that player is evaluated. Once ready, the database is sorted blindly, with all player information hidden outside the player grade, confidence rating, and tool grades. When the data base is sorted by player grade, the tool grades are used to flush out players with similar overall grades. As the sorting process is finished, the rankings are basically set. Our scouting staff will go through the list to see if there are any outliers, where the grade may have been off for one reason or another. As this process is finished, the rankings are ready to post.
The 2027 Class is still in its infancy in terms of coverage and confidence in the class rankings. While are a long way from the finish, the North Carolina scouting staff was able to expand the rankings from 75 to 125 of the top players in NC with some ease. The fall and winter will be huge for this class as we will begin to see who starts their climb to their potential ceiling.
Below we begin the process of breaking down the top talent in the 2027 class. While we are still in the beginning phases of getting ot know all the players in the 2027 class, there is an obvious level of talent at the top of the chart, as well as throughout the entire rankings list. Expanded to the top 125 players, the updated North Carolina class of 2027 rankings can be seen HERE.
2027 Class Rankings Update
The Super Sophomore Games Raked in Talent
With new recruiting rules in place, there is a big separation between the amount of time college coaches are spending on the rising Senior and rising Junior class in the summer. Knowing that, many territories in Prep Baseball devoted their entire Future Game roster to the rising Junior Class. This left a big hole on the national scene for the rising Sophomore Class.
The Super Sophomore Games filled that hole. Sectioned into regional events, the east coast event was hosted in North Carolina with a strong showing from Team NC. The top 10 and top 50 are loaded with players that showcased their talent against top players from up and down the east coast with Team NC.
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Kellen Rogers SS / OF / Wake Forest, NC / 2027Athletic left handed hitter flashed advanced defensive actions and production at Shortstop and in Centerfield. Pair that with a left-handed bat that consistently found the barrel against some of the top arms on the east coast.
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Oliver Van Tiem RHP / 3B / Orange, NC / 2027Van Tiem jumped on the scene with the South Charlotte Panthers at the Prep Baseball NPI. The outing at Wake Forest made it clear he will be a big name to follow in the coming year.
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Corbin Spilliards SS / 3B / Christ School, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 3
Do coaches like switch hitters that have barrel feel and quickness from both sides -- Yes. Do coaches want athleticism and quickness on the infield with a chance to stick on the left side -- Yes... Spilliards left no doubt with his Team NC performance that he belongs at or near the top of this list.
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High Risers
The early rankings for a class can be very volatile across the board. There is a lot of projection done on the FR and SO class as their bodies and frames mature and add strength. Several players in this rankings update made big jumps based on their developement or the ability for the North Carolina Scouting staff to get to know the player in several different venues.
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Colt Briggs RHP / 1B / Saint Stephens, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 3
Briggs was a big winner at the Preseason All-State West, but there were questions during a short pre-season bullpen. Fast forward to the summer and the big man works with some ease down the mound, showing a cleaner, quicker arm. Stuff should continue to develop and the ceiling is high. |
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Giovanni Buccino 1B / RHP / West Forsyth, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 33 / POS: 2
Buccino is a favorite of the staff with a friendly disposition until he gets into the box, unleashing some of the top pure power in the class. From last fall to this past winter, and now to the summer we have seen a big transformation in the body and frame, allowing him to improve his quickness. We will not be shocked if he is a big mover again after the winter workouts.
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Grant Helms OF / 1B / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 41 / POS: 10
Right handed hitting outfielders need to showcase tools to separate themselves from the pack. The South Charlotte Panther Scout Day with Prep Baseball was huge for Helms as the ball to barrel ability has continued to improve and his added strength levels translated to power potential. |
51 New Players Enter the Rankings
With this class so young, there are still plenty of players in the state that need to be identified. This summer was a huge success for the scouts in North Carolina and the 2027 class benefitted with over 50 players getting into the rankings for their first time.
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Will Parrish RHP / 3B / CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 4
A big arm and athletic mover. His outings during the summer made slot on Team NC for the Super SO Games pretty easy to offer.
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Will Campbell RHP / Charlotte Country Day, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 5
Arm strength and pitch-ability was on display as part of the South Charlotte Panther Scout Day with Prep Baseball. This will be an exciting prospect to watch develop.
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Maddox Deans C / 1B / Southern Nash, NC / 2027Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 3
A big winner from the USA Prime Scout Day in June, Deans joined Team NC and handled an elite staff at the Super SO Games with some ease. The bat has big potential with strength and quickness present.
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