CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball program announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent today.

"It's a very athletic class, a very physical class," head coach Dan Hartleb said. " "All of them [four pitchers] have pitch ability and that is something that is very important when you're talking about players that can come in and play for you early on. The thing I like most about this group, besides their arm strength and their pitch ability, is the fact that they are all very competitive. These are players that have played at a high level and won at a high level."

"On the offensive and defensive side, the thing that really stands out to me about that group is the hit ability and the fact we have some players with legitimate power. In our ballpark, that plays pretty well."

"I'm extremely excited about this class and the athleticism they bring as a whole. We have good arms that are great athletes. We have players that have good hit ability and power that are good athletes. When you get athletes in the program and on the field, they can make adjustments easier, faster and better. It's just a great group."

Liam Adamson / RHP
6-0 / 190 / R-R
London, Ontario, Canada / Oakridge Secondary School

• Played in the Canadian Premier Baseball League. Was a member of three league champion teams.
• Is a member of Great Lake Canadians and has competed with the Canadian U-18 National Team in 2021 and 2022.
• Three-time CPBL All-Star (2020, '21, '22) and two-time Great Lake Canadians Pitcher of the Year (2019, '20)
• 2022 CPBL and Perfect Game WWBA roster selection
• Chose Illinois: "Opportunity to play for a coaching staff led by Dan Hartleb.  The staff has extensive experience winning and developing players. Coach [Mark] Allen's background evaluating and developing pitchers and the connection built with Coach [Adam] Christ were big factors.  World class facilities were also a big factor and the chance to play in the Big Ten was attractive. Illinois also has a highly rated business school with a campus and spirit that I cannot wait to be part of. Also, my coach Chris Robinson is a former All American at Illinois and his advice played a big part.."
• Ontario Scholar 2018-22
• Son of Phil and Tarah Adamson. Has two brothers, Myles and Ben, and one sister, Georgia
• Also played basketball in 2018 and '19
• Teammates with fellow signees Parker Burgess and Cameron Chee-Aloy

Parker Burgess / RHP
6-4 / 200 / R-R
Douro-Dummer, Ontario, Canada / St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School 

• Member of Canada's WBSC U-18 World Cup team.
• Played for Canada in The Friendship Series against the United States in 2021.
• 1.90 ERA and 17.9 strikeouts per nine innings ratio for the Canadian Premier Baseball League's Toronto Mets U-17 in 2021.
• Also played AAA hockey for six years and high school basketball for two.
• Chose Illinois: "I felt that Illinois was the right choice for me because of the coaching staff along with the location, facilities and academics."
• Son of Greg and Natalie Burgess. Has one brother, Hudson.
• Teammates with fellow signees Liam Adamson and Cameron Chee-Aloy

Cameron Chee-Aloy / OF
5-11 / 180 / R-R
Toronto, Ontario, Canada / Neil McNeil High School

• Canadian Premier League Baseball MVP and All-Star in 2020
• PBR Future Games 2021
• Has played for Team Canada in 2021 and 2022
• Member of Canada's WBSC U-18 World Cup team.
• Hit .238 (10-42) (5th in average) in a Team Canada trip against professional baseball players in the Dominican Summer League (DSL). Also had the most extra base hits with five doubles.
• Chose Illinois: "I chose Illinois because I thought it was the best fit for me. On my visit I fell in love with the campus and it felt like it could be home for the next four years."
• Volunteers at Variety Village to give back to his community.
• Was also recruited by Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA, Toledo, East Tennessee State, Stony Brook and Wright State.
• Teammates with fellow signees Liam Adamson and Parker Burgess.
• Son of Jason and Melissa Chee-Aloy. One sister, Katelyn.

Regan Hall / LHP
6-0 / 180 / L-L
Albuquerque, N.M. / Volcano Vista High School 

• Will be a four-year letterwinner at Volcano Vista High School. Holds the schools strikeout record.
• Went 7-4 his junior year, racking up 98 strikeouts in 68.0 innings, issuing just five walks.
• First-Team All-State and All-District in 2022. Second-Team All-State and All-District in 2021.
• First-Team All-Academic in 2022. Second-Team All-Academic in 2021.
• Son of Brian and Genny Hall. Has one sister, Kaitlyn. Brian played soccer at Embry Riddle and his uncle, Damon, played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Chose Illinois: "I formed great relationships with the coaching staff at Illinois. Visiting the campus for the first time I was amazed by the greenery and beauty of the urban area. The academic and athletic development of the school is what contributed to my choice of Illinois."
• Played with current Illini Tommy White at the Albuquerque Baseball Academy.
• Was also recruited by New Mexico, Dallas Baptist, Incarnate Word, West Virginia, Wichita State and Pepperdine.

