Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Fall Campus Tour: University of Georgia - Quick Hits

November 30, 2022
Phil Kerber & Justin Goetz
PBR Georgia Staff

PBR Georgia hit the road for its third stop on the Fall Campus Tour on Sunday, November 6th at Foley Field on the campus of the University of Georgia. This event featured nearly 75 prospects  from the 2023-2027 classes. Prospects participated in a pro-style workout that included the 60 yard dash, batting practice, in and out, and pitcher bullpens.

We began the post event analysis last week with a look at the traditional stats collected in our “Stats Story.” Today, we are going to reveal our staff's initial thoughts and reactions from the event, in particular, prospects that caught their eye. Yet to come is deeper dive into the advanced analytics as well. But for the time being, check out standout prospects.


Backstops

C Michael Hunter Stonecipher (Clarke Central, 2025) continues to show drastic improvement to his game each look we get on him. Not only has Stonecipher made incredible progress with his swing mechanics in 2022, but he’s added 10 lbs of strength to his frame and grown a couple inches from 5’9 to near 6 foot. Regardless of class, this is one of the most focused, passionate competitors we’ve been around. He’s gone from a complete unknown (outside PBR) this spring to a player who’s quickly rising up our rankings and garnering D1 interest. Hunter has incredibly advanced intangibles that put him in a great position to consistently succeed. Offensively it’s pitch recognition, plate discipline, and approach combined with some of the best, most well sequenced swing mechanics in the state regardless of class. Defensively his Baseball IQ, footwork, exchange, arm (1.99 pop), blocking, and receiving allow him to shut down opposing run games and create good chemistry with his pitching staff.


C Parker Bryant (West Laurens, 2025) had an all around impressive day at his first PBR event. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound two-way prospect started his day off by jumping a 34 inch vertical, and then running a 7.23 60 yard dash. It is fair to say Bryant is an overall athlete. A right-handed hitter, his batting practice round was one of the loudest of the day. He showed an explosive, violent swing that he looks to lift and drive with to the pull-side. Bryant posted a best exit velocity of 92.8 mph. The backstop also had a strong arm behind the plate, 74 mph, that helped him post a pop time range of 2.03-2.15.
C Martin Shelar (Marist, 2026) certainly looks the part and then some for only a freshman, standing a strong, sturdy, 6-foot, 175-pounds. Shelar showed good athleticism in the 60 yard dash, running the 3rd best time for a 2026, at 7.12. He followed that up with a powerful display at the plate. He averaged 85.1 exit velocity with a max of 89.4, and maybe most impressive of all, is he had a sweet spot % of 90.9 (balls hit with a launch angle between 32 and 8 degrees). His ability to get on plane and consistently do it, allows for hard, driven contact gap-to-gap. As he continues to mature, watch out for the power. Shelar is also a sound defender behind the dish with clean actions. He posted a best pop of 2.08 and a 75 catcher velocity.

Infielders

SS Troy “TJ” Ford (Homeschool, 2025) It was a very impressive showing for the UGA commit, as he put his SEC caliber skillset on display. What you first notice with Ford is the quiet confidence and relaxed nature he approaches the game with. No moment is too big for him, as he’s been in the spotlight and facing high level competition for much of his young career in summer/fall ball. At the plate, Ford shows a different level of quick twitch fibers that are only matched by a handful of players in the state for his class. His swing mechanics are consistent from both sides, with LHH being his more powerful side where he likes to turn & burn. The swing is very connected with an advanced forward move in the lower half and good feel for the stretch in separation. As a RHH, he shows more of an inside out approach with effortless actions and body control built for high contact. Defensively, he has the tools to be an impact defender up the middle at the next level - footwork, smooth hands, exchange, arm strength.
SS Noah Brocklebank (Druid Hills, 2025) was one of the more surprising players at the event, opening our eyes with serious raw power for an underclassmen. With his 6 foot 1, 165 pound frame that's surely not done growing and physically developing, Noah has the look and actions of an impact bat with 5 tool potential. We feel Brocklebank is only at the tip of the iceberg as a prospect due to athleticism, swing mechanics, and the highly projectable frame. He understands how to create leverage with the lower half, gaining aggressive ground but maintaining body control. His front hip clearance is incredibly efficient before landing, freeing up a clear lane for his hands to buggy whip baseballs from both sides of the plate. He hits from a perfectly distributed base (55% backside, 45% frontside) and creates unreal torque in hip/shoulder separation. His upper half rotates on an extremely efficient diagonal plane that creates a short, knob led, lofty path, matching pitch plane very well. He’s developing a cannon from SS (86 mph) and ran a smooth 7.0 60 yd with a quick 10 yd split. This is an athlete that will certainly develop A/AVG or better raw power before leaving HS.
3B Jared Glenn (Dacula, 2025) barely broke a sweat all day with an effortless workout. A right-handed hitter, he peppered the gaps with such ease. Glenn has no issue generating power at the plate, posting a max exit velocity of 91.5 mph. He showed a repeatable swing and athletic hands, allowing him to barrel and drive on a very consistent basis, 75% sweet spot. He has a smooth swing, getting to and through the zone with plenty of bat speed, and gaining extension out front. Standing 6-foot, 185-pounds, there is plenty more power on the way. He is not just all strength though, Glenn is an advanced athlete (7.01 60) at the hot corner, and will have a long term home there, 83 mph across the infield.
Uncommitted 3B Judd Puckett (Crawford County, 2023) had one of the most impressive power displays we have seen all fall at the campus tour event, and it really should not come as a surprise. Checking in at 6-foot-5, 220-pounds, with present strength, Puckett physically stands out amongst his peers. He swings the bat with authority, doing a good job of staying short to the zone and then using his length out front to lift and drive. The result was a barely 400 foot home run, 97.2 exit velocity, at Foley Field.
The raw power of 1B Greg Jones (Parkview, 2024) is always a sight to see whenever he steps on the diamond. His performance at Foley Field was no different. Jones sets up in a wide base, keeping his lower half quiet, a simple leg lift is employed as he cocks the barrel vertical. From there it is pure violence. The strength in his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame is evident. He is able to whip the barrel uphill through the zone to lift and drive with real force. Jones has also put in the work to improve his athleticism. He took his 60 time down from a 7.7 to a 7.4 in a matter of five months. 
Outfielders

