2025 Georgia Preview: Banks County Leopards
January 17, 2025
The 2025 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the GHSA or GIAA state playoffs, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing our scheduled podcasts and releasing our preseason top-10 rankings in each GHSA classification and Power 25.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state.
Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week, updating the top-10 ranks in each GHSA classification, as well updating our Power 25 overall rankings. One thing, especially, you don’t want to miss are our scheduled podcasts with guests from across the state, as well as the recaps and previews of the big games we’re covering.
*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.
High School: Banks County Leopards
Head Coach: Jared Jons
Classification: GHSA Class 1A-Division 1
Region: 8-1A-Diviion 1
2024 Record (Finish): 23-10, Sweet 16
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 10
Team Strengths: Pitching and Defense
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS
- 2025 RHP Judd Spear
- 2025 RHP/OF Chase Morrison
- 2025 RHP Austin Anderson
- 2025 OF Aucy Jacobs
- 2025 OF Cam Cooper, Young Harris commit
- 2025 Trevor Cox
- 2026 C/RHP Gaven Sears
- 2026 1B Warren Leftwich
- 2026 SS/RHP Owen Miller
- 2026 3B/RHP Holden Thomas
- 2026 RHP Cole Anderson
- 2026 OF/RHP Walker Brown
- 2026 Tanner Beasley
TOP UNDERCLASSMEN
- 2027 MIF Judd Schmakel
- 2028 RHP/INF Gatlin Green
TEAM OUTLOOK
Head coach Jared Jones and the Banks County Leopards return a sturdy plethora of talent heading into the 2025 season. Uncommitted senior RHP Judd Spear, an imposing presence on the mound at 6-foot-6, 240-pounds, will anchor the staff as the SP1. The overall pitchability stands out for Spear. Holding a repertoire that contains a lively fastball that sits in the upper 80’s with the ability to land the breaking ball in any count. Behind Spear in the rotation is Gaven Sears, a two-way junior, who will be a vital piece for the Leopards on both sides of the ball. Sears stands a physical 6-foot-1, 230-pounds, and will provide the Leopards with another power arm in the rotation. Armed with a fastball in the low 90’s that has seen the velocity tick up over the course of the past year. At the plate, Sears will be a key source of power in the line-up. With easy actions and present bat-speed, which allow for above-average raw power to all-fields. Behind the plate, Sears holds a strong defensive profile with present arm strength. Rounding out the rotation is uncommitted senior RHP/OF Chase Morrison. An upper 80’s arm with good feel for spin on the off-speed offerings. Senior OF/C Cam Cooper, a Young Harris commit, will be a sizable piece of the offense in the middle of the order. Cooper displays simple movements in the box with a linear swing and impact in the barrel to match. Senior Aucy Jacobs, a plus runner (6.4-60), will man the duties in CF and provide athleticism in the line-up. 2025 uncommitted 3B/RHP Holden Thomas looks to provide stability to the line-up and yields good barrel skills in an all-fields approach. As well as being one of the top options in the bullpen. Junior two-way Owen Miller, supplies versatility to the infield and is a key innings eater for the club out of the bullpen. After making first team All-Region as a freshman last year, INF Judd Schmakel is poised to have yet another strong year. Schmakel is an extremely tough customer at the plate. Demonstrating an advanced approach and an easy rhythm that allows him to consistently get on time. The sophomore is one to buy stock in as the frame continues to develop. Gatlin Green, an athletic 6-foot-2 and 170-pound freshman, has a chance to come in and make an impact right away. Banks County has a 1-A playoff run in their line of sight backed by a well-constructed roster and a formidable starting rotation.
Find more information on the 2025 Banks County program below:
+ Follow them on X: @BCbaseball2024
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Georgia, 2025 HS Team Previews
FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE SPRING
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on X
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Georgia on Facebook
Upcoming Events
SHOWCASE | DATE | LOCATION |
Preseason All-State: Underclass | 1/18 | Infinite Vision Sports Academy - Flowery Branch, Ga |
Preseason All-State: Upperclass | 1/19 | Infinite Vision Sports Academy - Flowery Branch, Ga |
East Georgia Rising Stars ID (2029 and 2030 grads) | 2/1 | Infinite Vision Sports Academy - Flowery Branch, Ga |
LakePoint Rising Stars ID (2029 and 2030 grads) | 2/17 | LakePoint Sports |
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- GA 2025 Georgia Preview: North Springs Spartans 2/10/25
- GA East Georgia Rising Stars Preseason ID: Pitcher & Catcher Reports 2/09/25
- GA East Georgia Rising Stars Preseason ID: Outfielder Reports 2/09/25