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Illinois Basketball: Could Josh Cunningham Hurt the Class of 2016?

By Rees Woodcock

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The class of 2016 for the Illinois basketball team is going to be crucial for the future of the program.

Illinois has dealt with some harsh, yet fair, criticism over the last decade over losing top talent to other schools despite being in the running.

There are a laundry list of players that could have committed to play for Bruce Weber and now John Groce but they decided not to.  That was in the past though and there is nothing that can change that besides for the future.

The future holds many possibilities for Illinois basketball including the potential to secure the top talent.

The class of 2016 is the first step in changing the image of the program back into a threat for the best players in the nation.

Illinois has three scholarship spots left for the class of 2016.  This means there is a possibility to add some great talent that is desperately needed.

The Illini have been in the hunt for many point guards over the last few seasons.  While they haven’t been able to secure the top echelon in previous recruiting classes, they are still after some good ones next season.

Alterique Gilbert and Xavier Simpson are two players that would automatically boost Illinois up to another level in 2016.

While both of these point guards would benefit the Illini, I think there would only be room for one of them on the roster.

The two main needs for Illinois in 2016 are going to be a point guard and a center.  If the Illini can secure either Gilbert or Simpson that would help complete their recruiting needs.

Illinois would then need a center.  They have their eyes set on Barret Benson out of Darien, Illinois.  Benson is rated as a 4-start by 247sports.com.  This would be a great pickup for the Illini and would help solidify the team in the paint.

Point guard and center are two needs that are trying to be addressed through recruiting.  Getting one of those talented point guards and then securing Benson at center would be a huge step.  The final scholarship is then up for grabs.

Josh Cunningham is transferring from Bradley and is deciding on either Illinois or Dayton.  Illinois is pretty deep at that forward position but could always use more talent when it throws itself their way.

If Cunningham decides on Illinois then that would take up that final scholarship spot for 2016.  This could deter other recruits from coming to Champaign though.

Right now Illinois is on the fast track to get Zach Norvell to commit.  Norvell is rated as the 83rd best player in the nation and the best player in the state of Illinois.  This guard would be a great addition to the Illinois program.

The main problem would be if Norvell, Cunningham, Benson, and Gilbert or Simpson commit there would be one too many players for the scholarships offered.  Who do you leave out?

In the current state that Illinois basketball is in, you have to stick with a point guard.  Getting either Gilbert or Simpson is the number one priority right now.

That leaves us with Norvell, Cunningham, and Benson.  I want Norvell because he seems like he can be a game-changer on the floor.  He is the best player in the state of Illinois and if the Illini want to lay claim to it being their state then they need to secure the top talent.

Another thing that makes me want Norvell is that he is from Simeon High School.  The more Illinois develops a relationship with Simeon the better; considering they are a high school powerhouse.

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So the decision is really between Cunningham and Benson.  I would take Benson and here is why.

Benson is a big guy who can control the paint.  His build and game remind me a lot of a Zach Randolph or a Draymond Green.  From what I can see he has a great touch but is a little short.  Benson is young though so maybe he will continue to get taller.

I like Cunningham and I wouldn’t be sad if he committed to Illinois, but I would rather take Benson.  Cunningham is very athletic but is a spotty scorer.  Another downfall of Cunningham is that Illinois has multiple players at roughly the same position.

Cunningham is slightly over 6’ 6” tall so he is a tweener when it comes to basketball.  Benson would be the way to go for the Illinois basketball team.

The class of 2016 is very important to Illinois basketball.  This class will be the future and if they can secure the commitments of Gilbert or Simpson, Norvell, and Benson the future will be extremely bright.

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