Fall Campus Tour: Mercer - Position Player Analysis

Top Prospects

Keon Johnson, First Presbyterian Day (GA), 2026
Positional Profile: SS/RHP The top ranked prospect in Georgia's 2026 class, two-way potential at next level.
Body: 6-2, 179-pounds. Projectable athlete, advanced throughout with present strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup, hands start back with barrel wrapped, hands drop and deepen in a strong hitting position on load, leg kick timing trigger coils, explosive lower half on stride plant. Barrel path works ultra quick with whip to and through the zone, extended out front with an uphill finish, ball jumps off the bat to all fields, present hand and bat speed with much more to come, aggressive intent throughout with great body control.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.8 mph. 348’ max distance. Advanced hitter with huge potential.
Arm: RH.INF - 91.00 mph.Short, loose arm action to an over-the-top slot, ultra quick arm speed, easy effort carry across the diamond, accurate, one of the strongest arms in the class.
Defense: Fields position athletically, plays through with active feet, quick to spot, soft glove, funnels into mid section and gathers lower half, quick exchange.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60.

Oakley Willingham, Tattnall  Square Academy (GA), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Large, projectable frame, strength throughout, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup, hands start near, deepening on load and cocking barrel vertical, shifts weight smoothly onto back side with a leg kick timing trigger, good balance.  Short, direct barrel path to the zone, advanced hand and bat speed whip the barrel with advanced force, uphill with extension through, driving power gap-to-gap.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 82.8 mph. 323’ max distance. Big power potential.
Arm: RH. C - 80.00 mph. Traditional catcher's arm action, short, quick on the back-side to an over-the-top slot, accurate on throw downs with easy carry.
Defense: 1.97-2.05 pop times. Fields position athletically with good flexibility in lower half, plays through the ball with clean footwork, quick on exchanges at the chest, gets to release quickly. Soft glove, good feel for receiving, confident blocker.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

JJ Howe, Veterans (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Athletically built, lean, twitchy muscle throughout frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, keeps it simple throughout, hands start near ear, short load, leg kick timing trigger, good balance. Aggressive intent behind each swing, short, direct path to the zone, gets on plane early, present hand and bat speed create whip, uphill through the zone, consistent hard driven contact to all fields.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 85.5 mph. 339’ max distance. Big power potential.
Arm: RH.INF - 87.00 mph. OF - 87.00 mph. Long, loose arm in the outfield to a low 3/4 slot, easy carry. Shortens up on the infield.
Defense: Plays through the ball athletically with quick footwork, feel for glove, quick and clean on exchanges, moves well in the outfield and at first base, good body control.
Run: 6.73 runner in the 60. Long, fluid strides, quick feet.

Judd Puckett, Crawford County (GA), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/SS
Body: 6-5, 220-pounds. Extra large projectable frame, physical with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with weight preset on back-side, barrel starts on shoulder, hands drop and cock barrel on load, short stride, good balance, some explosiveness in lower half. Barrel path is short to the zone, present hand and bat speed get the barrel extended uphill through the zone with advanced force, power/pull approach, looks to elevate and drive with each swing.
Power: 102 max exit velocity, averaged 94.1 mph. 378’ max distance. Big present raw power with the potential for more, triple digit exit velocity and 400+ feet traveled.
Arm: RH. INF - 87.00 mph.Short, clean arm action to an over-the-top slot, can utilize lower slots, easy carry, accurate.
Defense: Plays through the ball with confidence, fields out front, soft glove, funnels into mid section, quick exchanges, gets rid of the ball fast.
Run: 7.7 runner in the 60.

Vick Gann, Houston County (GA), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Athletically built with lean muscle throughout, plenty more to come.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, barrel starts vertical, smooth rhythm in load, short stride, great balance, some explosiveness in lower half. Barrel path is short to the zone, present hand speed, gets extended and level through, line drive, gap-to-gap hitter, flashed pull-side pop.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 85.8 mph. 342’ max distance. Power potential.
Arm: RH.OF - 84.00 mph. Clean, circle arm action on the back-side, quick arm speed to an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Athletically plays through with short, quick footwork, fields to glove-side, quick, clean exchanges, short crow hop into throws.
Run: 6.76 runner in the 60. Quick feet, fluid strides.

