2016 Overall Rankings: Illinois Analysis

November 16, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

It has been a hectic last couple of weeks for the 2016 Class in Illinois. In October the Unsigned Senior Showcase took place and more than 130 unsigned seniors participated in the event. All of the analysis from the event has been completed and at the end of last week Illinois updated its state specific Top 250 2016 player rankings. This week also started the early signing period for seniors being able to sign their National Letters of Intent.

The recent class of 2016 coverage was capped off by the updated PBR overall rankings last week. The PBR overall rankings only include the states that are intimately known and scouted by our scouting staff. The overall rankings include the Top 400 prospects from our 27 state coverage area, now including all of the New England states.

As our overall rankings continue to expand both in number and coverage area, it gets increasingly difficult for prospects to hold their spot in the overall rankings. Illinois has done more than just hold their own. Being in the Midwest and a cold weather state, impressively 28 players from Illinois have found themselves in the Top 400 Overall.

Another impressive number for the Illinois’ class, eight of the Top 80 in the overall rankings come from the state of Illinois, which speaks to the level of top end talent in this year’s class.

The mainstay at the top of the Illinois rankings and a fixture near the top of the overall rankings is C Cooper Johnson (Carmel Catholic), committed to Mississippi, who comes in once again at No. 4 Overall. Johnson the top ranked overall catcher has been drawing significant draft buzz and looks to be the best high school catch-and-throw backstop in the country.

No. 2 ranked and No. 3 ranked players in Illinois, RHP Drake Fellows (Joliet Catholic) a Vanderbilt commit and SS Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester) heading to Louisville, came in at No. 32 and 33 overall respectively. Fellows, possesses a prototypical pitchers frame and sits in the low 90’s, while Fitzgerald is an elite defender and runs a 6.63 60.

One of the biggest risers in the overall rankings was RHP Garrett Acton (Lemont) a St. Louis commit, who moved up 163 spots since the last update and now sits at 233 overall. Acton recently struck out six hitters in a two-inning stint in Jupiter, while sitting 88-91 mph.

A newcomer to the overall rankings from Illinois is RHP Trey Riley (Edwardsville) who committed to Oklahoma State after making a big jump in velocity this summer. Riley, has been up to 91 mph is now ranked No. 293 overall.

Another interesting prospect in the overalls is LHP Brent Headrick (Reed-Custer) committed to Illinois State, jumped nine spots and is now ranked No. 385. Headrick, a 6-foot-6 long, lanky lefty works from a ¾ slot and loose arm action. His fastball has been up to 87 mph and with his frame there looks to be a lot more in the tank.

CLICK HERE for more on the complete 2016 Overall Rankings.

2016 Overall Rankings: Illinois Analysis

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