PriorityOne Bank Metro Jackson Player of the Week 4-26-24

By Robert Wilson

The major league scouts say Jackson Prep’s Konnor Griffin is a five-tool prospect – he can hit for power, hit for average, field, throw and run. Boy, can he run.

Blessed with state championship sprinter speed, the senior shortstop-pitcher continues to steal bases and score runs at an incredible rate, especially last week.

The LSU signee stole 9 bases and scored 5 runs and he had a .778 batting average, a .846 on base percentage, 1.000 slugging percentage, 2 doubles, 3 runs batted in and had a pitching victory in a three-game MAIS Class 6A series sweep of Presbyterian Christian School last week.

For his outstanding week, Griffin has been named the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Baseball Player of the Week.

“Konnor had a great week,” Prep coach Brent Heavener said. “Last week was a huge week for us as we locked up the regular season conference title. He played a major role in that. Konnor continues to have a great year, even with a big targe on him. He gets everybody’s best shot, and keeps doing what he does. I am proud of the way he is playing this season. Not only is Konnor a great player, but also a great teammate. It’s going to be fun to watch the next few weeks.”

Griffin led the nation with 70 runs scored and was third in the nation with 78 stolen bases, according to MaxPreps. He is averaging 1.89 runs per game and 2.1 stolen bases per game. When one considers that the major league leaders in those categories right now average 1 run and 0.57 stolen bases per game, there’s a reason why there are dozens of pro scouts at every one of Griffin’s games.

In addition, Griffin has a .582 batting average (fourth in Mississippi, according to MaxPreps), .718 on base percentage (third in Mississippi), 1.040 slugging percentage (second in Mississippi), 36 RBIs, 12 doubles, 3 triples and 9 home runs (tied for first in Mississippi) this season.

He also has eight pitching wins (tied for fifth in Mississippi) without a loss, a 0.56 earned run average (sixth in Mississippi), 82 strikeouts (10^th in Mississippi) in 50 innings.

Griffin broke the school runs record for a season, set by Gene Wood of 68 in 2014. Wood, who played at Alabama, also holds the school’s batting average record for a season with a .606 average in 2014.

Griffin, who broke the school stolen bases record for a season of Jeffrey Ince (39 in 2021) earlier this year, is now seventh in Mississippi history. He trails Silento Sayles of Port Gibson, who holds the national record of 103 in 2013, Anthony Acy of Natchez Trace Academy (87 in 1991), Brad Sewell of Natchez Trace Academy (87 in 1991), Sewell (83 in 1990), Barry Parker of Northwest Rankin (81 in 1989), and Acy of University Christian School (81 in 1992).

“What he is doing on the bases is so impressive,” Heavener said. “First, you have to get on to be able to run as much as he does. His ability to steal bases and get to third has made a huge difference in our offense. It also allows Kevin (Roberts) and Tre (Bryant) (the second and third hitters in the lineup) to see better pitches. Konnor continues to impress us with his speed and how well he does on the base path. He gets such a good lead because he can read pitchers so well. Then, it only takes one or two steps to hit his stride. When he gets going, it’s impressive to watch him run.”

Griffin is projected by mlb.com as the No. 8 selection, the first high school player chosen, in the Major League Draft in July. Only one other player in Mississippi history (Ted Nicholson from Oak Park High in Laurel in 1969) went higher. Nicholson was the third overall pick. Also, Kirk Presley of Tupelo High was the eighth pick in 1993.

Griffin was named the Metro Jackson Player of the Year last season. He has been first team All-Metro Jackson for three consecutive seasons.

He was one of three athletes to make All Metro in two sports (basketball and baseball) last season. Griffin did not play basketball this season.

Griffin was a member of the 18-U USA National Team last fall and competed in the WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) U-18 Baseball World Cup Aug. 31-Sept. 10 in Taipei City, Taiwan.

He participated in the 2023 High School All-American Game and was one of eight players to participate in the MLB-USA Baseball High School Home Run Derby as part of the Major League Baseball All-Star week in Seattle and played in the Perfect Game’s Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic in Phoenix this past summer.

Griffin is wearing No. 22, awarded to him to wear in memory of Walker Wilbanks, a baseball and football player at Prep who passed away in 2014. A Prep baseball player is awarded the honor of wearing Wilbanks’ number 22 jersey each year.

Griffin’s parents are Kim and Kevin Griffin. Kim attended William Carey University in Hattiesburg for her bachelor’s degree, Mississippi College for her specialist degree and is currently working to finish her Doctorate. She played basketball and volleyball in high school. Kevin played baseball and basketball at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn., and received his bachelor’s degree from Bellevue University. Kim is the Technology Director at First Presbyterian School in Jackson. Kevin is the softball coach at Belhaven University. Griffin has two brothers. Kannon played first base and pitched for Florence High and is co-foreman at Mid South Crawl Space. Kaden is in the eighth grade at Florence Middle School and plays baseball, basketball, and football.

Six-time defending MAIS Class 6A state champion Prep has a 35-2 overall record and 15-0 in league play and has won 34 consecutive games against MAIS teams and 20 straight games this season. Prep is ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps.

Prep is the No. 1 seed in the 6A state playoffs and gets a bye in the first round next week.

Mississippi Scoreboard selects a baseball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.