Nov. 14, 2007
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois coach Dan Hartleb announced the signing of four student-athletes to national letters of intent Wednesday. Included in the 2008 signing class are Adam Davis, of Bloomingdale, Ill., Corey Kimes, of Ottawa, Ill., Josh Parr, of Chillicothe, Ill., and Bryan Roberts, of Lisle, Ill.
"I am extremely excited about the entire signing class because I feel like we have brought in four outstanding athletes," Hartleb said. "All four have played at a high level in their careers and have been involved in championship programs. The group includes some of the top baseball players and athletes in the state of Illinois, and they will be able to contribute early in their collegiate careers. They also will have the opportunity to help make us a championship program during their careers."
Biographical sketches of the 2007-08 Illinois baseball signees:
Adam Davis, C
6-0 // 195 // R/R // Fr. // Driscoll Catholic HS // Bloomingdale, Ill.
Notes: Listed as the No. 15 prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report...Earned All-Area and All-State honors by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald...Hit .526 with seven home runs and 42 RBI while throwing out 60 percent of would-be base-stealers in 2007...Named All-Suburban Catholic Conference... A running back and a linebacker for Driscoll Catholic football team...Helped Driscoll to an IHSA Class 3A state championship in 2004 and 4A state championships in 2005-06...Has earned six varsity letters - three each in baseball and football...Goes to the same high school as former Illini catcher Patrick Arlis.
Assistant coach Eric Snider on Davis: "Adam is a well-built young player who can catch and throw well. He has only caught for a couple of years, but his ceiling is very high if he continues his work habits. He is a very good athlete and he is a competitive kid who has some pop in his bat."
Corey Kimes, LHP
6-4 // 245 // L/L // Fr. // Ottawa HS // Ottawa, Ill.
Notes: Ranked No. 27 in the state by Prep Baseball Report ...PBR calls his fastball "one of the best in the state"...Recorded 166 strikeouts with just 53 walks in two varsity seasons at Ottawa...Two-time All-NCIC first team selection...Has an 11-7 varsity record with a 3.01 ERA in two seasons...Named 2007 Ottawa Outstanding Pitcher of the Year...Played for Illinois Sparks summer team...Has earned three varsity letters - two in baseball and one in basketball...Named Most Improved and had the best free throw percentage on the OHS basketball team in 2006-07.
Assistant coach Ken Westray on Kimes: "With hard work and commitment, Corey has the potential to develop into a top performer for us. He has a good, athletic body and brings good arm strength. He has solid natural skills to develop and build on through hard work."
Josh Parr, SS
5-11 // 165 // R/R // Fr. // Illinois Valley Central HS // Chillicothe, Ill.
Notes: Named to the 2007 Class A All-State team at shortstop by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association...Listed as the No. 34 prospect in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report ...Named the 2007 All-NCIC Conference shortstop...Also named to the 2007 Peoria Journal Star All-Area team...Hit .500 in 2007...Led IVC to the 2006 IHSA Class A state title, playing in every game and hitting .300...Has earned five varsity letters - three in baseball and two in basketball...Father, Cam, played baseball and basketball at Huntington College, where he earned all-conference honors at shortstop his junior and senior years...Mother, Sue, played tennis at Illinois Wesleyan...Uncle, Steve McRaven, played tennis at Illinois.
Coach Snider on Parr: "Josh has good tools, hands and arm strength. He's matured physically a great deal in the last two years and will continue to do so. He's the kind of player who just finds a way to get in the lineup and will do that with our program."
Bryan Roberts, RHP
6-3 // 205 // R/R // Fr. // Benet Academy // Lisle, Ill.
Notes: Listed as the No. 19 recruit in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report ...Named all-area and All-East Suburban Catholic Conference in 2007...Compiled a 1.41 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings...His fastball has topped out at 92...Member of Team Illinois, a summer club team...Also played for the Illinois Sparks during the summer...Two-year baseball letterwinner...Grandfather, Tom Roberts, played football and DePaul and in the NFL with the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.
Coach Hartleb on Roberts: "Bryan is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to be a dual threat for us. He can be a front-line pitcher and also will have the ability to be very good offensively. He brings a catcher's mentality to the mound, pitching with a great deal of aggressiveness."
