Illinois Basketball: Illini make top 5 for Carlton Bragg
It is fun to think about the recruiting possibilities that are in front of the Illinois basketball team.
So many different players are reportedly being wooed by Brad Underwood and his coaching staff. The latest player that the Illini have officially gained some traction with is Carlton Bragg.
Yes, Bragg is that recruit who chose the Kansas Jayhawks over Illinois and Kentucky back in 2015. He hit the market once again, this time as a transfer. He announced he was going to leave the Kansas program and pursue his final two years with another team.
Last night, Jon Rothstein got the scoop of Bragg’s top five programs he will be visiting during his re-recruitment. These programs are Xavier, Arizona State, Cincinnati, North Carolina State and Illinois. We have made the top five for Bragg once again, this time let’s close it out.
Kansas transfer Carlton Bragg tells me his top five are Xavier, Arizona State, Illinois, Cincinnati and NC State. Will set visits soon.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 19, 2017
This is great for the Illinois basketball team in a few ways. The first being they need talent that is highly rated and can play basketball.
Bragg was a four-star recruit coming out of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He was ranked as the No. 35 player in the class of 2015, and there were a ton of teams after his services, including all the blue bloods.
If Illinois could snag Bragg the second time around it would be like they are getting another four-star for the class of 2018. He would have to sit out year one but would still have two years of eligibility remaining.
The other reason Bragg would be a great get for the Illini is because they need another big man this season and next season. While Illinois wouldn’t put him out on the court until 2018, they still need another big that year and he would solve that issue.
Bragg is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound big man that would instantly start for the Illini. He would be the starter at the No. 5 spot for both of the years he is with the program.
This past season with Kansas, Bragg averaged 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. That isn’t bad production for having some off-court issues and only averaging 13.8 minutes per game.
Next: How to use the four remaining scholarships
I am excited to see Illinois back in the Bragg running. This kid has so much talent and he needs a fresh start. I think Champaign would be the perfect destination for this talented player.