OF Zaelyn Smith (Coffee, 2024) has the build of a D1 cornerback with a high waist, long levers, and lots of strength w/ more soon to come. He was one of the most exciting players in the event, bringing a jolt of energy to every test he went thru. Smith started his day off with a gliding 6.8 60 yd, showing closing speed that can be a real weapon in the OF as well as the basepaths. Offensively, he has an impressive well-sequenced swing that produces noticeably easy bat speed. The hips are the engine of his swing, with good lower half direction allowing him to work gap to gap and keep his barrel in the zone for an extended stay. The swing is extremely fluid and well timed, and he shows pop to all fields. There is certainly more power coming and he’s going to be a different beast with 10-15 more pounds of lean strength. He had the most accurate arm of the entire event from OF, throwing repeated mid 80’s strikes to home plate. His long strides and aggressiveness have him closing in on baseballs quickly, and will surely rack up outfield assists at the next level. This is a real talent from a HS with a long history of athletes. He’d be a great fit for many good college programs.
OF Alec Waller (Tucker, 2025) was an absolute blur from the moment he stepped on the field. As one of the first to run our Swift 60, he turned up the voltage at UGA Campus Tour with a 6.67! This was by far the best run time in an event that was loaded with good athletes. Not only was it exciting to see a talent like this surfacing from Tucker HS, but he was really a complete unknown to us before the event. The swing was just what we’d hoped for, a simplified, non-manufactured swing with tons of present bat speed. His good hip pace & stretch in separation only add to his natural twitch. It was more of the same in the OF as he glided effortlessly to each ball and consistently put himself in a good position to throw with his feet. He showed plenty enough arm strength and his tools will only continue to explode as he adds more strength.
OF Marcus Ward (Kings Ridge, 2026) was another player we were gladly introduced to at UGA Campus Tour, as this is one of the best bets in the class to develop a top of the scale run tool. He ran a 6.92 with a very quick 1.7 10 yd split, showing both initial acceleration and long speed. This is a player who’s a stick of dynamite and his game is based off a combo of speed and elite swing mechanics. The swing is extremely athletic with near perfect ease of effort. It was shocking how well the ball jumped off his barrel without physicality in the frame. It only shows he will have freakish bat speed as he gets stronger. Ward showed good hip pace & stretch in separation and one of the cleanest swings in the 2026 class by far. His tools show the makings of a plus defender in CF in the future.
Despite being one of the youngest prospects at the event, left-handed hitting OF Brock Holcombe (Lakeside, 2027) had us whipping our heads around during batting practice as he achieved the feat of being only one of two prospects to leave Foley Fields. Just as impressive is the fact that he led the event in average hand speed at 23.4 via Blast. Checking in at a lean, wiry 5-foot-11, 145-pounds, Holcombe has quick twitch throughout his athletic frame. He is able to produce whippy barrel speed and create driven contact middle/pull at impressive rate for his age. Far from a finished product, there is a lot to be excited about early on for Holcombe.

