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Top Prospect Games - Underclass: Quick Hits

November 19, 2024
Matt Miller
State Director

HATTIESBURG, MS - The Top Prospect Games: Underclass was held on Saturday, November 16th at Pete Taylor Park on the campus of the University of Southern Miss. This event was an invite-only event hosting some talented prospects from the 2027-2028 classes in Mississippi. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 60-yard dash using VALD Performance, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw during gameplay and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement while facing live hitters in simulated innings. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing this week.

Continuing our post-event coverage for this event, we look at some of the top performers from the Top Prospect Games: Underclass. Please continue to check back over the next week, as we will release other leaderboards along with scouting reports on all players in attendance.

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QUICK HITS

Drew Davis RHP / SS / Sumrall, MS / 2027

Davis has already passed the 20 win mark on the mound for his defending 4A State Champion Bobcats while heading into just his sophomore season. On Saturday the dual prospect and #2 ranked player in the 2027 class showed off his outstanding set of tools. At the plate, Davis rattled off several liners showing quick hands and an all fields approach with exit velocities into the mid 90’s. During his defensive evaluation he displayed quick, athletic footwork with plenty of range and accurate throws across the diamond up to 93 mph. Later Davis toed the rubber and looked in mid-season form as he showed command with his fastball which reached 90.5 mph and a breaking ball that buckled plenty of legs with lots of depth and spin rates up to 3025!

Tucker Rice RHP / 3B / Madison Central, MS / 2027

Rice is another 2027 with plenty of upside as a possible dual role guy at the next level. A former Junior Future that continues to progress in the direction we expected. With his lean frame it's easy to project his numbers will continue to rise in all areas which should make him a very hot ticket as August arrives in 2025. He uses a line drive approach at the plate while using the middle to pull side of the field most often. Rice is a solid glove on defense with range and a very strong and accurate arm with velocities up to 93 mph. He carries the arm to the mound and knows how to pitch as his fastball currently sits 86-87 mph with solid feel for his breaker.  

Rece Atkinson RHP / 3B / Kosciusko, MS / 2027

Atkinson is one of several former Junior Future Games participants on hand and also continues to steadily progress. We first started noticing his ability on the mound with a solid performance at Lakepoint as he had exceptional run on his fastball inducing ground ball after groundball. Now with added velocity which gets up to 89 mph he really makes it tough on right handed hitters. The 6-3 185 pounder also has weapons to go along with the fastball which include a mimicking change up and slider with sweeping type action.

Clay Tolbert SS / RHP / West Jones, MS / 2027

Tolbert delivered a heading turning performance on the mound during game play on Saturday. The lean, 6-3 170 pounder showed off a very good running fastball which sat 87-88 mph the entire inning reaching 89 on multiple occasions. His slider may have been even more electric with very quick action and feel with spin rates into the 2500’s. With the loss of several key arms, the youngster will be asked to step up big for the Mustangs as they look to make another deep run in 2025. 

Trent Buckley RHP / 1B / Columbia Academy, MS / 2027

Our current #1 player in the 2027 class and a member of this past summer's Future Games roster was on hand Saturday and solidified his status as one of the top players across America. With his 6-3, 205 pound frame he demands attention when he steps in the box. The left handed hitter is looking to do damage to his pull side though can go the other way with authority when needed. He didn’t throw off the mound at the event though has one of the top fastballs in the class which already reaches into the low 90’s.

Ayden Demoran SS / RHP / Diberville, MS / 2027

We got our first extended look at the infielder from D’Iberville on Saturday and he definitely did not disappoint. During the showcase portion of the event Demoran was very consistent across the board with a smooth, synced up swing, line drives and exit velocities nearing 90 during his batting practice round, a solid glove with range on defense, and strong arm across the diamond. In game play we saw the tools transfer and standout. In one of his at bats, Demoran stayed on a very good 0-2 slider down in the zone and drove a liner over the second baseman for a double.We look forward to heading south to see this prospect in 2025. 

Brannan Overstreet SS / 3B / Hernando, MS / 2027

A two time member of our Junior Future Games team, Overstreet is developing into something special. The game looks to be slowing down for him and he is gaining strength and on field dominance. He is still learning his body, though movement patterns are syncing up and have become more fluid. On Saturday he made some outstanding plays on defense during gameplay and at the plate he projects to be a middle of the order run producer. Over the next calendar year the big, 6-3, 210-pounder will make his mark. 

KJ Roberts SS / 2B / Oak Grove, MS / 2027

Roberts started at second base as a freshman for Oak Grove which is somewhat of a big deal given the competitiveness at 7A. On Saturday he showed us why he was given the opportunity.  Roberts plays much bigger than his 5-9, 175 pound frame. On defense, he has range and is a confident infielder with a strong accurate arm. At the plate, he uses the whole field with a line drive approach and developing pop. Speed should become more of a factor to his game as well as he ran a 7 flat 60 though projects to get even faster. 

Logan Umfress 1B / 3B / Tupelo Christian, MS / 2027

Umfress still has development ahead of him with his body though shows plenty of present power at the plate already. On Saturday during game play the 5-11, 210 pounder delivered one of the harder hit baseballs of the day as he deposited a fastball into the right center gap for a stand up double. His batting practice round was solid as well, using a pull side approach with loft and some of the higher exit velocities of the day. Don’t leave anything over the plate to this rising slugger as he is looking to punish. 

