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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 recruiting targets for Brad Underwood

By Rees Woodcock

Dec 14, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the game against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the game against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
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 /

No. 2 Francis Okoro – Class of 2019

When the class of 2019 rolls around I think Illinois will be coming off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, so recruiting should be a little easier.

Illinois will need all the help they can get landing a player like Francis Okoro. He is a big man that will be a hot commodity when teams start really recruiting hard.

Okoro is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound center from Normal, Illinois. That is just a hop, skip and jump away from Champaign so hopefully, that will make the recruitment easier for the Illini as well.

Right now, Scout has Okoro ranked as a four-star recruit who is the No. 29 player in the class of 2019. He has a chance to continue improving as well and that will only help the Illini.

When 2019 rolls around I am not sure what Illinois will have at the center position. They have Jeremiah Tilmon coming in this season, but the class of 2019 will be Tilmon’s third season in Champaign. I am not sure he will make it that long.

Okoro’s recruitment will blow up eventually. Illinois is the only team to offer him a scholarship, so hopefully, he also sees that as loyalty.

Underwood needs to continue filling the paint with a big man. Having Tilmon is nice, but he also needs to plan for the future so we don’t go another four years without a dominant force underneath the hoop.

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