It is still extremely early to be forecasting Class of 2027 prospects, especially since they have yet to play a high school spring season. We are fully aware that these prospects are nowhere near their future potential ceiling, but there are a number of prospects who have emerged throughout 2023 that look to be the next crop of high-level players to come through the state - with several of these names deserving national attention.

With the new recruiting rules there is still plenty of time before the majority of these 2027s will hit the recruiting trail, since they now can not communicate with college coaches until August 1st heading into their junior season. Before the rules had taken effect in 2023, four Illinois prospects, all of whom can be found in the initial Top-20 list, had made commitments. The rest of the list should stay uncommitted until they can communicate with coaches.

In Illinois, we have rolled out a conservative Top-20, consisting of players we have had the opportunity to evaluate over a number of different looks and feel confident that they will be names that should be known in Illinois over the coming years. As it happens in every class, prospects mature and pop at all different times throughout their high school career. As a result, this list will be sure to change, grow and evolve until the time this class graduates in the spring of 2027.

For now, let's take a look at some of the 2027s in the state we currently feel best about.

THE TOP FIVE

Heading the 2027 class in Illinois is OF Sebastian Wilson (Lane Tech; Tennessee commit). Wilson, a talented left-handed hitter, already possesses high-level tools across the board to go along with his wide-shouldered, well-proportioned build that should continue to tick up as he moves through high school. The high-level national prospect is a sub-7.0 runner, has a fluid, impactful swing and strong arm that currently tops at 90 mph. He is also more than capable on the mound, with a fastball that climbs up to 86 mph and feel for his offspeed. Wilson has all the tools to stay towards the top of the class moving forward and should play prominently in the National rankings when they are released later this week.

Josh Morgan (Fenwick) is another talented outfielder who comes in at No. 2 on the initial list. Morgan is a former 2022 Junior Future Games standout where he left a lasting impression when he launched a no-doubt home run over the left-field fence at LakePoint before he entered his eighth grade year. The right-handed hitter showed no signs of slowing down in 2023 as we saw him make a bunch of loud in-game contact with a knack to elevate the baseball to the pull-side. On top of that, Morgan runs a 6.67 60 and has garnered a high-level offer in football already. Below is what we had to say on Morgan coming out of a 2023 spring Rising Stars event:

“Morgan emerged as a high-follow in the class, showing well-above average tools across the board. Morgan has a 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame and opened eyes running a 6.67 laser-timed 60, the best of the event. He then proceeded to take a polished, strong round of BP, routinely barreling baseballs up the middle of the field, working on the barrel and to both gaps with authority. He also moved with a purpose in the outfield and showed a strong arm that topped at 85 mph. Morgan will be a name to follow closely as he starts working his way through high school”

SS Colin Campbell (Brother Rice; Louisville commit) looks to be the next high-level shortstop from the Illinois/Wisconsin region (Christian Knapczyk, Alex Alicea, Ethan Moore, among others) to head to the ACC program. Campbell is a left-handed hitter with well above-average bat-to-ball skills and current sneaky gap power for his size. He also has a high baseball IQ, can stick at shortstop and is a difference maker on the basepaths.

Another Brother Rice product, 3B/UTIL Gavin Stanislawski, is ranked No. 4 on the initial list. Stanislawski, like Morgan, is another uncommitted Junior Future Games alum, with all kinds of upside and present talent in his game. The physical, 6-foot-1, 190-pound, right-handed hitter has middle of the order potential with the bat and is an above-average defender on the left side of the infield.

Here is a nugget from one of the games this July at the Junior Future Games:
“In his first at-bat of the game, Stanislawski blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall to give Illinois the early 2-0 lead. He was a standout in the game on the defensive side as well, manning the third base position throughout. His work was highlighted by a diving play to his right side, tagging a runner out and throwing it across the diamond to record a double play.”

SS/ATH Blake Ragsdale (Lyons Township; TCU commit) rounds out the Top-five of the 2027 Illinois class. Ragsdale stands out on the diamond thanks to his athleticism, motor and all-around ability. Defensively, he plays with range and bounce on the infield that could profile all over the field if needed. He is dynamic on the base paths, always looking to put pressure on the defense and take the extra base. Offensively, he creates above-average jump off the bat for his size with all kinds of feel for the barrel and a whole field approach.

Stay tuned for more coverage of some more 2027 names to know in Illinois, coming in the next couple of days.

RANK	NAME	SCHOOL	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Sebastian Wilson	Lane Tech	OF	Tennessee
2	Josh Morgan	Fenwick	OF	-
3	Colin Campbell	Brother Rice	SS	Louisville
4	Gavin Stanislawski	Brother Rice	UTL	-
5	Blake Ragsdale	Lyons Township	SS	Texas Christian
6	Cole Ruggeri	Waubonsie Valley	RHP	Missouri
7	Cullen Schwigen	Rockridge	RHP	-
8	Jacsen Tucker	Oswego East	SS	-
9	Kaden Wasniewski	McHenry	3B	-
10	Kash VanHouten	Canton	SS	-

**CLICK HERE FOR THE 2027 RANKINGS PAGE**

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