The legend of Columbia Academy slugger Slade Wilks continues to grow with the rising senior named both an Under Armour and Perfect Game All-American.
That marks him as one of the top 40 players in the nation and gives him the opportunity to play at two big league stadiums in nationally broadcast games.
The Under Armour All-American Game is slated for July 22 at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Wilks said it was really cool to be chosen to participate in the game but wasn’t sure if he’d get the call.
“I thought I had a chance at making All-American for Under Armour because they seemed to really like me, but honestly I didn’t think I wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “But to play on national TV on the high school stage is a dream, and I’m looking forward to it.”
He is also looking forward to playing in one of the most majestic ballparks in the country.
“Wrigley Field … that’s awesome. To be playing at Wrigley, much less any big league stadium, is a dream. It’s such a historic park there,” he said.
Wilks will be playing for the American League squad in the game, and Under Armour wrote a brief on Wilks’ profile on its website: “Wilks looks to do damage every time he walks to the plate. He is a solidly-built left-handed hitter with excellent bat speed and legitimate power to all fields. The ball comes off his bat hard, and he also has the arm and range to profile well in RF (right field) at higher levels.”
The Perfect Game All-American Classic will be Aug. 11 at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will also be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Wilks said that while it’s a special honor to be recognized as one of the top 40 high school players in the country by both Under Armour and Perfect Game, he said he doesn’t want to get caught in any accolades and instead wants to use the opportunity to showcase his talents.
Wilks has played against some of the other All-Americans during his time playing summer ball with the East Coast Sox, but he’s looking forward to getting a closer look.
“It’ll be good because we practice some, too, and I may could pick up on some things that they do and the reasons why they’re some of the best players also. I think it can be a good learning experience, and it will be nice to be with the best,” he said.
Wilks has put together an illustrious career at Columbia Academy, breaking into the lineup as an eighth grader and returning from ACL surgery after just seven months to guide the Cougars to a state championship with 14 homers and 48 RBI as a freshman. His bat has remained permanently hot for CA as he’s hit 44 home runs with 138 RBI, 44 stolen bases and a .420 average. Wilks became the school’s all-time leader in career home runs as a sophomore and is tied with his cousin, Luke McKenzie, for most home runs in a single season with 15.
While Wilks is committed to Southern Miss, he has the chance to become a potential top selection in the MLB draft with good performances as an All-American and is ranked as the No. 33 prospect in the country by Perfect Game. He has not said whether he would forego his commitment to USM if drafted, however.
Some of the most notable Under Armour selections in recent years include Byron Buxton, Anthony Alford, Kyler Murray, Scooter Gennett and Jacob Turner, while Perfect Game boasts Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper, Madison Bumgarner, Carlos Correa and Buster Posey.
Pictured Above: CA's Slade Wilks rips a home run in April. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
