Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Ranking the last 10 recruiting classes

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders run on the court before a basketball game against the Missouri Tigers at Scottrade Center. Illinois won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders run on the court before a basketball game against the Missouri Tigers at Scottrade Center. Illinois won 75-66. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
Illinois basketball
Dec 12, 2015; Lexington, VA, USA; An official game ball rest on the court after the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Virginia Military Keydets at Cameron Hall. The Midshipmen won 68-62. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Class of 2010

Depth usually helps in ranking recruiting classes, but when you have three highly rated recruits like Illinois did for the class of 2010, it doesn’t matter.

This class consisted of a five-star and two four-star recruits. Illinois fans were excited to see this great recruiting class signed. This was going to be the national championship run part two.

Meyers Leonard was the highest rated recruit in this class. He was a five-star recruit who was the No. 19 player in the class of 2010. The potential of Leonard was through the roof and everyone could see it.

Leonard only played two seasons with Illinois and it all ended disastrously. He did average 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game his final season with the program. He is now making a name for himself in the NBA.

The second highest rated recruit in the class of 2010 for the Illini was Jereme Richmond. He was a four-star recruit who was the No. 31 player in the nation. He only lasted one season with the Illini and averaged 7.6 points and 5 rebounds per game.

The final member of this class was No. 80 ranked Crandall Head. He was supposed to be a special talent like his brother Luther was for the Illini team that went to the national championship just five years prior.

Head was a four-star recruit from Chicago, but he didn’t pan out like his brother did. He ended up playing two years at Illinois and then transferred to SMU for one season.

Next: Jalen Coleman-Lands can still be an Illini great

This class was supposed to be so good but it actually was the end of the Weber era. There was so much talent coming in and they just didn’t perform on the court. But, I have no doubt in my mind that right now, this is the best class out of the last ten for the Illini.

Home/Illinois Basketball