For Kenosha Indian Trail baseball player, it's ASU or the pros next year: "Either way, a win-win"

KENOSHA -- A lifetime of playing baseball and some special inside information has a Kenosha high school baseball standout prepared for the decision of a lifetime.

Indian Trail Academy in Kenosha has only had a varsity baseball team for four years, and Gavin Lux has been on it each of those seasons. Talk about laying a foundation!

Gavin Lux

"He wowed us then, and each year, it's that wow factor with him. You think -- how can he get much better? And you come back and you see him this year, and he's that much better," Michael Schmidt, Indian Trail head coach said.

Lux has grown into an Arizona State University recruit, but he might pass on a Sun Devils scholarship in favor of a professional contract.

Lux is one of the top high school players in the country, and by many projections, figured to be selected in the first three rounds of the MLB Draft in early June.

Gavin Lux

"For me, I think if the opportunity is there, I want to play professional baseball out of high school. But if it's not, I also have a great opportunity to go to Arizona State, which is a great university, great baseball program, so either way, I look at it as a win-win," Lux said.

None of this just happened for Lux.

Augie Schmidt

"When he was five years old, he told his mom his heart was the shape of a baseball and that was it. All the other sports were out and he wanted to play baseball," Augie Schmidt said.

Schmidt is the baseball coach at Carthage College in Kenosha and the #2 pick in the 1982 MLB Draft. He is also Lux's uncle.

Augie Schmidt

"His work ethic is off the charts. I think he's way more set up to be successful as a pro than I was. To be honest, I was a little obnoxious. He's so down to earth and just wants to play ball and it's going to be fun to see how this all turns out for him," Schmidt said.

Lux is a humble and appreciate guy. He recognizes the roles his parents and sister and coaches and teammates have played in his development, and he calls having an uncle who was essentially in this very same position decades ago a blessing.

Schmidt was a shortstop, and Lux is a shortstop. Schmidt talks about spinning his wheels in the minors, and Lux listens.

Gavin Lux

"Dealing with failure was probably the biggest reason I didn't make it to the Major Leagues, because I couldn't deal with the failure involved. Baseball is a rough sport. You get it handed to you day in and day out, and you've got to bounce back and play every day, so we talked a lot more about the mental side of things," Schmidt said.

"If you fail seven times out of 10, you're going to be in the Hall of Fame. It's just crazy to think about, but he's gone through it all and he's had a lot of very good insight on that," Lux said.

He's put in so much work here at Indian Trail, and over at his uncle's facility at Carthage. He might go to Arizona State, or he might move up through the minors, but all of it, for Lux, is pointing towards one goal and one dream, and that is to play just down the road a bit at Wrigley Field.

Gavin Lux

"I'm a Cubs guy. We've gone through the struggles, so it's cool to see them finally winning some games. It's pretty cool, and envisioning yourself at Wrigley Field, oh yeah. Absolutely. As a kid, I always went to Wrigley games and I was like, man, I want to be out there one day," Lux said.

Gavin Lux

That day may not be too far off, and among those sharing in such a scenario would be one very proud uncle.

While the draft and whatever decision Lux makes because of it is eagerly anticipated by all involved, right now, he is still focusing on helping his high school team.

The Indian Trail Hawks are one of the top teams in the state and currently have a 15-2 record, despite having to play in chilly conditions so far this spring.