South Brunswick baseball standout Walker Jenkins honored as N.C. Gatorade Player of the Year
When the N.C. Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year winner was announced Friday morning, it came as no surprise that Walker Jenkins was the recipient.
The South Brunswick standout center fielder also claimed the same honor a season ago.
He’s the first repeat winner since Cameron Maybin in 2004 and 2005. Maybin had an excellent high school career at T.C. Roberson in Asheville before being selected with the 10th pick of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He played for 10 organizations during his 15-year big league career.
Jenkins hit .417 with 11 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in his final season with the Cougars. He walked in 32 of his 95 plate appearances, which helped give him an impressive .632 on-base percentage.
“I have been playing or coaching baseball for 33 years in Wilmington, and Walker is definitely one of the top two or three players I’ve seen over that time” Ashley coach Ben Stroehl said in a press release. “He is a tremendous competitor and looks like a man among boys.”
Walker Jenkins was named the N.C. Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year on Friday. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Four of the past seven winners have come from the southeastern portion of the state – Jenkins (2022 and 2023), New Hanover’s Blake Walston (2019) and Whiteville’s MacKenzie Gore (2017).
Jenkins’ accolades in the classroom and community are just as impressive. He has a weighted GPA of 4.57 and could be seen signing autographs for younger fans after every game. He has served as a youth baseball coach and has also donated his time to multiple community service initiatives through his church youth group.
Jenkins has signed with UNC, but is likely to be a top-five pick in the MLB Draft, which will take place on July 9 in Seattle.
