Malvern Prep senior Lonnie White Jr. will soon have to make a difficult decision, as both Penn State and Major League Baseball beckon, writes Bob Brookover for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

With a scholarship in hand to play both football and baseball at Penn State, White is considered the best athlete in Malvern Prep’s storied history.

“That’s a fact,” said Malvern Prep baseball coach Freddy Hilliard. “That’s not a slight against the athletes we’ve had. It’s just, honestly, he’s the best athlete I’ve ever been around or seen at this level.”

The Coatesville resident’s exploits on the diamond have him rated as the 55th-best draft prospect by Baseball America. MLB.com has him even higher at No. 52. The draft will be held from July 11-13.

Picks in the aforementioned range usually get a signing bonus of around $1 million. White, with his superb ability and an option to play two sports in college, could be offered $2 million, perhaps even $3 million, as another incentive to turn pro.

With the school year nearing its end, he is now thinking more and more about the choice ahead of him.

“I’m told not to think about it. But it’s kind of hard not to,” he said. “It is what it is. Either way I go, I’m going to be ready for it.”

Read more about Lonnie White Jr. in The Philadelphia Inquirer.