Illinois Basketball: Ranking the Illini Recruiting Classes for the Last Decade

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Jan 7, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) drives to the basket against Michigan State Spartans forward Gavin Schilling (34) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) drives to the basket against Michigan State Spartans forward Gavin Schilling (34) during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

When I saw that Groce pulled a 4-star power forward out of Tennessee I was really impressed.  This player could be a game changer for Groce.

Well, that player ended up being Leron Black.

Black was a 4-star recruit who ranked as the No. 49 player in the class of 2014.  He was supposed to be really good for the Illini.

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Since coming to Champaign, Black hasn’t been quite the player we all wanted to see but he does still have three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this past season.

The other member of this class was Michael Finke.

Finke has shooting talent that is rarely seen in players his size.  He is almost like a Dirk Nowitzki type player without the inside skills.

I like what the Illini received out of Finke last season amidst all of the turmoil.  He is a great option off the bench to create mismatches.

The class of 2014 comes in at No. 7 because they have some good players but there are multiple chapters still left to write.

Next: No. 6 Recruiting Class