OXFORD, Miss. — Columbia Academy standout Trent Buckley, one of the top baseball prospects in the nation, announced his commitment to Ole Miss on Tuesday, giving coach Mike Bianco’s program another high-profile addition to its 2026 recruiting class.
The story was first reported by OMSpirit at On3 by Zach Berry.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Columbia, Mississippi, is rated the state’s top prospect and a national Top 100 player by Perfect Game.
Buckley chose the Rebels over Mississippi State and Southern Miss after a strong summer showcase circuit that solidified his reputation as one of the most dynamic two-way players in the Southeast.
Buckley told OMSpirit that Oxford felt like home from the beginning.
“What attracted me to Ole Miss was the way they play,” Buckley said. “I like the way they always compete and put the best guys on the field to win. I just felt like Oxford was a special place and the coaches made me feel welcomed. And everyone in Oxford did the same.”
Bianco and his staff plan to let Buckley continue developing both on the mound and at the plate, a challenge that’s become increasingly rare in high-level college baseball.
Perfect Game analyst Troy Sutherland described Buckley as a legitimate two-way prospect who can make an impact immediately.
“Legit two-way upside,” Sutherland said. “I’m fairly confident he could go either way at an SEC level. Hit one of the furthest homers I saw this summer in Hoover. Gets to easy power offensively. Easy gas with pitchability and command on the mound.”
Buckley posted a 2.92 earned run average while reaching the low 90s with his fastball during Columbia Academy’s 36-6 season. Offensively, he was a force batting .492 with 15 home runs, 51 RBIs, 11 doubles and three triples and earning First Team All-State consideration.
Columbia Academy reached the MAIS 5A title series before falling to Magnolia Heights, led by fellow Ole Miss commit Quincy Pratt.
Buckley’s commitment continues Bianco’s momentum on the recruiting trail following recent pledges from several other top Mississippi prospects.
The Rebels have targeted in-state talent heavily, emphasizing athleticism and power potential on both sides of the ball.
The addition of Buckley also reinforces Ole Miss’ ongoing focus on developing two-way players, a strategy that paid off with former Rebel Tim Elko’s success at the plate and on the mound in his early years.
“Coach Bianco has always shown he’s willing to let players compete wherever they can help the team most,” Sutherland said.
Buckley said he’s already building relationships with future teammates and getting used to the campus.
“My favorite part of getting to know the staff and visiting Oxford was meeting new people and getting to experience Oxford,” he said. “They took us around and showed us what Oxford was really about.”
For Bianco and the Rebels, the commitment strengthens an already promising class that includes high-upside talent across the board. Ole Miss is looking to return to the top of the SEC West after a stretch of inconsistent seasons since its 2022 national championship run.
Buckley’s combination of size, velocity and power gives Ole Miss a player capable of contributing early. Perfect Game lists him as a 9.5-rated prospect, a designation typically reserved for those projected to be future professional players.
If his high school production carries over to the college level, Buckley could become a cornerstone for the Rebels’ next wave of talent and perhaps another Mississippi-born star who makes his mark in Oxford.
