For some college baseball stars, all eyes were already on them in their high school days. For others, earning attention meant proving their talent once they reached the college stage.
With the transfer portal now an inherent part of college athletics, the recruiting process no longer ends in high school. Players have more opportunities than ever to develop and work their way onto college baseball’s biggest stages.
From Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey to Kansas’ Tyson LeBlanc, several of the standout names in this year’s NCAA Super Regional Tournament are players many fans likely never heard of during their high school days.
Now, these once-underrecruited players are one series away from a trip to Omaha and the chance to lead their team to become College World Series champions.
Vahn Lackey | Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey is a product of steady development.
Lackey didn’t draw significant attention from former Yellow Jackets head coach Danny Hall until late into his senior season at Collins Hill High School. Even after arriving on campus, his impact wasn’t immediate. As a freshman, he appeared in 36 games and hit .214 with four home runs and 15 RBI.
By his sophomore year, however, Lackey had emerged as one of the top catchers in the country, ranking third among all Power 4 catchers in both batting average and hits.
His rise has only continued this year. Through regional play, Lackey is batting .407 with 87 hits and 20 homeruns.
His 20th homerun was a testament to his power – a 468-foot blast over the scoreboard in Georgia Tech’s regional win over Oklahoma in Game 2. One day earlier, he launched a 459-foot homerun.
Lackey ranks sixth in USA TODAY’s 2026 MLB Mock Draft rankings.
Daniel Jackson | Georgia
It took Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson until his senior year at North Springs High School to hit his first homerun. Now, he leads the NCAA Super Regional field in long balls with 29.
In May, Jackson became the first catcher in NCAA history and the first player in SEC history to reach 25 home runs and 25 steals in the same season. He also captured the SEC regular season Triple Crown, leading the conference in batting average, home runs, and RBI.
Just three years ago, that same SEC Player of the Year didn’t have any offers from Power 4 schools. Jackson played his freshman campaign at Wofford and earned All-Southern Conference honors, leading to a call from Georgia head coach Wes Johnson.
Jackson enters the NCAA Super Regionals on fire after batting .500 with a double, two home runs, four RBI, and four walks in Georgia’s three regional games.
Jackson sits at No. 39 in MLB.com’s 2026 prospect rankings.
Aiden Robbins | Texas
A three-year letterman at Holy Ghost Preparatory School, Aiden Robbins was ranked outside of the top 500 outfielders in the country by Perfect Game coming out of high school. Robbins decided to begin his college career at Seton Hall and see where it would take him – a decision that eventually led him to the University of Texas.
After finishing fifth nationally in on-base percentage and sixth in batting average in his sophomore year at Seton Hall, Robbins joined the Longhorns and quickly emerged as one of the top outfielders in the country.
Robbins helped power the Longhorns’ offense through regional play, driving in nine runs and launching four home runs. He enters the NCAA Super Regionals among the tournament’s home run leaders with 23 on the season.
Robbins is expected to be a popular target in the MLB draft next month, ranking No. 25 in USA TODAY’s 2026 MLB Mock Draft rankings.
Tyson LeBlanc | Kansas
Ranked as Louisiana’s No. 48 prospect after high school at North Vermilion, Tyson LeBlanc stayed close to home and bet on development at LSU Eunice, a junior college.
In two seasons, LeBlanc did just that. He rewrote the school’s record books, finishing in the top 10 in 12 offensive categories. But when he entered the transfer portal after last season, Kansas was his only Power 4 offer.
Now, LeBlanc enters the NCAA Super Regionals ranked second among remaining players with 24 home runs.
LeBlanc is one of eight junior college transfers who helped lead Kansas to its first Big 12 regular-season title since 1949. Of the Jayhawks 34 players, 23 spent at least one season at a junior college.
LeBlanc drove in eight runs, hit three long shots and drew four walks in the Jayhawks’ three regional games to help send Kansas to the first Super Regional appearance in program history.
LeBlanc is ranked No. 130 in MLB.com’s 2026 prospect rankings.
Owen Hull | UNC
After lettering in baseball and basketball at Bishop Ireton High School, Owen Hull began his college baseball career at George Mason.
His first season offered little opportunity. Hull logged just 22 at-bats and recorded four hits.
But his sophomore campaign told a different story.
Hull broke the George Mason single-season steals record with 42, ranking No. 10 nationally, and earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors as both an outfielder and designated hitter.
That breakout season helped send him to Chapel Hill, where he has become a crucial part of North Carolina’s offense. The center fielder leads the team in batting average, RBI, doubles and walks.
In regional play, Hull earned four RBI, three hits and drew four walks to help send UNC to its 13th Super Regional appearance.
Hull is ranked No. 158 in MLB.com’s 2026 prospect rankings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These college baseball stars proved doubters wrong