Arkansas Insider: Dual Sport Standouts

September 2, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

For most high school football teams tonight will be the beginning of their season. So today we will take a look a few players that are impactful both on the football field and baseball field.

Connor Nolan RHP Greenwood High School 2018
Noland is a 6-foot-2 185 right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He uses a simple delivery with consistent rhythm. He commands his fastball 86-88 mph flashing 90 mph. He compliments his fastball with a sharp 11/5 curveball with late break and solid depth. He has a feel for his change up but throws it on a limited basis. He pitches from H 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm, with a high elbow . Overall Noland is an advanced pitcher with a quick arm. Noland is committed to the University of Arkansas for both baseball and football.

On the football field he is the Quarterback for the Greenwood Bulldogs. Greenwood is a consistent contender for the 6A State Title including 2017. Look for Noland to have a large impact if they are to reach their goals.

Jaden Hill RHP/3B Ashdown High School 2018
Pitcher
Hill is a 6-foot-4 195-pound right-hander with a large frame and physical build. He pitches from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick clean arm. He has a repeatable delivery with a distinct balance point. He finishes tall and online to home plate. He commands his fastball 88-90 mph touching as high as 92 mph. He compliments the fastball with a slider 76-79 mph with sharp 10/4 action. Overall Hill is a big physical athlete with a quick arm and a feel for a solid slider.

Position Player

Hill is a 6-foot-4 195-pound third baseman with a large frame and physical build. Offensivley he starts from an athletic stance, he sits down into his legs as his load, combined with a toe raise as his stride. He attacks the baseball with a level swing, maintaining balance through extension. He produces exit velocity up to 89 mph. Defensively he plays through the baseball with fluid foot work and solid actions. He has a fluid exchange and a quick clean arm. He throws the baseball 88 mph across the infield. He runs a 4.43 home to first time. Overall Hill is a physical player with some rawness to his offensive game, and is a solid defender.

Hill has multiple offers NCAA Division football and baseball programs. In football he is the starting quarterback for the Ashdwon Panters. Ashdown has a bevy of talent and will look to prove they are a contender in class 4A.

Jakobi Jackson OF Watson Chapel High School 2018
Jackson is a 6-foot 190-pound athlete with a large frame and an athletic build. He is an advanced offensive player with ability to hit for power to both fields. He starts from an athletic stance with a fluid load, he attacks the baseball with fast bat speed. He has slight uphill bat path. He does a sound job maintaining rhythm and balance through out his swing. Defensively he shows good instincts on balls in the air. He plays through the baseball with a fluid exchange and a strong arm with carry. As a pitcher Jackson pounds the strike zone with a fastball 79-82 mph. He compliments the fastball with a 1/7 curveball with sharp late break. Overall Jackson is an advanced hitter with above average athletic ability.

As a football player, Jackson will be back under center for Watson Chapel. As a sophomore he had a dynamic year producing more than 30 touchdowns passing/rushing combination. The dual sport athlete has received scholarship offers in baseball and is turning heads as a football prospect.

Kam’ron Mays-Hunt MIF-Bentonville High School 2018
Hunt is a 5-11 170-pound athlete with a medium frame and an athletic build. At short-stop he has smooth footwork and soft hands as he plays through the baseball. Offensively he has a short compact swing that produces line drives. He does a good job maintaining balance through his swing to extension. On the mound he pitches off his fastball 86-89mph with a 12/6 curveball and a change up that is a work in progress. His pure athleticism gives him a high ceiling to project to.

As a football player he is an impact player at receiver as he was named 7A West newcomer of the year in 2015. He has garnered some interest in football from SEC and Big XII programs. He is intriguing as a baseball player with his raw athleticism.