Fall Recruiting Roundup: JUCO Edition
December 10, 2021
Today, we begin an in-depth look at Illinois prospects who have committed to play at the next level this fall. We began taking a look at all of the fall commitments, ranging from on Sept. 22 through Dec. 8.
There were a total of 99 commitments over this time frame to play at the NJCAA level, four of whom were members of Team Illinois at the 2020 PBR Future Games: OF/1B Cooper Ohlson, OF Josh Outlaw, C/1B Will Plattner and RHP/OF Luka Radicevich.
Brady Small (Lemont, 2022), the No. 24-ranked player in the state, showed well at multiple events over the last year such as the Illinois State Games and the PBR Midwest Pro Day back in September before landing at Iowa Western.
‘22 @PBR_Uncommitted LHH Brady Small (@Lemont_Baseball) is one of the top available bats in IL. @ShooterHunt
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) June 26, 2021
Goes L/L oppo #PBRBombSquad ⬇️
(#ILStateGames | @PrairieGravel) pic.twitter.com/Ele4yWHb6q
Another @PBR_Uncommitted ‘22 showing well for @elite_baseball is MIF Patrick Graham (@NNHS_Baseball).
— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) September 11, 2021
One of the better middle infield defenders in the state and drives a double ⬇️.
Just followed it up with a HR to left. #PBRFallChamp pic.twitter.com/PPVrkE3MR4
Above, MIF Patrick Graham (Naperville North, 2022) was one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state this fall, showing well at the PBR Fall Championship and eventually committing to Wabash Valley. C Charlie Marisca (Grayslake Central, 2022) took full advantage of the PBR at The Rock Champioships after de-comitting from Mizzou and eventually landing with Parkland.
From earlier: #Mizzou recruit Charlie Marisca (Grayslake Central, IL, 2022) launched this grand slam at the big field. He’s an athletic backstop with a fluid LH swing and natural lift through impact.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 25, 2021
(@PBRIllinois)#PBRatTheRock | @toptiernorth pic.twitter.com/2rU3FJxCgv
The Unsigned Senior Showcase in October gave prospects a last-minute opportunity to showcase their skill sets in front of college coaches. No one took advantage of this more than C/RHP Jacob Filip, who showed extremely well throughout the day and eventually landed at John A. Logan. Filip showcased one of the strongest overall arms on the entire day, reaching up to 85 mph from the crouch and 89 on the mound.
John A. Logan landed two more notable right-handers throughout this time in Drew Pestka (Cartersville) and Landon Geragosian (Breese Central). Pestka made his first-ever PBR appearance at the St. Louis Open back in June and immediately gained traction in the recruiting scene; recording a fastball in the low 90s and later committing in the fall.
The Senior Games back in August produced some impressive breakout players, one of whom being Kaskaskia commit C Ryan Kelly (Huntley). Kelly stood out among the rest with a strong showing both offensively and behind the plate, recording the second best pop-time in the entire event at 2.02.
Here's another couple players who can be found in the state's Class of 2022 Rankings: RHP Jack Wajda (Providence Catholic) and MIF Eli Hensley (Normal West). Wajda, a strong right-hander who is committed to play at Florida's Chipola College, was one of the Biggest Risers over the last year, showcasing a fastball in the upper 80s. Hensley, a Black Hawk commit, is a toolsy middle infielder slotted at No. 84 overall in Illinois. The left-handed hitter uses a loose/whippy swing with a level path through the zone to attack the entire field, while also looking completely natural on the infield with a max velo across measured at 85 mph.
