Preseason All-State: Statistical Analysis

On Feb. 10, PBR Illinois hosted one of its biggest showcases on its annual calendar: Preseason All-State. This invite-only showcase brings together the state’s best talent in its 2020 class, and all that talent was certainly on display at The MAX over the weekend. Well over 100 of Illinois’ best juniors made it to McCook on Sunday, many of whom remain uncommitted.

After publishing our Quick Hits post yesterday, we’ll turn our attention to the top statistical performers from the invite-only showcase today.

The amount of speedsters at the event was staggering. There were almost 30 prospects who recorded a sub-7.00 mark in the 60-yard dash, led by Champaign Central's OF Connor Milton (Illinois commit), who notched a 6.51 time himself.

The pitchers who made it out looked closer to mid-season form than we would have ever expected, too. If you haven't heard, De La Salle's RHP Ben Hernandez (Illinois-Chicago) touched 94 mph multiple times at The MAX and no one matched that high. Two other arms touched that 90 mph mark: RHP/INF Ernie Day (Taft; Miami-Ohio) at 90 mph, and RHP/OF Isaiah Jackson (Champaign Central; uncommitted) at 93 mph.

Speaking of Jackson, he and Wheaton North's SS/OF Andy Nelson (Iowa) are at or near the top of each of the statistical categories they participated in. The two finished back-to-back in the top-five times of the 60-yard dash, at 6.61 and 6.63, respectively. Nelson recorded an exit velocity of 97 mph while Jackson topped at 95 mph. Nelson took infield reps, as well as outfield ones, and almost finished at the top of both leaderboards – 91 mph across the infield and an event-best 93 mph to home. Jackson's 92 mph throws home finished second in velocity to Nelson's.

Behind the plate, the Purdue-bound backstop Mike Schicker (Riverside-Brookfield) topped both the catcher velocity (83 mph) and pop time (1.94-2.01) leaderboards. Notre Dame's Matthew Murphy and Harriburg's Isaac Crabb both put together strong statistical days, too, and both are on the market. Murphy recorded a 94 mph exit velocity from the tee in addition to some of the quickest average pop times (1.96-2.09), as well as one of the strongest arms (81 mph), while Crabb averaged a slightly lower pop time with identical catcher velo marks.

The lone triple-digit exit velocity mark belongs to Metea Valley corner infielder Cade Sullivan (uncommitted), who topped at 102 mph, five ticks better the next best. Once again, Nelson's 97 mph mark placed him second on this leaderboard, while Edwardsville 1B Drake Westcott (Louisville) reached 96 mph.

In the infield, no one got close to Jacob Mote (Normal University; uncommitted) and his 94 mph throws to first base. He also ran a 6.75 and is among the top ranked prospects in the state without a commitment.

Continue reading on below for statistical leaderboards from each measured category taken on Sunday. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for updated video, news, and reports coming out of the All-State showcase.