Lukas McKnight, All-State catcher, Chicago Cubs front office staffer
• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.
Lukas McKnight is a 1998 Libertyville High School graduate and an All-State baseball player as a catcher.
He played five years in the Chicago Cubs minor league system, and is currently working in the Cubs' front office as an assistant director.
An all-around athlete growing up, McKnight's first organized sport was cricket. He was living in Nottingham, England, as his father, Scot, was finishing up his PhD.
Upon returning to the U.S., McKnight got involved with football, basketball and baseball.
Football fell by the wayside rather quickly as his interest in the other two sports grew.
In high school, McKnight was the starting catcher for the varsity baseball team all four years of high school.
During his time in the LHS baseball program, under the direction of Jim Panther and Pat Somers, the team went 102-20, winning the 1996 conference title and regional titles in 1995 and 1997. The 1997 Summer Team won the state title.
McKnight was named to the All-State Team his junior and senior years. He was named the 1998 Gatorade Illinois "Player of the Year."
McKnight also played varsity basketball his first three years at LHS. He was the starting point guard, earning All-Conference his sophomore and junior years, as well as honorable mention All-State as a junior.
He chose to not play basketball his senior year to prepare for his last high school baseball season and rest a herniated disc in his back.
From LHS, McKnight went to the University of Kansas and played for a year. Although McKnight was the starting catcher and enjoyed the university, he wasn't happy with the baseball program.
He left at the end of his freshman year and enrolled at Triton College.
At Triton, his team reached the Junior College Nationals, where they finished fifth. McKnight played well enough to catch the Chicago Cubs' eye, being drafted by them in the 21st round.
During his five years in the Cubs minor leagues, McKnight reached Double A ball at Jackson (Tennessee). As he was preparing for his sixth minor league season, he was offered a scouting position with the Cubs. He accepted the position and his playing career was over.
Once in the Cubs organization, McKnight spent several years as a scout in the Ohio Valley, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Some of the players McKnight personally signed were Chris Carpenter, Josh Harrison and Tony Campana.
He was promoted to regional crosschecker in the northeast, where he supervised four scouts.
After two years as a crosschecker, he was promoted to his current position in the front office as Assistant Director, Amateur Scouting. This has allowed McKnight to move his young family (wife Annika and kids Aksel and Finley) back to his hometown.
While in the minor leagues, McKnight got his English degree from North Park University in Chicago, where he met Annika.