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College  | Recruiting  | 11/12/2020

Head of the Class: No. 7 Louisville

Connor Spencer     
Photo: Daylen Lile (Perfect Game)
Recruiting Rankings |  2021 High School Player Rankings | Recruiting Database


7. Louisville



Full 2021-2022 Recruiting Class
Head Coach: Dan McDonnell | Recruiting Coordinator: Eric Snider

Top 5 Recruits:

Rk. Name POS. HT WT B-T High School Hometown ST
54 Daylen Lile OF 6-0 195 L-R Trinity Louisville KY
102 Noah Smith SS 6-2 185 R-R Marist Chicago IL
150 Kurtis Reid SS 6-2 190 R-R Hamilton Hamilton OH
165 Ethan Wood RHP 6-7 215 R-R Danville Danville KY
178 Will Koger RHP 6-2 180 L-R Bardstown Bardstown KY

*Rk. Denotes National Rank in PG HS Class of 2021

Louisville’s class of 2021 consists of a myriad of homegrown talent, including some of the best prospects the central United States has to offer. Since 2019, Louisville has found a ton of value out of players in their own region, and that approach will continue to pay dividends as the NCAA dead period is still in effect as we speak and is likely to be extended once again, well into the first portion of 2021. After going 13-4 in the shortened 2020 season, the Cardinals quite blatantly did what they were supposed to do and were well on their way to another successful season, as well as a possible deep playoff run. Don’t expect those expectations to change with this extremely talented 2021 class.

No. 54 overall in the class of 2021 and PG All-American Daylen Lile (2021, Louisville, K.Y.) can do just about anything you ask him to on the diamond. With a 6.70 second sixty-yard dash time and video game like athleticism that’s starting to translate to his baseball actions, Lile projects to be a top prospect heading into next summer. What’s so exciting about Lile is not simply his projectable athleticism, but truly, it’s his plus hit tool that continues to shine through at Perfect Game events against quality pitching talents. He had a huge opportunity to float his draft stock this summer at the WWBA World Championship as well as the PG All-American game. 

Noah Smith (2021, Chicago, Ill.) Smith still has the makings of a fantastic infielder, and he’s someone who could make an immediate impact for coach McDonnell. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Smith’s frame is begging to get stronger and it’s not hard to imagine him at 200 pounds or more by the end of his freshman campaign. Smith is very hitterish at the plate, and his handsy foundation will continue to advance his game as he matures and adjusts to the talent jump that his senior year of high school entails. After his fall in the national rankings, there’s an even better chance that he makes it to campus and provides an immediate spark in 2021. Moreover, the Cardinals add Kurtis Reid (2021, Hamilton, O.) who’s another middle infielder with the potential to make an immediate impact with his fantastic barrel control and fluid actions at short. The No. 150 overall 2021 could develop into one of the most well-rounded ball players in this crop.

Coach McDonnell’s staff has to be excited about the high upside of right-hander Ethan Wood (2021, Danville, K.Y.) who has a power fastball up to 94 mph. Wood has flashed some seriously impressive stuff when his secondary pitches are on, however, he’s still developing his identity on the mound, and the overall product could be especially scary when he does. The stuff is already plus as his power fastball is more than enough velo to make him an uncomfortable at bat for even some of the best hitters in his class. His 6-foot-7 frame makes his fastball play up, and that only stands to be an asset at the next level. Expect for Wood to make a jump this spring as he continues to find himself and mature on the bump and expect for him to make it to campus and develop into a top tier draft talent.

Yet another promising arm, Will Koger (2021, Bardstown, K.Y) can run his fastball up to 93 mph and has a solid feel for both his breaking ball and changeup. What’s interesting is Koger has the potential to be a true two-way threat for the Cardinals with a 6.65 second sixty-yard dash and quick hands that can slash the ball to all fields. 

On top of Wood and Koger, there’s an abundance of quality right-handed arms in this class including No. 216 overall Kade Grundy (2021, Winchester, K.Y), No. 275 overall Carson Liggett (2021, Overland Park, Kan.), and No. 354 Kyle Walter (2021, Shorewood, Ill.)

Two bats that really impressed at the WWBA World Championship were Austin Bode (2021, Columbus, IN), Camden Jordan (2021, Indianapolis, IN) and could make an immediate impact. Keep an eye on projectable bat Eddie King Jr. (2021, Lynwood, IL) is another bat to keep an eye on and could be a big power bat for the Cardinal in the future. 
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