Tyler Cantaline, South Effingham  (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Strong, athletic build, lean strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup, smooth load as hands deepen and drop, short stride, great balance throughout. Short, quick barrel path to the zone, gets level and on plane early, present hand and bat speed, creates hard driven contact gap-to-gap.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 80.8 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH.OF - 89.00 mph. Short, loose arm action, quick arm speed to an over-the-top slot, throws carry and are accurate.
Defense: Fields position athletically, plays through the ball with a clean glove, quick and clean on exchanges, back shuffles into throws.
Run: 6.57 runner in the 60. Long, quick strides, ultra quick.

Best of the Rest

Luke Burnett, North Oconee (GA), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Proportional build, lean strength throughout, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride, smooth hand load, short stride, good balance, keeps it simple throughout. Short, quick path to the zone, strong hand/wrists at the point of contact, creates hard driven contact gap-to-gap, looks to elevate.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 340’ max distance.
Arm: RH.OF - 81.00 mph. Long arm action, full circle arm action on the back-side to an over-the-top slot, some carry, accurate to the plate.
Defense: Fields out front, some feel for glove, plays through at-times with quick footwork, clean on exchanges.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.

Jack Corrigan, Academy for Classical Education (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-7, 130-pounds. Proportional build, athletic, lean strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal hand load, shifts weight onto back-side, leg kick timing trigger, good balance. Short, quick barrel path to the zone, gets extended through on a level plane, line drive type hitter, uses the entire field, present hand speed.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 75.3 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH.INF - 78.00 mph.Short arm action, slight hitch on the draw, some quickness in arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields position with active feet, long strides laterally, fields out front with confidence, funnels into mid section, quick pack on exchange.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60.

Perry Freeman, Riverwood (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Proportional frame, lanky.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, barrel start flat, comes vertical as hands load, short stride, good balance. Short barrel path to the zone, gets extended and uphill through, looks to elevate and drive pull-side, line drive type hitter.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 70 mph. 253’ max distance.
Arm: LH.INF - 80.00 mph. OF - 81.00 mph. Long arm action, full circle on the back-side to an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fields position with short, soft footwork, fields out front, gathers feet with a shuffle into throw, long on exchanges.
Run: 7.9 runner in the 60.

Trace Hodges, Crawford County (GA), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. Long, lanky frame, lean build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced wide setup, hands start center and deepen with an arm bar, reverse toe tap stride, good balance throughout. Barrel path is short and quick to the zone allowing him to get level and extended through, created hard gap-to-gap contact with present hand and bat speed.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 80.7 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH.OF - 88.00 mph. Long arm action with a full arm swing on the back-side to a 3/4 slot, easy carry on throws.
Defense: Plays through the ball with long, fluid strides, fields out front, soft glove, quick and clean on exchanges, crow hops into throws.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

Jordan Jones, Strong Rock Christian (GA), 2027
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-8, 175-pounds. Physical build, young with lots of development to come.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, short rhythm in hands, deepens and drops hands on load bringing the barrel vertical, short toe tap stride. Short barrel path to the zone, level through, line drive type hitter, oppo/middle approach.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 71.5 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH.INF - 71.00 mph.Short arm action to a high 3/4 slot.
Defense:  Fields position deep and square to the ball, feel for glove, funnels into midsection as he shuffles towards target, clean exchanges.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60.

Tate Shiflett, Rock Springs Christian Academy  (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds. Proportional build, lean strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hands start center and deepen into a near arm bar, short reverse toe tap stride, finishes over the plate. Long barrel path to the zone, throws hands through uphill, gap-to-gap hitter with a middle approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 73.1 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH.OF - 77.00 mph. Long, stiff arm action to an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fields position staying behind the ball, some feel for glove, long footwork, clean on quick exchanges, quick hop into throws.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60.

Joshua Williams, Academy of Classical Education (ACE) (GA), 2024
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds. Strong, sturdy build, strength throughout frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, hands start high, deepening and dropping on load into a strong position, short stride, good balance. Barrel path is short and quick to the zone with advanced bat speed, gets extended and uphill through, power/pull approach looking to turn and elevate with real driving force.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph. 315’ max distance. Big power potential.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

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