Landon Swinney OF / SS / Tupelo, MS / 2027

The young outfielder from Tupelo has shown consistent progression over the past few years and now finds himself as one of the top prospects in the 2027 class. Swinney started the day with 6.95 60 though has ran better than that on occasion. He later showed a loud bat with a middle to pull side approach at the plate with occasional loft. Power isn’t his game though he should begin to find the other side of the wall more consistently in the future. All and all he has developed into a must see for recruiters. 

Rowan Atkinson LHP / OF / Sumrall, MS / 2027

Atkinson has emerged as a solid left handed pitching prospect recently and we got a chance to see why on Saturday at Southern Miss. The lanky 6-4, 185 pounder uses a funky, across his body delivery which provides plenty of deception to go along with his quality stuff. His fastball worked up to 87 mph with solid feel for a tumbling breaking ball. Atkinson also has shown some upside as a two way player after a solid batting practice round in which he used a line drive, middle to pull side approach with exit velocities into the low 90’s. He joins a quality Sumrall staff that will look for a return trip to Trustmark Park this spring.  

Axton Westmoreland LHP / 1B / Hernando, MS / 2028

A promising left handed pitching prospect on the rise, Westmoreland has been on our radar for a while now after his showing in Rising Stars events and at the Junior Future Games in Atlanta. The wiry lefty sits around 80 mph with more on the way. His pitch ability sets him apart as he already has exceptional feel for a breaking ball and plus change. He’s yet another dual role prospect as he can play all 3 outfield positions and shows run producing ability at the plate with a pull side approach and developing speed. 

Reed Sandberg OF / 1B / Madison Central, MS / 2027

One of the best pure hitters in the 2027 class and a 2 time Junior Future Games participant. Sandberg just peppers baseballs to all fields with consistency. Using a level bat path and still developing pop he’s a fun round to watch. Sandberg makes it tough on opposing pitchers as he can handle both sides of the plate and has enough speed (6.84 60) to beat out many ground-balls as he gets out of the box quickly. 2025 could be his breakout year!

Sawyer Pettit C / 2B / Tri-county Academy, MS / 2027

Pettit is a lot like the above-mentioned Sandberg but with more pop and loft to his swing. He can handle both sides off the plate though is primarily looking to do damage to his pull side. He was the Mississippi home run derby contestant in the winner take all contest versus Alabama at the recent Border Battle, coming up short 4 to 3 but showing some big time pop. Another former Junior Future Games participant that can play multiple positions well and could be looking at a return trip to Lakepoint. First things first though as he and his Tri-County Academy teammates look to add back to back states championships.  

Mason Ballard C / 3B / Tupelo, MS / 2027

Ballard showed off during the catching evaluations on Saturday as he fired off several sub 2.0 pop times including an event best 1.87. The former Junior Future Gamer used a strong arm (80 mph) and quick feet to record the top times and personal best. He didn’t stop there as he continued his solid day at the plate with multiple loud barrels and exit velocities up to 93 mph. Ballard has solidified himself as one of the top catching prospects in the 2027 class and will look to establish himself behind the plate this spring in Tupelo. 

Tyson Henry C / RHP / West Union Attendance Center, MS / 2027

Henry is still developing physically and can get more fluid though he gets it done in game. The 5-11, 210 pounder is very quick behind the plate as he registered pop times as low as 2.0 with arm velocity behind the plate up to 75 mph. On the mound, Henry uses quick arm action to run his fastball into the low 80’s with solid feel for the strike zone. His secondary stuff is still developing and given Henry’s obvious determination, look for his stuff to continue trending in the right direction.

Cope Burnham SS / RHP / Hartfield Academy, MS / 2027

Burnham was impressive in several areas on Saturday at USM. He first showed off some solid potential at the plate with a synced up swing, slightly upward bat path, with a gap to gap approach during his batting practice round. Later the sturdy, athletic framed 2027 was up to 86 mph on the bump while making quick work of his opponents in his one inning of work. Another must see arm from a talented Hartfield Academy squad. 

Chad Davidson LHP / OF / St. Joseph Catholic, MS / 2027

Davidson is a must see left hander in the 2027 class. Saturday the 5-11, 170 pounder showed command of a three pitch mix with a fastball sitting in the low 80’s (T84). Using quick and somewhat shorter arm action Davidson’s secondary offerings were crisp and very well shaped. Yet another dual prospect though the upside on the mound really stands out at the moment. Gonna definitely have to make the drive to the Jackson area this spring to see him in action!

Cooper McCoy 3B / RHP / Sumrall, MS / 2028

We got our first look at McCoy this summer at one of our ID events and immediately deemed him an invite only player. The 6-0, 170 pounder stepped on the mound and instantly showed his upside as a right handed pitching prospect. The arm works well with fluidity and some whip and is already generating fastball velocities up to 83.2 mph. His secondary offerings are quality and advanced for his age. Another quality arm arriving on the scene by way of Sumrall.

 

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