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2016 Overall Rankings: Illinois Analysis

March 11, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

It has been a busy winter for the 2016 Class in Illinois. In January the last Unsigned Senior Showcase was held for the 2016 Class and in February the Super 60 took place. The 14th Annual Super 60 Pro Showcase featured the top 2016 draft prospects from 19 different states.  12 of the 60 plus participants were from the Land of Lincoln. On top of those two events, four preseason I.D. events took place this winter where some 2016’s were present.

After taking a look and analyzing all of the winter showcases, Illinois updated its state specific Top 250 2016 player rankings last week. The recent class of 2016 coverage was capped off by the updated PBR overall rankings last week. It is important to note that the PBR overall rankings only include the states that we intimately known from our scouting staff. The updated Top 400 Class of 2016 rankings is comprised of our current 30-state coverage area, which now includes Nebraska and all 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 31 players from Illinois have found themselves in the Top 400 Overall. In the previous Overall Rankings Update last November Illinois had 28 players in the Top 400.

Coming in at No. 7 overall, is the No. 1 player in Illinois, C Cooper Johnson (Carmel Catholic HS) who is committed to Mississippi. Johnson continued to impress this winter at the Super 60 showing elite defensive capabilities and gap-to-gap abilities offensively. He recorded an event-best 85 mph from the crouch and ran a personal best 7.26 laser-timed 60.

Louisville commit and No. 2 ranked player in Illinois SS Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester HS) made a jump into the Top 30 of the Overall Rankings. The 6-foot-3 Fitzgerald was one of the most impressive infielders at the Super 60. He showed once again he is a premium athlete, running a 6.71 laser-timed 60. Offensively, he generated easy bat speed and made consistent hard contact at the plate.

RHP Brenden Heiss (Jacobs HS) was one of the biggest risers from Illinois jumping 22 spots in the Overall’s, now sitting at No. 48. Heiss, an Arkansas commit, eclipsed the Super 60 record when his first fastball of the event registered at 96 mph and he proceeded to sit 93-94 throughout his bullpen. Aside from his fastball, Heiss threw his changeup aggressively and for strikes in the 82-85 range. His slider was inconsistent, but flashed a few with sharp, late bite at 76-77.

Three newcomers to the Overall Rankings are RHP’s Tyler McAlister (Waterloo HS), Christian Camacho (Elk Grove HS) and switch-hitting C/UTIL Andrew Millas (Belleville East HS). McAllister, a Missouri State commit, comes in at No. 281 Overall. McAllister who possesses a clean, quick arm, made a jump this winter and has been up to 91 mph. Camacho, committed to Auburn, ranked in the Top 250 Overall, is an undersized right-hander who was up to 91 mph in Jupiter this fall with a swing-and-miss breaking ball. Millas, another Missouri State commit, is highly athletic, has a strong arm and can play anywhere on the diamond.

CLICK HERE the complete 2016 Overall Rankings.

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