Georgia Class of 2026: Post Summer Update

September 4, 2024
Prep Baseball Georgia
Staff

The summer season has come to and end. The phones have starting ringing for the 2026 after a full summer of non stop action. The fall season has already kicked off, and we are just a week away from the 2024 Prep Baseball All American Game. The 2026 class took over LakePoint for the Future Games, where we say over 375 college coaches in attendance. Many of the players from Team Georgia will be featured in today's ranking article.

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As always, the evaluation process is a fluid and ongoing process with multiple viewings in order to get the best feel for players abilities. It’s important to note that as players continue their development some show marked improvement at a much more rapid pace. That doesn’t indicate that other players got worse or went backwards, it’s just how player development works. As the year unfolds, players make improvements and new prospects pop up on the radar expanding the PBR rankings universe. In addition to the evaluations of players, our scouts, both those in Georgia and nationally, have also had multiple discussions with each other to review our individual lists and then make adjustments based on what we've each seen.

To see all 300 players in the 2026 rankings CLICK HERE

The Top 10

Keon Johnson SS / First Presbyterian Day, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 5 / POS: 4

8/12 If there’s a player in Georgia’s 2026 class with plus hit/power potential, it’s Keon Johnson. The #1 player in the class has been a consistent performer in every single look I’ve had and that stayed true on the biggest stage you can be on as an uncommitted player. From an effortless showing on workout day where the 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop peppered the CF wall in BP and showed actions in the dirt that scream long term potential at the 6. In-game is where Johnson really thrived on the week, and it started in game one. Johnson was vocal throughout the week about having the opportunity to face consistent quality pitching, and came through with some of the loudest knocks for Team Georgia. Against Tennessee, Johnson was able to pick up spin out of the hand and proceed to nearly put a baseball through the batter’s eye with a 96 MPH triple. Hands really explode through the zone in a compact, well-leveraged right-handed cut. Generates a ton of force from his lower half with accuracy in the barrel that creates over-the-wall pop to all-fields. Maybe the most impressive swing I saw all week was from Johnson in the Florida game where he was able to keep his hands inside on low-90s on the inner half and still drive the ball on a frozen rope to the opposite field for a no-doubt home run. It’s not the type of swing you see every day from an incoming junior. The overall approach was on full display all week long as well, rarely expanding the zone while taking working deeping counts and taking walks. It was a truly mature look at the plate and staying power on the left side of the dirt, a standout performance in the eyes of many important people.

Matthew Sharman RHP / Etowah High School, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 15 / POS: 3

I’m not sure I've talked about a player more this year, whether publicly or with my peers than Matthew Sharman, and it's for good reason. The top pitcher in Georgia’s 2026 class has done nothing but look like an ace this season with nearly every aspect of the profile taking a jump. It starts with the delivery which shows tremendous ability to repeat as well as creating plus extension down the mound. Ball jumps out of the hand from a lower three-quarters slot with quickly improving velocity, sitting 90-92 while grabbing 93 on a few occasions less than a year after living 86-88 last summer. Fastball shows huge arm-side run and impressive command anywhere in the zone for both strikes and in-zone misses. Slider feel has been a big standout for me throughout the year, adding and subtracting sweep at higher clip while throwing with much more intent at 77-79 that created some ugly swing-and-miss. The most advanced pitch in the mix could be the changeup that could be an above-average offering right now. With innate feel and late diving action at 77-80, Sharman will lock up both sides of the plate by maintaining arm speed extremely well out of the same fastball tunnel. Nearly impossible to adjust on. The future Bulldog has a demeanor that lives true to that name on the mound with the stuff and pitchability to take the profile to another level.

Deion Cole OF / Etowah, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 26 / POS: 6

Fresh off of a highly productive sophomore season with Etowah that culminated in a 6A state championship, Deion Cole came into the summer with high expectations and has shown extremely well to start. The uncommitted center fielder was all over the barrel throughout NPI, Future Games and other major events, generating some of the highest exit velocities of the week, including an absolute rocket at 106.0 off the bat. The entire operation at the plate has simplified for Cole in 2024, showing impressive hands while creating huge hip-to-shoulder separation in a potent right-handed swing that boasts advanced accuracy in the barrel. Adding in the bat speed that remains among best in the class with the strength in the 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, and the power projection can be a premium tool for Cole. Quick-improving actions in the outfield with sneaky, above-average foot speed that can chase balls down with ease, while easy arm strength as well. An entire spring playing at the hot corner has improved his first step and instincts greatly, and will be huge as he has to be a strong defender in center. The stock continues to rise for the one of the top uncommitted players in the country in 2026

Connor Langdon LHP / Perry, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 29 / POS: 3

Low-to-mid 90s from the left side is always going to play, and even more so when you’re not even a junior in high school yet. Langdon offers advanced body control from a broad shouldered 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame while adding in a ton of deception from a downhill, low three-quarters arm slot. As mentioned, the fastball from South Georgia product didn’t dip below 90 throughout the outing while touching 94.8 with some sink and run. Effectively wild command led to some uncomfortable at-bats while creating ugly swing-and-miss. Slider at 80-82 pairs well with some ability to add and subtract sweep, and an aptitude to land backdoor to LHH for consistent called strikes. One of the top arms in Georgia’s 2026 class continues to make statements after strong spring and summer campaigns, and could be one of the most valuable uncommitted players in the class.

