Holt Gaston, a senior right‑hander from Roberson High School, has officially pledged to continue his baseball career at North Carolina State University, a move that underscores the growing pipeline of talent from the Mountain Athletic Conference to Division I programs.
The commitment was revealed on July 15 via a post on the social platform X, where Gaston announced his decision to join the Wolfpack, citing the school’s academic reputation and pitching development as key factors.
At the plate, Gaston batted .303 this season, adding four home runs and 26 RBIs, while on the mound he finished 6‑0 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 51 batters and limiting opponents to a .227 average.
A Regional Talent Pipeline
His accolades include being named the Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and earning All‑WNC second‑team honors, achievements that have drawn attention from several college programs.
Gaston will be joined at NC State by Polk County’s Gunnar Alm and former West Henderson standout Truitt Manuel, forming a trio of regional prospects set to bolster the Wolfpack’s rotation.
The signing continues a pattern of Roberson alumni moving to Division I schools, with recent examples including pitcher Micah Simpson, who chose UNC‑Wilmington, and first baseman Caden Davidson, who transferred to Florida.
Other local products have also found homes in the University of North Carolina system, with former Roberson players appearing at UNC Asheville and East Carolina University, further cementing the school’s reputation as a talent incubator.
The convergence of these players at NC State reflects a broader trend across western North Carolina, where high schools are increasingly producing athletes ready for the rigors of Division I competition.