Georgia’s Daniel Jackson and Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey attended high school about 25 miles apart in suburban Atlanta. They were both recruiting afterthoughts, ranked outside of the top 500 in the Class of 2023 by Perfect Game.Much has changed since then.They are now the two best catchers in college baseball and two of this season’s breakout stars. They are leading two of the top teams in the country into the NCAA Tournament, where their stars figure to shine even brighter, and project to be first-round draft picks after the postseason ends.Neither Jackson nor Lackey seems to be much bothered by being overlooked in the past. Nor are they the fierce rivals that their jerseys might suggest. Instead, they’re friendly after spending the summer after their freshman years playing together in Michigan for Traverse City in the Northwoods League. They catch up occasionally and have been impressed by each other’s play this season, as has Josh Rebandt, their former manager in Traverse City and current Western Michigan assistant coach.“It was really special having both those guys,” Rebandt said. “Sometimes you look back at rosters you coached, and you’re like, ‘How fortunate was I to have those guys in the dugout?’ Those are two guys you can throw behind the plate and know they’ll get the job done.”The paths Jackson and Lackey have taken have been winding and intertwined. As their junior seasons approach a culmination in the postseason, their rise to this moment tells two compelling stories of player development in the era of the transfer portal and NIL that unfolded less than two hours apart on rival campuses.The BulldogJackson has already made history this season, becoming the first catcher in Division I history to hit 25 home runs and steal 25 bases in a season. He entered the NCAA Tournament with 27 home runs and 25 stolen bases, which puts him on pace to become the second 30-30 player (joining former Florida State star J.D. Drew) should Georgia reach Omaha.Georgia coach Wes Johnson has been around elite talents in the last four years, first as pitching coach at LSU in 2023 and then as Georgia’s head coach. He says Jackson is among the best.“I had Paul Skenes (at LSU) and he’s a once in a coaching career, then Charlie Condon (Georgia) is once in a coaching career,” Johnson said. “I’m saying it again with Daniel. He has a legit chance to have 30-30. I don’t think you’ll see that again in my lifetime, certainly not from a catcher.”Jackson was named SEC Player of the Year and is hitting .391 at the start of the NCAA Tournament, which begins for Georgia on Friday night against Long Island in the Athens Regional. His stellar season came on the heels of a tough 2025, when he hit .240 with 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases as a sophomore — his first season in the SEC after transferring from Wofford.“I wanted to prove myself right,” he said. “I wanted to prove that what I’m doing now is what I’m capable of. It makes the game more fun when you’re succeeding.”