Pitchers

RHP Noah Thigpen (Lowndes, 2024) few arms in the state have made as large a jump as this newly committed Troy Trojan. He went from low mid 80’s to touching 90 in 8 months time! With a prototype frame, athleticism, and projection, another jump is imminent. One of the most fluid, rare deliveries in the state regardless of class. Everything happens in perfect sequence, unreal lower half mechanics & hip/shoulder separation you only see in elite college/pro guys. Sequence is the biggest reason he’s been a 75% strikes guy at LP. The arm action is incredibly clean with a loose mid depth arm swing that stays connected with his largest muscles on the backside, arm is never in a bad position. His FB is 88-89 T90 23-2400 with ride+run (elite IVB numbers), the SLV at 76-78 has sweep+late depth for strikes, and the 80-81 CH is a fader w/ big potential.
RHP/OF Jackson Sammons (Savannah Country Day, 2025) this is an arm with a perfect blend of athleticism, projection and stuff. It’s a prototype RHS frame you’re looking for at 6’2 160, and the delivery is very smooth and well sequenced. The ease of operation is some of the best I’ve seen in any of our showcases this year, and the hip/shoulder separation is on another level than most his age. Combine that with the projection and natural arm speed from an extremely loose, lengthy H3/4 and you’ve got an arm who is sure to blow up over the next couple years. His FB is truly special, showing the best IVB numbers we’ve ever seen at a showcase (up to 28.3! Avg 22.9). It sits in the 83-86 range and is also very spin efficient and works between 2400-2500 RPM. It shows loudly in the life of the pitch, true ride. His low 70’s CB has consistent shape and flashes 2 plane depth. Sammons is far from just an arm though, as he showed some of the best swing mechanics at the event.

LHP Adam McKelvey (Roswell, 2024) is an absolute unit of a human at 6 foot 4, 235 pounds. The athleticism he shows for his XL frame is quite impressive to say the least. The tempo in the delivery is good, and he moves unbelievably well wirth + ease of operation. The arm action is a quite unique 2 piece (3/4) with above average deception. The ball absolutely jumps out of his hand, showing arm strength and speed. If he can keep his upper half over the backside/rubber in stride instead of it following the stride, the arm will be much more connected and protected. This one adjustment could vault McKelvey into draft prospect conversations a year from now, as he has the size and many special traits you can’t teach. This is another special FB metrically, working in the 2400-2500 range on RPM’s and ridiculous IVB numbers that don’t go below 20 with a gradual tail added in. He had the best feel for a CH in the event, a downer with late tail that takes advantage of his height and plane. McKelvey showed feel for both a SL and CB, but the CB at 75-77 was the better of the two and showed multiple quadrants of depth. Big follow, literally!
RHP Reed Thursby (Centennial, 2024) provided an intriguing look. Physically he stands a long, lean 6-foot-3, 180-pounds and with broad shoulders, loads of room to add on. He has a long arm action that gets good extension out front. The fastball worked up to 85.4 mph. He complimented it with a heavy sinking changeup that has some swing and miss qualities and an 11/5 curveball.

Two-Way

RHP/OF Peyton Robidoux (Whitefield Academy, 2025) made a lasting impression with one of the top overall days at Foley Field. Listed as a primary pitcher, it was his swing that initially got our attention. A left-handed hitter, he has a strong front-side that helps create leverage as he looks to elevate and drive the ball, 87.2 max exit velocity. Appearing larger than his listed height and weight of 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Robidoux is a projectable athlete. He ran a 6.99 60 yard dash. His stock only continued to grow when he stepped on the mound and topped out at 86.2 mph. The right-handed pitcher works from a variety of different slots with all his pitches. Robidoux will be one to keep an eye on this spring as he continues to physically mature.

One of the youngest participants at the event, SS/RHP Patrick Hassan (North Oconee, 2027) may have been the most talented prospect there. Only an 8th grader he put up some eye popping numbers, even in comparison to high school aged prospects years older. On the mound, he has a lightning quick arm that worked up to 85.2 mph. The true separator is his offspeed. The slider is a present swing and miss pitch that he throws in the mid-70s. It is an advanced pitch for this age. While it is easy to get caught up in the arm talent, Hassan is more than just a pitcher. He is a 7.07 runner with smooth actions at the plate and defensively. He has a real chance to stick at shortstop long term. At the plate, he is growing into his frame and getting a much better feel for the barrel. There is present hand/bat speed, and the ability to create hard contact, 87.8 exit velocity. For a prospect of his age, it is an advanced skill set across the board.

Although a primary left-handed hitting shortstop, two-way Landon Kemp (Cherokee Bluff, 2025) had a noteworthy performance when he stepped on the bump. Athletically built at 5-foot-11, 145-pounds, Kemp has a quick, clean arm, operating out of a high ¾ slot. The fastball was up to 80 mph, sitting 78-80 for his bullpen. However, it was the two offspeed pitches that really caught our attention. First, there is the 2600+ rpm curveball that comes in at 66-68 with depth and late bite. Then, there is his changeup, a pitch that Kemp admitted was still fairly new for him. The changeup he showed at Foley Field is up there with some of the best in the class. It is a deceptive pitch that has late sink as he pulls the string, coming in at 71-73.


Related Content