Last week the updated Class of 2021 Rankings were released.  Today we begin to breakdown some of the news and notes coming from the update, staring with “By The Numbers”. 

Overall the rankings saw 250 of the top players in North Carolina, make the list.  This expanded list jumped from the top 200 players.  Over the course of a crazy 2020, we have seen players re-class from the 2021 Class to the 2022 Class, as well as players inside the 2022 rankings re-class to the 2023 Class.  For PBR, the spring season usually brings about close to 400 games viewed in the High School Season.  This past spring, with the shortened season due to COVID, PBR Scouts saw just over 100 games.  In a typical summer, PBR scouts may be out every weekend covering NC tournaments and players.  This was significantly cut back as PBR did not attend any games at stadiums with fan restrictions. 

One of the biggest events of each summer in NC is the State Games of NC.  While this is not a PBR event, it is one of the best events in the country, featuring NC players from across the state, representing their region, in a 5 day event for college coaches and pro scouts.  The State Games of NC did not happen in 2020.

With all that said, PBR scouts worked tirelessly to see as many prospects, in as many different ways, as possible.  Obviously, prospects attending a PBR event or tournament had PBR Scouts eyes on them.   PBR Scouts were also in their homes, on their computers, watching live streams of as many different programs and games as possible.  PBR Scouts were able to attend a number of tournaments throughout the summer as well, getting a feel for prospects over multiple days of play.

The 2021 Class will potentially be the most effected by the lost spring of 2020.  The college players getting another year back and the lack of coaches and scouts on the road will impact the total number of players committing.  PBR will continue to work to bring verified and trusted information to college coaches and pro scouts, on behalf of the players in the 2021 class and others.  Below we take an indepth look at the updated Class of 2021 Rankings.

 

2021 Rankings By The Numbers

 

250 Players Ranked

Up from the top 200 players in the state of North Carolina, the updated list expands to the top 250.  The player database PBR Scouts use for rankings contains close to 2,000 players that PBR has seen in the past couple of years.  Scouts work to put player grades, when there is enough information, on each player in the database.  The player grade is sorted with a confidence rating on the grade as well.  The confidence rating is simply a measure of how much information is present, how old the information is, and the number of times a player has been evaluated.  From there players are sorted blindly, removing names, schools, and commitments.  The sort is based on the player grade, his confidence rating, and several metrics.  From that sort the player rankings are built.

 

63 Newcomers to the Updated Rankings

63 players make their way into the rankings.  With 50 new spots in the rankings, some of this is explained very easily.  While there are players that dropped from the rankings, there are also players that moved out of North Carolina, becoming eligible for rankings in the state they attend school, and there are players that decided to re-class to the 2023 grad year. 

The highest ranked newcomer to the rankings is Banks Cox (RHP/C, West Forsyth HS).  Cox has shined in workouts and game play, with a big arm and strength in the box.  A potential two-way player, Cox was up to 92 on the mound and flashed an arm that carried 89mph out of the crouch.

 

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