The 2024 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 Mississippi.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Pearl, MS at Trustmark Park as they compete for a state championship, 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 Mississippi. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Magnolia State.

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 in each MHSAA classification as well as a Power 25.

*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: Jackson Prep
Head Coach: Brent Heavener
Classification: MAIS 6A
District Number: 6A, District 1
2023 Record (Finish): 31-4
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 8
Team Strengths: Pitching will be our strengths with 8 pitchers that gave my good innings last year. We also return our 1 and 3 stater, our closer and 2 setup men. 

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• SS/OF/RHP Konnor Griffin (2024, LSU)
• 3B/SS/RHP Tre Bryant (2025)
• OF/DH Peyton Puckett (2024)
• P/OF/INF Kevin Roberts Jr. (2026)
• P/OF Cole Gideon (2025)

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MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

• C Thomas Cross (2024)
• P John Woods Hollowell (2024, Hinds CC)

Class of 2025

• LHP/OF Gardner Young (2025)
• 1B/P Matthew McKinley (2025)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Jackson Prep returns 5 positional starters and 8 pitchers from last year’s roster that finished 31-4 and captured its 6th straight MAIS 6A State Championship. Head Coach Brent Heavener has a very deep pitching staff and some explosive bats in the line up so a 7th title is definitely within reach for his Patriots.

Top returners for Prep include seniors Konnor Griffin (SS/OF/RHP - LSU recruit) and Peyton Puckett (OF/DH), juniors Tre Bryant (INF/RHP - former Future Gamer) and Cole Gideon (OF/LHP), along with sophomore Kevin Roberts Jr. (RHP/OF/INF).

Konnor Griffin, the #1 ranked player in the MS 2024 class, led the Patriot offense with a .537 average, 8 home runs, and 30 runs batted in. He along with Peyton Puckett (.362, 7 HR, 36 RBI’s) and Tre Bryant (.448, 2HR, 33 RBI’s) look to once again provide plenty of offensive production for Prep. The pitching staff should be stingy in 2024 as well with several key arms back, including Griffin, who sported a 7-1 record with a 1.38 ERA along with 80 strikeouts. Kevin Roberts Jr. (4-0, 3.66 ERA), Cole Gideon (1.53 ERA), and Tre Bryant (2.14 ERA) will provide solid depth to the staff. 

Other player Coach Heavener is counting on include seniors Thomas Cross (Catcher) and John Woods Hollowell (LHP - Hinds CC recruit), along with juniors Gardner Young (LHP/OF - former Future Gamer) and Matthew McKinley (LHP/1B).

Jackson Prep is 2-0 to start the season with their next game today, February 9th version Lamar School.

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Find more information on the 2024 Jackson Prep program below:

+ Follow them on X: @JPrepBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Mississippi, 2024 HS Team Previews

 

FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL MISSISSIPPI THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on X
+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Mississippi on Facebook

 

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