With numerous players in the state of Alabama signing to their respective colleges, our staff wants to take a look and breakdown each team in the North division's recruiting class. JUCO baseball in this state is as good as we have seen it in recent decades, and all signs point to this continuing over the next few years. While most of these players mentioned reside in Alabama, there are a few prospects from other states, including Georgia and Florida. Many of these players have attended PBR events over the past couple of years and are scattered all over the 2021 Player Rankings. These teams will continue to add more players via the transfer portal, etc. before these high school players reach campus, but these classes are shaping up to be very strong. 

Before we start, it is important to note that these breakdowns reflect what college is in the player's profile. 

 

Calhoun CC

Location: Tanner, AL

Head Coach: Cody Gaskill

Website: Calhoun CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 2

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 1

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
100	Jack Fortner	TN	RHP/3B	Mt. Juliet
109	Colin Brodeur	NH	RHP	Manchester Memorial
-	Brayden Buckner	AL	3B	Deshler
-	Jackson McCreless	AL	SS	Florence

 

OUTLOOK: Fortner is a recent pick up for the Warhawks and possesses an 88 mph fastball with fairly efficient spin. He is also a 6.97 runner with an EV of 94 mph, so there is some two-way potential there. Brodeur is a quality arm on the mound that features a 4-pitch mix, including a fastball that was up to 85 mph in February of 2020. At 6-foot-2, 186 pounds, the right-handed hurler looks to still have some more velocity in the future. Buckner could potentially come in and compete for a starting spot as a freshman, but could provide some depth as well. The bat is what stands out immediately, as he showed well at an event in 2019. Both prospects are quality players and will look to make an immediate impact once they arrive on campus. McCreless has a stocky 5-foot-9, 170 pound frame and shows some twitch at the plate from the right side. Also a 6.92 runner in 2019 so there is athleticism in the frame as well.

'21 3B Brayden Buckner

 

Central Alabama CC

Location: Alexander City, AL

Head Coach: Larry Thomas

Website: Central Alabama CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 8

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 5

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
50	Caden Hare	AL	RHP	Smiths Station
72	Luke Hasty	AL	C	Smiths Station
85	Parker Sessions	AL	SS	Enterprise
96	Matthew Omohundro	AL	3B	Dothan
124	Beau Priester	AL	LHP	Fairhope
-	Jacob Dantro	AL	RHP	Tallassee
-	Hunter Keenan	AL	2B	Pike Liberal Arts
-	Levi Sikes	AL	3B/RHP	Pike Liberal Arts

 

OUTLOOK: The Trojans' 2021 recruiting class has filled out nicely with numerous prospects from Alabama ranked inside the Top 125. Hare & Priester are both impressive arms on the mound and can compete for a spot in that rotation, while Dantro is an arm that has a chance to log some quality innings as well. Hasty brings some physicality to his game & has good catch and throw skills defensively. Sessions could easily move to 2nd base, as he's shown good actions with the glove and some prowess with the bat. Omohundro brings some power to the table, while Sikes & Keenan are both solid prospects.

'21 RHP Caden Hare

 

Lawson State CC

Location: Birmingham, AL

Head Coach: Blake Lewis

Website: Lawson State CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 5

Commitments:

Position	Name	State	High School
C/3B	Chase Conville	FL	Sickles
1B	Jackson Freind	AL	Clay-Chalkville
C	Drew Gates	AL	Priceville
RHP	Te'Relle George-Mills	AL	Dothan
SS	Brady Loughren	FL	Bishop Verot

 

OUTLOOK: Lawson State nabbed a few Florida guys for their 2021 recruiting class and sprinkled in a few more Alabama prospects as well and grades out to be yet another solid recruiting class. George-Mills possesses a pretty electric fastball in his arsenal. He was up to 89 mph at the Upperclass Fall World Series this fall and could work into a big role in his freshman campaign. Conville & Loughren are both Florida natives, with Loughren coming from powerhouse Bishop Verot HS (FL). Gates was a top performer at Athens Wood Bat Showcase in 2019, while Freind has some significant power at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds.

 

Marion Military Institute

Location: Marion, AL

Head Coach: Matt Downs

Website: Marion Military Institute Website

Num. of Commitments: 2

Commitments:

Position	Name	State	High School
C/1B	Luke Fondren	AL	St. Clair County
3B/1B	Camden Matthews	AL	Scottsboro

 

OUTLOOK: Matthews & Fondren have both shown the ability to handle the bat at prior events over the past two years, making them viable candidates to make an impact once they step on campus in Marion. Fondren has a really short, simple stroke from the right side and can defend behind the plate. Matthews stands at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and showed some flashes of power at the North Alabama Open in 2019.

'21 C/1B Luke Fondren

 

Shelton State CC

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Head Coach: Bobby Sprowl

Website: Shelton State CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 1

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 1

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
27	Parker Willingham	AL	RHP	Deshler
-	Tate Robertson	AL	LHP	Northridge

OUTLOOK: Willingham was a pleasant surprise when we got to take a look at his bullpen at the Vipers Baseball workout during the early summer. The 6-foot-2, 205 pounder was consistently 87-89 mph during the look and his best secondary offering was a late-breaking slider at 78-81 mph. There is a lot to like in the right-handed arm and can be one of the better JUCO arms in Alabama over the next couple of years with continued refinement.

'21 RHP Parker Willingham

 

Snead State CC

Location: Boaz, AL

Head Coach: Casey Underwood

Website: Snead State CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 4

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 2

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
81	Mason Cooper	GA	C/2B	Jefferson
120	Noah Lam	AL	SS/2B	Grissom
-	Brooks Hardie	GA	3B/C	Bremen
-	Trey Puckett	AL	RHP	Thompson

 

OUTLOOK: The Parsons' snagged some quality position players and an arm so far for the 2021 class. Mason Cooper and Noah Lam are both players that Underwood should be excited about, as Cooper was a Future Gamer for Team Select and Lam has been to numerous PBR events and will play a big role for Grissom HS this spring. Hardie and Puckett are also impressive prospects that should compete for big roles when they get to campus.

'21 SS/2B Noah Lam

 

Southern Union CC

Location: Wadley, AL

Head Coach: Aaron Everett

Website: Southern Union CC Website

Num. of Commitments: 13

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 10

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
38	Brady Fuller	AL	RHP/3B	Auburn
44	Landon Leake	AL	2B/SS	Helena
55	Jacob Peters	AL	RHP/SS	Helena
59	Walker Stallworth	AL	1B/RHP	Pike Liberal Arts
64	Jackson Sweatt	AL	C/RHP	Pell City
77	Jacob Little	AL	SS/2B	Southside
91	Trent Jones	AL	RHP	Pelham
99	Ryan Austin	AL	1B	Auburn
131	Jacob Ingram	AL	RHP	Tallassee
139	Tyler Jon Santos	AL	C	Helena
-	Riley Austin	AL	C	Auburn
-	Jace Dyer	AL	1B	Dothan
-	Austen Millians	GA	RHP	Whitewater

 

OUTLOOK: The Bison have certainly done some damage on the recruiting trail, picking up ten players that are ranked inside the Top 140 in the 2021 AL Player Rankings. Players like Fuller, Leake, Peters, and Stallworth should be able to step in and make an immediate impact in Wadley, AL. Fuller can run it up to the upper-80's with great feel for spin & can handle the bat. Leake is gamer and has an excellent offensive approach. Peters can also run it up to the upper-80's with a great feel aptitude for pitching. Stallworth is a physical specimen and is an extra base hit machine at the plate. Arms like Jones, Ingram, and Millians will certainly bolster the staff for Everett & Co., while hitters like Sweatt, Little, Jon Santos, Dyer, and the Austin brothers will provide some thump in that lineup for the next couple of years when they arrive on campus.

'21 RHP Brady Fuller

 

Wallace State CC-Hanceville

Location: Hanceville, AL

Head Coach: Randy Putman

Website: Wallace State CC-Hanceville Website

Num. of Commitments: 10

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: 8

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School
61	Daniel Stewart	AL	C	Hazel Green
75	Presley Walker	AL	SS	Gardendale
76	Sean Smith	AL	1B	Piedmont
89	Will Varmette	AL	RHP	Grissom
90	Mason Mann	AL	1B	Priceville
90	Mitchell Heer	GA	RHP	North Paulding
104	Parker White	AL	OF	Florence
122	John Allen Stogner	AL	RHP	Grissom
-	Rowe Gallagher	AL	RHP	Russellville
-	Ridge Raper	AL	RHP	Phil Campbell

 

OUTLOOK: The Lions have put together a strong 2021 recruiting class with a healthy mix of loud bats and power arms. Eight of these players are ranked inside the Top 125 in their state's respective 2021 Player Rankings. Stewart is an intriguing prospect to follow, simply because of the power that is present and still to come from the right side of the plate. He is also no slouch defensively, posting 1.91-2.01 pop times with a quick transfer & a strong arm at PBR events. Walker fits the mold of that gritty middle-infielder that can hit for average and some power at time while defending at a high level. Smith and Mann are both offensive-minded corner infielders that pack a ton of pop at the plate. Both posted 96 and 97 mph EV, respectively. White has shown a confident, middle-to-oppo approach at the plate and has been successful for Florence HS over the past couple of years. Arms like Varmette, Heer, Stogner, Gallagher, and Raper should have the Lions excited for the future on the mound, as they all have shown the ability to get outs pitching in their own different ways. 

'21 C Daniel Stewart

 

BEVILL STATE CC

Location: Jasper, AL

Head Coach: Joey May

Website: Bevill State CC Website

Num. of Commitments: None in PBR Database

Num. of PBR State Ranked Commitments: None in PBR Database

Commitments:

State Rank	Name	State	Position	High School

 

Follow us on Twitter at @PBR_Alabama.

Check out our website for more information on prep baseball in the Yellowhammer State. 

 

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