Aden O'Donnell / RHP
6-2 / 195 / R-R
Bettendorf, Iowa / Pleasant Valley High School 

• Will be a three-time letterwinner at Pleasant Valley High School for Derek Stecklein.
• 2021 4A Iowa State Champion.
• Went 2-1 with a 3.99 ERA in 26.1 IP and 37 strikeouts in 2022. In 2021, went 1-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 17.1 innings of work and 20 strikeouts.
• Named to the 2022 Perfect Game Iowa Spring League. Also played in the 2022 Perfect Game Midwest Top Prospects games.
• Three-year letterwinner in football. Started for two years and was a captain during his senior season.
• Academic All-Conference in both baseball and football. Member of National Honors Society.
• Volunteered at baseball, football, and basketball youth camps all four years of high school. Volunteered to practice with the girls varsity basketball team. Volunteered to assist youth softball program. 
• Chose Illinois: "I chose Illinois because it was the perfect fit athletically and academically. I am someone who values my academics and my athletics equally. I was really impressed with the coaching staff, facilities and campus. Illinois is a prestigious business school, which is my intended major. Illinois also plays high-level Big Ten baseball, which I am looking forward to. "
• Son of Ryan and Colette O'Donnell. Has one brother, Reese.
• Was also recruited by Iowa, Creighton, FIU, Southern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Kirkwood, Iowa Western, Des Moines Area CC and Upper Iowa.

Reagan Reeder / INF-OF-RHP
6-5 / 215 / R-R
Anoka, Minn. / Anoka High School 

• Will be three-time letterwinnner at Anoka High School. Plays for head coach Shannon Blansette.
• 2022 Class 4A All-State, All-Conference and All-Section selection.
• Currently holds the school home run and RBI record.
• Batted .424 (28-for-66) with five home runs and 29 RBI in 2022. Reached base safely at a .506 clip and slugged .758, good for a 1.264 OPS.
• Also a three-year varsity started in basketball
• Son of Dustin and Missi Reeder. Has two brothers, Lincoln and Cash, and one sister, Hayden.
• Chose Illinois: "The second I stepped on campus it was a different feeling than the others. I loved the coaches right away and the facilities are amazing, I knew it was the place for me the second I got on campus."
• Was also recruited by North Dakota State, Wichita State, Butler, Purdue, St. Thomas and Northwestern.

Vytas Valincius / INF
6-4 / 230 / R-R
Lockport, Ill. / South Carolina / Baylor High School (TN) 

• Played in five games at South Carolina during the 2022 season, going 1-for-6 with an RBI at the plate.
• Was ranked the No. 1 first baseman and No. 6 overall player in the state of Tennessee by Perfect Game in the class of 2021.
• Was ranked the No. 4 first basemen in the country by Perfect Game in the class of 2021.
• Perfect Game Preseason All-Southeast Region first team (2021).
• Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-Southeast Region second team (2020).
• Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American high honorable mention (2019).
• Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American honorable mention (2018).
• Four-year all-state selection at Baylor High School for coaches Greg Ellie and Mike Kinney.
• Also played basketball
• Son of Jozef Wolyniec and Vaida Valincius. Has one brother, Tomas.
• Chose Illinois because "of the coaches and the environment."
• Played with current Illini Danny Doligale and Ryan Moerman.

Jake Zitella / INF
5-11 / 192 / R-R
West Chicago, Ill. / St. Charles East High School

• Will be a three-year varsity letterwinner at St. Charles East High School for Leonard Asquini.
• Batted .395 with 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 30 RBI in 2022. Also had 24 runs scored and slugged .816. Recorded a 1.299 OPS.
• Two-time DuKane All-Conference, one-time all-area, one-time all-area captain.
• Team MVP in 2022. Won DuKane Conference that season as well.
• Son of Mark and Andrea Zitella. Has two brothers, Joey and Jason.
• Chose Illinois: "I chose Illinois because it's a strong and respected school for both academics and athletics. I am thankful that Coach Adam [Christ] found me and took an interest in me early on. He took me on a tour of the campus and introduced me to everything Illinois had to offer. He also introduced me Head Coach Hartleb and the baseball program.  At that point, I knew this was the school which would assist me in my academic development and allow me to grow as an individual.  Finally, I am happy this school is within driving distance so that my parents can visit me and take in some of my games."
• Assisted in coaching Little League baseball.