Lars Davis

For the second time in three years, Illinois has a Canadian catcher who will go early in the draft. The Tigers made Chris Robinson a third-round pick in 2005, and Lars Davis could go nearly as high two years later. He who won Big 10 Conference player of the year honors after leading the league with 13 homers and ranking second with a .400 average. He bats lefthanded, stands 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and is a better athlete than most catchers. He was a standout volleyball player in high school. Davis has been catching for only 2 1/2 years, as he was a part-time backstop as a freshman at Lethbridge (Alberta) Community College. His defensive skills are adequate, and he has drawn comparisons to Mike Jacobs, an offensive-minded catcher who eventually became a full-time first baseman.