For a view at the rest of the NJCAA commits to come out of Illinois since the end of September, take a look below:
NJCAA COMMITMENTS
NAME | HIGH SCHOOL | POS. | CLASS | COMMITMENT |
Nico Acevedo | Crystal Lake Central | C/RHP | 2022 | McHenry County |
Michael Addari | Libertyville | RHP/OF | 2022 | Parkland |
Nile Adcock | Pinckneyville | RHP/INF | 2022 | Kaskaskia |
Tyler Adkins | Metamora | INF/RHP | 2022 | Lincoln Land |
Tyler Altenbaumer | St. Joseph-Ogden | RHP | 2022 | Southwestern Illinois |
Michael Ascencio | Joliet Catholic | INF/RHP | 2022 | Kaskaskia |
Aden Aukland | Plainfield East | OF/RHP | 2022 | College of DuPage |
Brock Bacus |
Normal Community | INF/RHP | 2022 | Danville Area CC |
Brek Baranoski | Joliet Catholic | INF | 2022 | Triton |
Carson Beal |
Normal University | 1B | 2022 | Morton |
Matthew Bivens | Yorkville | 1B/OF | 2022 | Iowa Central |
Byron Blaise | Sycamore | C/1B | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Elijah Boeye | Rock Island | C/OF | 2022 | Illinois Central |
CJ Byrdak | Lockport | RHP | 2022 | Iowa Central |
Caden Castro | Pittsfield | OF/RHP | 2022 | McHenry County |
Ean Compton | Princeton | LHP | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Jayden Cummings | Simeon | MIF/OF | 2022 | Parkland |
Owen Cutinello | South Elgin | C/3B | 2022 | Elgin CC |
Mark DeCicco | Crystal Lake South | RHP/INF | 2022 | McHenry County |
Zach Diver | Dunlap | INF/RHP | 2022 | Sauk Valley |
Aidan Dodson | South Central | RHP | 2023 | John A. Logan |
Luke Dragin | Antioch | LHP/OF | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Braiden Elliot | Tri-Valley | OF/LHP | 2022 | Lincoln Trail |
Lenox Estremera | Proviso West | INF | 2022 | Kishwaukee |
Ian Farrell | Saint Viator | INF | 2022 | Lake Land |
Jacob Filip |
Lakes Community | C/RHP | 2022 | John A. Logan |
Will Fletcher | Wheaton North | RHP | 2022 | Heartland |
Grant Garret |
Grayslake North | C/OF | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Landon Geragosian | Breese Central | RHP | 2022 | John A. Logan |
Lucas Goldstein |
Huntley | INF/RHP | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Patrick Graham |
Naperville North | MIF | 2022 | Wabash Valley |
Jaxson Grubbs |
Maroa-Forsyth | RHP/1B | 2022 | Lewis and Clark |
Sebastian Gutierrez | Nazareth Academy | INF/RHP | 2022 | Parkland |
Carter Hall |
Champaign Central | C/INF | 2022 | Morton |
Eli Hensley |
Normal West | MIF | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Davis Hoffstatter |
Moline | RHP/1B | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Quinn Hoftender | Orion | LHP | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Zach Holton |
Moline | RHP | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Ashton Horchem | Limestone | OF/MIF | 2022 | Frontier CC |
Anthony Huerta |
Von Steuben | RHP | 2022 | Morton |
Connor Janik |
Peotone | INF | 2022 | Kankakee |
Joe Jefferson |
Normal West | C/INF | 2022 | Spoon River |
Joel Johnson |
Oswego | INF/OF | 2022 | Waubonsee |
Matt Kelliher | Plainfield South | RHP | 2022 | Heartland |
Ryan Kelly |
Huntley | C/RHP | 2022 | Kaskaskia |
Ryan Kempf |
Crystal Lake Central | C/INF | 2022 | McHenry County |
Cole Kersten |
McHenry County | INF/RHP | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Kannon Kleine |
