Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Power 25 HS Preview: #5 North Oconee

February 4, 2023
PBR Georgia Staff
Justin Goetz

The 2023 Georgia high school baseball season is less than a month away. With the season getting pushed up one week the coaches and players have an extra week to prepare for opening day. Will it be sunny and 75? Or below freezing for opening day? The Georgia weather is unpredictable, just like trying to predict who will come out on top of each classification. The talent in the State of Georgia continues to be one of the best in the country. Some regions have a fresh new look, and some region foes will continue to battle for that top spot to earn the best road to the state championship.

We will begin to preview our Power 25 rankings each day until the season begins. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each GHSA classification as well as a Power 25. Be sure to follow PBR Georgia on twitter for live action each week, as our staff travels throughout the state to cover baseball in the great state of Georgia.

High School Name: North Oconee

Coach’s Name: Jay Lasley

Classification: 4A

2022 Record: 39-1

Region: 8-4A

No. of Returning Starters: 6

Team Strengths: Winning Culture

Top Returning Players:

Top 2024 Prospects:

New Players

Team Outlook

At No. 5, this would be the No. 1 team in most state in the US. This is easily one of the most complete teams I’ve seen in a long time. The captain and pulse of this team is ‘23 C Cale Stricklin. His durable, strong, stocky frame are a perfect fit behind the dish. The toughness, advanced receiving, footwork, and lightning quick transfers are what stand out most about him as a defender. Offensively it’s an advanced all fields approach and simplified swing that is difficult to punch out. He consistently makes good swing decisions. On the hill, their ace is none other than flame throwing sleeper draft prospect ‘23 RHP Wyatt Land. Land’s ease of operation, body control, connection & separation are unreal, and the arm action is perfect. His 90-92 FB T94 shows consistent plus life already (bore) that eats the hands of RHH & sprints away from LHH. His 79-82 SL has taken leaps & bounds in the past year, with very tight rotation and short, late break. The pitch stays on FB plane for extended time, depth continuing to improve. The “preventer of runs” is none other than ‘23 CF Kyle Jones. This rangy defender and Top Prospect Games alumni is a ++ runner, one of the fastest in the Peach State. He uses his tracking ability from football and has fluid hips with crisp routes. He’s an elite athlete with not only a large amount of twitch, but the body control and smooth forward move to match.

Cale Stricklin C / 2B / North Oconee, GA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 41 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 441 / POS: 35

 

 

Wyatt Land RHP / OF / North Oconee , GA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 47 / POS: 17 OverallRank: 471 / POS: 150

 

 

Kyle Jones OF / RHP / North Oconee , GA / 2023

 

 

Next is another freak athlete in 2 sport star ‘23 OF Jake Fabris, who has a dual sport scholarship waiting for him at Kansas State (baseball/football). The switch hitting beast uses his natural strength for big EV’s, and his bat 2 ball skill to do it consistently. This is a plus runner who brings a different level of toughness and intensity to the baseball field. In ‘24 3B/RHP KJ Moon, the Titans have one of the best 2 ways in the state. This Future Games legend can lift the baseball like few others, and proved in 2022 that he can hit the highest quality of pitching. He will be the key power source for the Titans. On the bump, his compact & powerful delivery is built from the ground up. The 86-88 T90 FB sprints at the hands of RHH, making his lateral 2500 RPM SL all the more devastating. He has just as much feel for his high spin CB and CH. They have one of the most projectable ‘25 arms in the country with RHP Noah Allen. This is a 6-foot-5, 180 pound skyscraper with a ridiculously well connected delivery for his length. He’s already up to 90.4 mph in bullpens, with no adrenaline pumping. Allen is very well sequenced and he builds pace gradually for easy effort. The stride length creates impressive extension, allowing his FB to play up. We haven’t seen him live yet, but couldn’t be more excited to evaluate him. With a very deep roster and more elite talent on the way, the Titans can compete with any team in the country. 

KJ Moon 3B / SS / North Oconee , GA / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 47 / POS: 5

 

 

Jack Fabris OF / OF / North Oconee , GA / 2023

Rankings  StateRank: 120 / POS: 15

 

 

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN