Illinois Basketball: Kiir and Tilmon Would Be the Illini Bash Brothers
As the class of 2017 continues to develop, a few positions are becoming increasingly important for the Illinois basketball team.
Just purely looking at what the needs are for the 2017 season, Illinois clearly needs just two positions right now.
The only point guard that the Illini will have on the roster the season after this upcoming one is going to be Te’Jon Lucas.
Tracy Abrams and Jaylon Tate will both be departing after the run Illinois makes in the 2016-2017 season.
That leaves a depleted backcourt once again.
The other position that will be depleted is at center.
Illinois just snagged one of the best players in the class of 2017 in center Jeremiah Tilmon. He is going to be an absolute beast inside and that is a fact.
But, behind Tilmon, there is no one to spell minutes. He is going to need some rest at times and that is why the Illini need a backup center as well.
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So, the two positions that are needed for the class of 2017 are point guard and center. This seems like it has been a reoccurring theme over the last half-decade.
The only difference between then and now is that Illinois actually has a plan this time.
Illinois is targeting point guard Trent Frazier to potentially take over their point guard duties or become the backup to Lucas in 2017.
Frazier cut his list down to eight teams a few days ago and he also set his first official visit up for August 19-21 to Champaign.
Many people, including myself, think Frazier will commit on his visit to Illinois because he has publicly stated many times that Illinois was in the lead and how he loved the program and coaching staff.
So, Frazier would take care of the point guard issue and stabilize that position for years to come with Lucas.
The center position is where things are starting to, hopefully, get a little clearer but is still a little murky.
Illinois has been in the running for many centers to backup Tilmon for 2017. A lot of those players have fallen through as of late, though.
There are two names that are now emerging as possible solutions to the center problem.
Illinois is in the hunt for Mayan Kiir and Victor Uyaelunmo. Both of these players would be a great get but the Illini need to choose only one.
Uyaelunmo cut his list down to eight teams about a week ago and the Illini were included. I think they have a chance at pulling him away from the state of Florida despite him including Florida and Miami on his list.
This would be a great get for the Illini considering the size. Uyaelunmo is a 4-star who is ranked as the No. 116 player in the class of 2017. He stands at 7-foot and weighs 210-pounds.
Uyaelunmo brings a game to the basketball court that many fans probably recognize. He reminds me a lot of Nnanna Egwu.
The shot blocking ability that Uyaelunmo possesses is some of the best I have seen in a while. He can stay straight up and block a shot without fouling. That is hard to find.
On the offensive side of the court, I like how Uyaelunmo finishes at the rim. He can score around the bucket and that is going to be huge for the Illini. He also has solid touch from five-to-ten feet as well.
Kiir is another option to spell some minutes for Tilmon.
Illinois is potentially looking to go smaller at times and having Kiir in there with his 6-foot-9, 220-pound, frame will be tough to match up against.
Kiir is a 4-star power forward who is rated as the No. 112 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 8 player in the state of Florida.
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Right now it looks like the recruitment of Kiir is down to Illinois and Louisville. Hopefully, the Illini can snag this talented recruit.
I love a lot of things about Kiir’s game.
For being a bigger player, Kiir has an amazing handle on the ball. You can tell that he hit a growth spurt not too long ago and his handles just transferred over to the size he is now.
The athletic ability Kiir possesses is also incredible. He can run the court and receive outlet passes. He can also get a rebound and push the ball for an easy bucket at the other end.
A lot of what Kiir brings to the table reminds me of what Chris Webber could do for the Michigan Wolverines.
If I had to choose between Uyaelunmo and Kiir, I would take Kiir. I think he has the most upside and he will probably grow another inch or so.
I think Kiir is the bonafide superstar Illinois needs alongside Tilmon. These two could be the Illini bash brothers for years to come.
So, with Frazier hopefully committing when he visits in August and then Kiir hopefully committing soon as well, that still leaves one scholarship remaining.
My thinking is, Jordan Goodwin is going to be Illini-bound and he will be the cherry on top for the class of 2017.
Goodwin will close up shop and the class will consist of him, Tilmon, Da’Monte Williams, Javon Pickett, Trent Frazier, and Mayan Kiir.
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That would complete the greatest recruiting class in Illinois basketball history.