JEFFERSON TWP — Simply put, Dom Bucko has his eye on the prize — and he's planning his education accordingly.

Knoch's graduating center fielder has been on the radar of a few major league clubs and could be selected late in the MLB draft this coming week.

“If I'm taken, it looks like it'll be late ... somewhere in the 30's (in terms of rounds), maybe,” Bucko said.

Regardless, if he is picked and the money's decent, Bucko will probably sign.

“Signing a pro contract and getting to the minor leagues has always been my goal since I was a little kid,” he said. “I have to be honest with myself.

“No matter when I'm picked, if someone holds that contract in front of me, it'll be tough to say no.”

But if he does — or if he's not drafted at all — Bucko has Plan B. He will head to St. Petersburg Community College in Florida to continue with baseball and begin his college education.

He had verbally committed to Kent State earlier in his high school career — after hitting .346 for Knoch's state championship team as a sophomore — but since changed his mind.

“When you play for a two-year school, you stay eligible for the draft every year,” Bucko said. “After two years, transfer to a four-year school and you're still eligible. That would be four more shots at it.”

Once a player becomes a freshman at a four-year school, he is ineligible for the draft until his junior season.

Of course, Bucko may not have to wait through four potential college seasons.

“Dom has everything the scouts are looking for,” Knoch coach Sean O'Donnell said. “They keep talking about the five tools. He has them all. He can hit, run, throw ... everything.

“I know he wasn't happy with the numbers he put up this past season. But there scouts watching him every game. He knew what was going on and I'm sure it messed with him mentally a bit.

Still, Bucko hit .407 for Knoch his senior year, collecting all three of his team's home runs. He hit four doubles, four triples and had an on-base percentage of .556.

He also played errorless defense in the outfield, has a powerful throwing arm and was dominant as a late-inning relief pitcher for the Knights.

“The home run he hit at (Kelly Automotive Park) against Freeport this year was the hardest-hit ball I've ever seen by a high school player,” O'Donnell said.

Bucko did not allow an earned run in 15 relief innings his senior year at Knoch. He allowed but two hits, struck out 21 and walked two.

As solid as those numbers are, “I'm sure (scouts) like me as an outfielder,” Bucko said.

They have to like him as a hitter.

Bucko began this summer legion season with Saxonburg by collecting eight hits in his first 10 at bats, including a homer, two doubles and two triples. He also plays in the Youngstown Class B league and has eight hits in his first 15 at bats there, with a pair of triples.

Bucko hit .520 (52 for 100) and led the Youngstown Class B league with seven homers last year.

“He just keeps working to make himself better,” Saxonburg legion manager Mike Hickey said. “Dom loves playing baseball. He may play a game or two earlier in a day for Youngstown, then come home and play for us at night.

“Our season is an extension of the high school season. Dom hits leadoff for us like he did for Knoch. We have no middle school or freshman team here, so these kids learn the game though the Saxonburg Area association.

“Dom's been in that program for 10 years. He's a product of it,” Hickey added.

Bucko said he became interested in baseball “from watching Barry Bonds play when I was a kid.”

He is a natural switch-hitter, learning such a thing when he was 3 years old.

“We were in the yard playing wiffle ball. My dad was pitching to my older brother,” Bucko said. “I grabbed a bat, hit left-handed and hit the first pitch farther than my brother did.

“He told me to do the same thing right-handed and I did it. I've been switch-hitting ever since.”

O'Donnell lauded Bucko's willingness to pitch in relief, lay down a sacrifice bunt when called upon and do other little things to help the Knights win.

Knoch was 51-13 over Bucko's final three years with the team.

“When your best player buys into the team thing ... That's the definition of a leader,” O'Donnell said.

Now Bucko is working on playing at the next level.

“My 50 (yard) time is 6.8. I'd like to get that down to 6.6 or so, but I'm considered 'basepath fast,' which I guess is a good thing,” he said.

“I'm working on my hitting all the time. No matter where I'm playing next year, I know the pitching is going to be much harder. I have to be ready for it.”