Illinois Basketball: Recent Illini recruiting scholarship offers to forwards

Colin Castleton

Underwood went taller with his next scholarship offer. He needs some more height on the team and getting a player who can play in the paint, yet stretch the floor, is important.

Colin Castleton is the player that I am referring too. He is a talented prospect from Father Lopez High Schools in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Castleton received the offer from the Illinois basketball team, but they aren’t the only team to extend. He also has a multitude of other offers but most are lower level programs. The only power-five conference teams to pay attention to him are the Illini and Rutgers.

But, I am sure as time goes on, Castleton will gain more momentum. I think he will continue to get better and gain more offers from bigger teams. He isn’t ranked by any recruiting sites right now and I am sure that will likely change down the road as well.

When I look at the tapes from what Castleton can do, I really have a hard time comparing him to somebody that I have seen play. He has a unique skillset that combines great height with an ability to handle the ball well.

I don’t want to go as far as saying he reminds me of Meyers Leonard because he was a different player, but it seems like this kid can handle the ball and has a good first move like Leonard. That is as far as the comparison goes, though. I think a better comparison could be Mike Tisdale. They remind me off one another and I think Castleton will grow a few more inches as well.

Castleton can shoot a nice 10-foot shot and he can rebound well. I think he would have trouble in the Big Ten in the first few years, though. He needs to get bulkier if he wants to play in the paint. I like his 6-foot-9 height, but he can’t play in the paint at the 195-pound weight.