- The Wilmington area boasts numerous talented baseball players who are continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
- Several athletes from local high schools such as Hoggard, New Hanover, and Topsail are playing for Division I baseball programs.
- Many of these players were standouts in high school, earning accolades and leading their teams to successful seasons.
While high school baseball in the Wilmington area still has a few weeks of preseason left, the college side of the game kicks off on Friday, Feb. 14.
As warmer weather invites us into a spring sports season, area talent wants to show why 2025 is their year.
With the historically high baseball talent created in Southeastern North Carolina, here’s a look at every Wilmington-area baseball product on a Division I roster this spring.
Did we miss someone? Let reporter Michael Cuneo know at Mcuneo@gannett.com.
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Brandon Bannerman, Trask, Longwood University
After a strong finish to his high school career, Bannerman didn’t see any playing time last spring as he redshirted during his freshman season at Longwood.
Chase Buscher, Hoggard, UNC Asheville
The Hoggard star recorded 67 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings while batting .348 for the Vikings in 2024.
Cody Callahan, North Brunswick, North Carolina A&T
Callahan started his collegiate career in state after batting .419 and slugging .535 while scoring 19 runs and striking out 53 on the mound in his 2024 senior season with the Scorpions.
Miles Cota, Topsail, UMass Lowell
Cota enters his sixth year of collegiate basketball after making 18 appearances with nine starts in 2024. He racked up 38 strikeouts in 56 innings for the River Hawks.
Cota helped Topsail reach a 3A state championship as a freshman in 2016.
Cooper Cavanaugh, Topsail, Davidson
The 2023 StarNews All-Area Pitcher of the Year tallied 59 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings for Davidson as a freshman in 2024. He was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.
Connor Kane, Laney, UNCW
The 2022 Laney graduate made 20 appearances in 2024, recording 26 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.
Trevor Lucas, North Brunswick, UNCW
A 2023 graduate of North Brunswick, Lucas transfered to UNCW after batting .344 with seven home runs at Gaston College.
Chase Nixon, New Hanover, Memphis
The 2020 New Hanover graduate transferred to Memphis this spring. He batted .255 with 11 runs scored, three doubles and 14 RBI with NC State in 2024,
The senior excelled in both baseball and football during his time at New Hanover, throwing 28 touchdowns in his senior season and batting .321 as a junior.
Luke Nixon, New Hanover, N.C. State
The younger Nixon brother made a big splash with the Wolfpack in his freshman season in 2024, batting .238 with four homers, five doubles, a triple and 34 RBI. He also led the team with 14 stolen bases.
Spencer Nolan, Hoggard, UNC Charlotte
The 2022 Hoggard grad drove in eight runs on 19 hits with three doubles, a triple, and two home runs in his sophomore season with the 49ers in 2024.
Logan Ponnett, Hoggard, UNC Charlotte
The 2024 Hoggard alumnus recorded 11 doubles and three home runs while batting .377 with 22 runs scored and 20 RBI during his senior season.
Sean Smith, New Hanover, UNC Greensboro
The 2023 New Hanover grad transferred to UNC Pembrook after making one relief appearance with UNC Greensboro in 2024.
Aubrey Smith, South Brunswick, UNCW
Smith is primed to take a big role in the Seahawks pitching game after sitting out his sophomore season to redshirt.
With 99 strikeouts as a senior at South Brunswick in 2022, Smith helped lead the Cougars to a 3A state championship appearance.
Bromley Thornton, New Hanover, UNCW
The 2023 New Hanover graduate made 24 appearances as a freshman last spring, including four appearances on the mound. Thornton batted .297 with four RBI.
Striking out 105 on the mound, Thornton led the Wildcats to their first outright MEC title since 2019 and the quarterfinals of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.
Isaac Turner, Trask, UNC Asheville
Turner made six appearances in his freshman season with the Bulldogs in 2024, scoring two runs.
Shuffling from pitcher to shortstop to outfielder as a senior at Trask in 2023, he batted .561 with 38 runs, 25 RBI, and 14 doubles.
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