On Saturday, March 1st, we hosted our Preseason All-State: Underclass event, perennially our most exclusive and talented event on our winter calendar for rising freshman and sophomores. This past year we saw over 150 of the top players from around the state, giving us one final look before the spring season kicked off.

Read on below for a look at the top overall prospects from the day:

TOP 2028 PROSPECTS

1. Carver Cohn, McHenry (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 161.8 pounds. Athletic frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. LH: Athletic setup, small, quiet stride with minimal stride. RH: Athletic, slight crouch, slightly open stance, short/simple stride. LH: Athletic hands with whip in the barrel, stays through the zone with intent. RH: Easy with length through the zone, slightly uphill path, barrel control, all fields approach. 74.7 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (89.6 avg.).
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Clean, long arm path, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic feet, stays behind the ball, confident actions, one-hand gather, has range.
Athletic Testing: 6.95 runner in the 60-yard dash; 30.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 74.41 Edge Score.

2. Jack Postma, Barrington (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-4, 185-pounds. Highly-projectable, long-levered frame with plenty more to come down the road.
Delivery: Simple/controlled delivery, medium leg kick into slightly coiled balance point, tall/fall lower-half, lands inline.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, ¾ slot.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. Life through the zone, late armside run. T2237, 2111 average rpm.
CB: 70-73 mph. Short vertical action, 12/6 shape. T1983, 1911 average rpm.
CH: 77-79 mph. True feel for the pitch, natural fade and tumble. T1952, 1798 average rpm.

3. Cole Clower, Providence Catholic (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Strength in the frame with upside.
Delivery: Simple, repeatable, smaller leg lift with slight tuck, tall/fall down the mound, controlled.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm path, 3/4 slot, quickness out front.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Plays with arm-side action, clean out of the hand. T2330, 2252 average rpm.
CB: 71-71 mph. 11/5 shape, confident, played low in the zone. T2135, 2078 average rpm.
KN: 72-72 mph. Worked with fade.

Positional Profile: SS
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow setup, quiet leg lift, minimal stride. Whip in the barrel, balanced with strength, on the barrel up the middle. 72.6 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (90 avg.).
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Quick, compact arm, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather, plays through the ball, short shuffle step to target, plays well laterally, clean double play turn, athletic actions.
Athletic Testing: 7.49 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.80-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 57.4 Edge Score.

4. Kanon Baxley, Kaneland (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 150 pounds. High-waisted frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched setup, small up/down leg lift. Bat-speed, longer through the zone with a flat path, whippy with some twitch, on the barrel up the middle. 72.3 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 mph max exit velocity (90.3 avg.).
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Strong, compact arm action, ¾ slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, glove-pat transfer, shuffles through to target, has range up the middle, clean double play turn.
Athletic Testing: 7.00 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.50-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 82.17 Edge Score.

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. High-waisted frame with some present strength throughout.
Delivery: Clean, simple mover, high leg lift, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 85-87 mph. Clean out of the hand, some arm-side run. T2125, 2076 average rpm.
CB: 75-76 mph. 11/5 shape, sharp action, depth. T3279, 3096 average rpm.
SL: 78-78 mph. Short, horizontal shape. T2613, 2580 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Plays with tumble and fading action. T1176, 1125 average rpm.

5. Ryan Pipkins, Champaign Central (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 165 pounds. Wiry frame, room for added strength.
Hit: LHH. Taller setup, slight crouch, small leg lift load, short stride. Short and direct, creates extension through contact, balanced. 69.5 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (88.2 avg.).
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot.
Defense: Stays behind the ball, ranges well, one-hand gather, soft glove.
Athletic Testing: 6.97 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.70-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 72.67 Edge Score.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Simple, easy mover, high leg lift with tuck, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm action, loose, 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 80-83 mph. Comes out of the hand clean, mostly straight. T2138, 1936 average rpm.
CB: 63-67 mph. 11/5 shape, showed some feel. T2131, 2034 average rpm.
SL: 66-68 mph. Short, horizontal action. T2062, 2047 average rpm.
CH: 66-68 mph. Some fade, decel. T1568, 1472 average rpm.

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