Chris Elwell
Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Baseball Lifestyle 101
At just 15 years old, Dexter McCleon Jr. has become one of the faces of high school baseball across the country. He is the number one ranked player in the graduating class of 2028 and is a dual-sport athlete who has already received NCAA Division 1 offers in both baseball and football.
While baseball looks to be his future, McCleon Jr. also excels on the gridiron, and has received offers from top programs like the University of Southern California. His father, Dexter McCleon, is a 10-year NFL veteran for the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans.
McCleon Jr. signed a groundbreaking NIL deal with Baseball Lifestyle 101. This deal makes McCleon Jr. the youngest official Baseball Lifestyle sponsored athlete and the largest high school baseball NIL apparel deal in the country.
To kick off the partnership, he took Baseball Lifestyle on a journey through his hometown, his rise to national stardom, and a behind-the-scenes look at himself and his high school team preparing for their upcoming season.
Photo Courtesy of Baseball Lifestyle 101
“As a player I’d say I’m a competitor. My mindset is to try to be better than everyone else,” McCleon Jr. said.
McCleon Jr. is in his freshman year of high school at Buford High School in Buford, GA, and certainly will be their biggest name player for his entire high school career as he makes his way towards the big leagues. He made Buford’s junior varsity team last season as an eighth grader, an impressive feat for someone of his age in a state like Georgia which holds some of the best high school baseball teams in the country.
McCleon Jr. plays for the ninth-ranked 15u team in the country, USA Prime Scout Team 15U National, and also landed a spot on the USA Baseball 15u National Team. His status as the top player in the country shines bright against other top players in his class and has been recognized by amateur baseball publications like Perfect Game and Baseball America.
“Top of the class tools across [the] board, 6.57 runner in the sixty, 94 mph off the mound, huge [right-handed] power, 4x Select Festival Athlete,” according to Perfect Game. His 6-foot-3 frame makes him a top-of-the-scale two-way athlete and a name to watch as he progresses.
The athleticism that he possesses translates to his abilities both on the mound and in the outfield to make for one of the most complete athletes to go through baseball’s pipeline in recent years. While he still has his entire high school career ahead of him, there will surely be a level of hype around him to maintain his status as the best player in his class and even exceed expectations of the player he can be.
Photo Courtesy of Instagram/@dextermccleonjr
McCleon Jr. adds to a growing roster of Baseball Lifestyle featured athletes that includes Detroit Tigers' number one prospect, Max Clark. Clark was also regarded as a top player in the nation in his graduation year of 2023, reaching the number two overall rank and being selected third overall to Detroit in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Recognition of players of this caliber years before they reach the big leagues has played a role in Baseball Lifestyle collaborating with athletes like McCleon Jr. and Clark. Fans are able to put a name to the product and wear something endorsed by someone they’ve either played against or know about through social media.
This type of NIL apparel deal is unheard of in the high school baseball world and sets the standard for future deals with apparel or other types of companies. With the level of talent in high school baseball currently, there will certainly be more deals agreed upon between players and companies to endorse their products in addition to players themselves to grow their name and following through avenues other than just their play on the field.
Most recently, McCleon Jr. headlined Baseball Lifestyle’s “Swing Into Spring” collection. On the trip down to Buford, McCleon Jr. modeled the new collection in the team’s indoor batting cage facility to display the new shirt and hoodie, which is now live on the Baseball Lifestyle website.
Photo Courtesy of Baseball Lifestyle 101
Baseball Lifestyle plans to turn McCleon Jr. into one of the faces of the brand and continue to expand their markets of baseball fans through familiarity of young players and follow their path to the big leagues and other networks that baseball offers. With the empire that social media has built, especially in the sports industry, there is always opportunity for growth, and Baseball Lifestyle working with players of his caliber, there is no telling how far the two sides can grow and turn into something previously unimagined.
His one-of-a-kind level play on the field and social media following of over 71,500 Instagram followers make him a captivating figure to add as a featured athlete at just 15 with plenty of room for growth both on and off the field. In his case especially, as a freshman, the opportunity for future NIL deals could go further than previously imagined and possibly take his social media following and reputation within the baseball industry to the next level.