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Illinois Basketball: Top center targets for Brad Underwood

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the basketballs on the ball racks before the start of the McDonalds All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Chicago Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the basketballs on the ball racks before the start of the McDonalds All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Chicago Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-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 /

Morris Udeze 6-foot-8, 215-pounds; Class of 2018

The two previous big men before this will only be around the Illinois program for one year because they are graduate transfers. That means the Illini need to get a big man or two for the class of 2018.

Morris Udeze is an option at center. He is a 6-foot-8, 215-pound big man who the Illini could use because he is extremely athletic. While he does have some room to grow on the offensive end, there are plenty of guards to make up for that loss of point production.

Udeze isn’t one of those five-star recruits who the blue bloods are after. He is a very underrated player who Underwood has offered. Illinois is actually the only power five conference program who has offered him, besides for TCU.

There are always late bloomers in the recruiting game and that is where Udeze falls into place. He is going to continue to grow physically and on the basketball court.

Expect Udeze to be around 6-foot-9 when he gets into college. He will also likely gain some weight as well. Getting a big player like this will be huge for the Illini.

Udeze is more of your typical big man who is raw on the basketball court. He is averaging 8.5 points and 6.14 rebounds per game on the AAU circuit right now. He is efficient with his scoring shooting 56-percent but that is because most of his shots are around the rim. He is also only shooting 50-percent from the free throw line.

Illinois could always use Udeze. He is a player who could fill the paint, score and rebound. This is what Illinois will be missing this season.

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