PENFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Playing at Illinois was a childhood dream for Gavin Parkerson, but he had some doubts if that would ever come true.

“There was times where I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do it,'” Gavin said.

After a partially torn UCL as a senior in high school and a two-year stop at Parkland, the rising junior is committed to play for an Illini team he grew up watching.

“Being able to go there and show all the kids around here that like, even if they don’t think they can from from a small country town, that’s like, you can do it, man,” Gavin said.

A big part of Parkerson’s developement: noticable progress in the weight room, taking after his dad, Buddy.

“My dad was big into weightlifting since he graduated high school and everything, so this is kind of what he did before I ever started, and he’s just kind of grown and built it into me, I guess,” Gavin said.

A home gym built during COVID is where his development really begin to ramp up, adding strength to his frame and velocity to his pitches.

“I think if you’ve seen a picture of him then to now, you might not recognize him,” Buddy said. “He really has worked hard.”

Dedication on and off the field is now leading to the opportunity to pitch in Division One.

“I don’t expect to walk in there and be like, I’m the guy on this Friday night starter or anything, but if I can, you know, continue to grow as a player and grow as a pitcher, I think that they said I can be up there and be one of the guys for them,” Gavin said.

“I’m just excited to watch him,” Buddy said. “Whatever role he has, we don’t we don’t care, we’re just excited that he’s there and getting a chance to pitch for the Illini.”

Parkerson stays in Champaign after a standout sophomore season with the Cobras, striking out a team-high 78 batters with an 8-3 on the season.