Reiston Durham SS / Dacula, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 64 / POS: 19

8/12 The only two-time Future Games member in attendance for Team Georgia, Durham had another big-time week including a player of the game performance against Texas to close the week. The definition of a tapered frame at 6-foot-0, 170-pounds with broad shoulders and present strength in the lower half. Durham shows an excellent ability to manipulate the barrel through the zone from the left-side to generate significant carry to all-fields and an advanced approach to match. Flashed that power in-game on an inside-out swing that resulted with an opposite field home run where the strength in the lower half and ability to match plane really stood out. Something that stood out for me throughout the year for Durham is the continued development in the glove, and Future Games only furthered that fact. Great flexibility shown with lateral actions looking effortless and enough arm strength to make any throw necessary. Made one of the best defensive plays of the week with a sliding stop deep in the hole to steal a surefire base hit. There’s potential and projection for Durham to profile across the infield but I wouldn't count out sticking at SS with a power bat to match.

Malachi Washington OF / Parkview, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 121 / POS: 20

8/12 It was yet another showing from Washington where five-tool potential flashes, and this time it came in front of 425 coaches. With a physical 6-foot-0, 190-pound frame, the Parkview outfielder filled up the stat sheet for Team Georgia on Workout day, 1st on the team in the 60 (6.63) and OF velo (93) as well as showing truly explosive athleticism in the vertical jump finishing 2nd in the entire event at 37.0”. Lived on the barrel in an impressive round of BP where the plus bat speed was on full display in a well-balanced right handed cut that peppered the gaps with ease. Smoked a pair of 95+ EV RBI hits throughout the week including a standup double that almost put a hole in the LCF wall. A true centerfielder with impressive ability to cover ground with a great first step and advanced instincts moving in all directions. Washington has the type of floor that you dream of in a high school outfielder with the ceiling to have real draft aspirations in a few years.

Blake Bryant RHP / Citizens Christian Academy, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 103 / POS: 32

The Clemson commit has steadily pushed himself higher and higher up this 2026 list over the last calendar year and now finds himself as a top 3 arm in the class. An effortless, athletic mover on the mound with a premium high-waisted 6-foot-5 frame to match. Arm speed jumps off the page from a higher three-quarters slot that creates a consistently tough angle for hitters. Fastball is extremely heavy at 89-91 with ability to reach back for more and much more to project with added physical development. Above-average sweeper feel at 79-81 with ability to create swing-and-miss with huge horizontal break that sits 18-20” at times gives Bryant a beeline towards a future plus offering with the strides it’s made recently. Low-80s split change has a chance to be the best pitch in the mix when it’s all said and done with disappearing tumble that creates immense deception due to innate feel and ability to maintain arm speed. It’s an advanced pitch mix that can take another jump at any time, but as it stands right now, Bryant checks as many boxes as you’ll find as a starting pitcher in Georgia’s 2026 class.

Martin Shelar OF / Marist, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 167 / POS: 33

8/12 There’s a term I like to use when talking about the powderkeg profile of Shelar, and that’s “controlled violence”. Standing an imposing 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, the former junior future gamer does a tremendous job of maximizing every bit of his frame throughout his loud toolset. Generating big power from the ground up at the plate, Shelar shows impressive hands while working out of an uphill path that creates leverage and impacts the ball out front regularly. Will flash plus raw power consistently in BP and is beginning to translate more and more in-game. Put together a highly advanced at-bat against Florida, working a deep count before showing ability to manipulate the barrel with two strikes to smoke a base knock 95+ off the bat. Prototype corner outfielder long term with good range moving laterally with present plus arm strength that plays from anywhere in the outfield. A 6.6 runner as well, Shelar checks a ton of boxes when building a profile and still has plenty of growth left in his overall game. Stock continues to rise, and finds his way into the Top 10 for the first time.

Trevor Condon OF / Etowah, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 4 OverallRank: 112 / POS: 18

8/12 There’s not too much more I can say about Trevor Condon in 2024 as he's been one of the most impressive players of the year but the Etowah outfielder brought the patented infectious energy and production into Lakepoint throughout the week. With a stout 5-foot-9,175-pound frame that boasts both twitch and advanced strength throughout. Utilizing a longer load at the plate, Condon does a tremendous job always syncing up and staying on-time through the zone backed by above-average pitch recognition and barrel accuracy. Put on a show to the pull-side in BP with three of the longer home runs of the day and demonstrates the ability to tap into significant raw pop without selling out. Condon was equally impressive in-game as the outfielder reached base in all three games including multiple hard-hit barrels while creating havoc on the bases. A 6.6 runner but the speed flashes plus in-game and has been clocked sub 4.0 down the line and sub 11.00 H-3rd this year. Athleticism really stands out in the outfield where Condon can profile across but showing the routes and plus arm strength to stick in center long term. This profile has quickly developed into one of the top outfielders in the class, and can be an even higher ceiling to unlock.