James
Novakovic

Purdue commit, currently ranked No. 29 in the Illinois’ 2023 class. 6-foot-1, 185-pound, well-proportioned, left-handed hitting shortstop. Advanced defender at shortstop with natural instincts and feel for the game. Arm plays easy, from multiple slots and highly accurate. Can play off-kilter and make lays on the move look easy. Soft, confident hands, smooth glove-to-hand release and internal clock. Offensively, loose hands, bat plays with loft through the zone, stays inside the baseball and works up the middle and to the opposite field comfortably. Went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.  

James Novakovic (New Trier, 2024) was one of the top all-around prospects on the day. Novakovic has a calmness and polish to everything he does on the field starting with his presence in the left-handed batters box. Novakovic stays quiet and simple, routinely getting the barrel through the zone on time and making hard lifted contact to the pull-side gap while staying balanced throughout.  Novakovic has active bouncy feet on the infield while playing through the baseball in rhythm with clean, soft hands and polished glove-to-hand release. 

Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-1, 182-pounds. Lean, athletic build. Projectable frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setu. Fluid load and leg-lift. Athletic hands, stays on-plane, natural lift, gap-to-gap approach, controlled finish.
Power: 89.3 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Short, clean arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Easy carry on throws across the diamond.
Defense: Plays with rhythm and tempo. Quick, confident hands. Under control on the move.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. 

From New Trier, Novakovic has a fluid, uphill stroke and savvy infield actions with the ability to play comfortably on the move and throw from multiple platforms. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 182-pounds. Wiry, high-waisted frame.
Hit: L. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride with an occasional toe-tap trigger.  Loose hands with bat speed, short and uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach and repeats.
Power: 86.9 max exit velocity, averaged 79.5 mph. 292’ max distance.
Arm: R. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Present pre-pitch bounce, nimble feet, smooth lower half that works in rhythm around the baseball, athletic on the move. Soft hands, ultra-quick hand transfer, savvy actions.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 169-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap trigger, short stride, advanced pre-pitch actions. Fluid, athletic swing, average bat speed of 71.6 MPH, path works uphill, gap-to-gap approach with pull side tendencies, line drives.
Power: 87.13 max exit velocity, averaged 80.69 mph. 314’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Steady hands, clean exchanges, smooth double play turn.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 156-pounds. Athletic build.
Delivery: Simple tall/fall type delivery with some tempo, level shoulders, works in line to target and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 75-76 mph. Two-seam/sinker type pitch, showed both run and sink.
CB: 64-66 mph. 12/6 shape with sharp, late break in his ‘pen. 

Hit: LHH. Open, balanced setup, smooth load and short toe-tap stride. Fluid rhythm, loose, athletic hands, natural lift in swing and made a lot of hard lifted contact to the pull-side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 88.56 with a max distance of 326' during BP, according to TrackMan. 69 mph of max bat speed, via Blast.
Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. Short, loose arm action, accurate arm with the ability to throw from multiple slots.
Defense: Bouncy, actiony defender on the infield. Plays natural on the move, soft confident hands, body control and clean release. Advanced double play turn. Has the tools to stick at shortstop moving forward.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-foot-11, 152-pounds. Lanky, athletic build. Room to grow.
Hit: LHH. Tall open set-up, smooth hand load, controlled leg kick into short stride.  Short and level bat path, power approach to the pull-side, extension through the baseball, took an impressive round.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 release point, baseball carries across diamond, quick release.
Defense: Solid actions, active footwork, soft hands, clean exchange,
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, utilizes slide step out of stretch.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 release point, short arm action, regular effort.
FB: T75, 71-74 mph. Sinking movement, thrown for strikes.
CB: 58-62 mph. 11/5 shape, pops up out of hand.