Galesburg | C/INF | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Evan Kochel | Normal University | C/1B | 2022 | Lincoln Land |
Nick Krueger |
Clifton Central | RHP | 2022 | Kankakee |
Jackson Lindquist |
Winnebago | MIF/OF | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Ezekiel Lopez |
Morton West | INF/RHP | 2022 | Morton |
Charlie Marisca | Grayslake Central | C | 2022 | Parkland |
Jonny Marquez |
South Elgin | 1B/LHP | 2022 | Waubonsee |
Caden Martin | Bishop McNamara | C/OF | 2022 | Kankakee |
Chase Martin |
Roanoke-Benson | RHP/INF | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Joseph Matteson |
Effingham | C/OF | 2022 | Lake Land |
Matthew Merk |
Lockport | C/OF | 2022 | Eastern Florida SC |
Harout Meyer |
Huntley | RHP/INF | 2022 | McHenry County |
Logan Mills |
McHenry | INF/C | 2022 | Elgin CC |
Michael Mucha |
Lockport | RHP/OF | 2022 | Western Technical |
Jake Nelms |
Geneseo | LHP | 2022 | Spoon River |
Kevin Niedzwiedz |
Batavia | INF | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Ryan Norman |
Minooka | RHP/OF | 2022 | Kankakee |
Will O’Gorman | Moline | LHP/1B | 2022 | Parkland |
Cooper Ohlson |
Lyons Township | OF/1B | 2022 | John A. Logan |
Josh Outlaw |
Maine West | OF | 2022 | Parkland |
Giovanni Pamias | Oak Park River Forest | MIF | 2022 | Bryant and Stratton |
Drew Pestka |
Cartersville | RHP | 2022 | John A. Logan |
Jake Petak | Lincoln-Way East | OF/1B | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Will Plattner |
Glenwood | C/1B | 2022 | Wabash Valley |
Ethan Plym |
Hall | RHP/INF | 2022 | Black Hawk |
Rick Powell | McHenry | OF/INF | 2022 | Rock Valley |
Luka Radicevich |
Joliet Catholic | RHP/OF | 2022 | Chipola College |
Jake Radosevich | Triad | C/INF | 2022 | Lewis and Clark |
Nick Rainey |
Illinois Valley Central | RHP | 2022 | Heartland |
Andrew Randazzo |
Maine South | OF | 2022 | Lincoln Land |
Brennon Reed | Bloomington | OF/LHP | 2022 | Danville Area CC |
Dean Rizzo |
Huntley | CIF | 2022 | Kishwaukee |
Connor Roark |
Glenwood | RHP | 2022 | Spoon River |
Tyler Robbins |
Altamont | INF/RHP | 2022 | Spoon River |
Blake Roundtree |
LeRoy | OF/RHP | 2022 | McHenry County |
Dylan Sayles |
Hononegah | C/OF | 2022 | Indian Hills |
Charlie Schau | Maine South | OF/INF | 2022 | Madison |
Brady Small | Lemont | 1B/OF | 2022 | Iowa Western |
David Smith | Tremont | RHP/INF | 2022 | Carl Sandburg |
Blake Sotir |
Batavia | RHP/MIF | 2022 | Waubonsee |
Jake Spotofora | Joliet Catholic | RHP | 2022 | College of DuPage |
Cale Steinbaugh |
Georgetown-Ridgefarm | MIF | 2022 | Heartland |
Mason Struck |
Crystal Lake South | MIF | 2022 | Kishwaukee |
McGwire Taylor |
Fairfield Community | LHP | 2022 | Wabash Valley |
Jorgie Vazquez |
Mount Carmel | INF | 2022 | Triton |
Jack Wajda |
Providence Catholic | RHP | 2022 | Chipola College |
Michael Wanhala |
Huntley | C/OF | 2022 | Morton |
Gavin Wernsing |
Stewardson Strasburg | LHP | 2022 | Southwestern Illinois |
Brendan Whalen |
Grayslake Central | RHP/1B | 2022 | Lake Land |
Luke Wickenhauser |
Calhoun | RHP/OF | 2022 | Lincoln Land |
Ben Wisniewski |
West Aurora | C/INF | 2022 | Milwaukee Area Tech |
Joey Wizceb |
Vernon Hills | LHP | 2022 | McHenry County |
David Zaragoza | Lockport | RHP/INF | 2022 | South Suburban |