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Argo plans to play at Illinois despite being drafted

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By Shannon Heaton | Monday, June 16, 2008 5:52 PM CDT | () comments

Despite his selection by major league baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks, it appears Assumption senior Willie Argo will head to Champaign, Ill.

Argo, who was drafted in the 49th round of last week’s amateur draft by the Diamondbacks, said late last week that it was more than likely that he’ll continue his plans to enroll at the University of Illinois and play baseball there in 2009.

“It would have to be a record amount for the 49th round to get me to go,” Argo said. “They’re going to come to Burlington (later in the season) to see me play, and we’ll talk then.

“I’d say it’s about 100 percent that I’m going to go to college.”

On the first day of the draft last week, Argo went through his usual routine — working in the early-morning hours, then going to practice as usual.

“I wasn’t too nervous about it; I wasn’t on the edge of my seat during the first five rounds,” Argo said. “I was talking with Brance (Muscatine’s Brance Rivera), and I didn’t know if I would be picked, but once they got into the 30th round, I knew I’d be going to college.”

Through 15 games this summer, Argo is batting .395, with 17 hits (including three triples and one home run), 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He has a .490 on-base percentage and a .674 slugging percentage.

“They draft and follow a lot of Iowa guys,” Argo said of major league teams, who often don’t get a chance to scout Iowa baseballers because of the summer season. “They draft you and watch you all the summer. I don’t know how many times they’ll watch me, though.”

Argo’s coach and father, Bill Argo, likes the move.

“We didn’t put too many eggs in that basket (a high draft pick),” Bill Argo said. “If it happened, that would be great, but we don’t put too much hope on it. (Being drafted) can put you in a good place, mentally. It’s always nice that someone thinks highly of you.”

Willie was noticed when he turned in a 6.59-second time in the 60-yard dash at a Perfect Game predraft showcase event in Kansas City. With his four sports seasons, it was more difficult for him to make himself visible.

“The one that I really would have liked to get him to was (a showcase in) Jupiter, Fla.,” Bill Argo said. “But the timing of it was, it came after the last regular-season game of football season. He would have had to miss two practices, then come back for one and then play (in Wednesday’s first-round playoff game). That’s not something a senior captain would do; the first commitment is to your teammates.”

It augurs a bright future for Willie, whenever he decides he’s ready to take the step to professional baseball.

“I’ve only talked to them (Arizona) a couple of times,” Willie said. “They know it’s obviously really late in the draft. If they want to make me an offer, I’ll decide then. The good thing is, it’s probably not too tough a decision.”

Contact the sports desk at (563) 383-2285 or sports@qctimes.com