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Illinois Basketball: Brad Underwood trying to correct recruiting struggles

By Rees Woodcock

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks reacts in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 18, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks reacts in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 18, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 08: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts from the bench during the first round game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center on March 8, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 08: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners reacts from the bench during the first round game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Sprint Center on March 8, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Lon Kruger (4 classes, 4 top 100 recruits)

1997

No. 16 Marcus Griffin

Illinois landed one of the biggest recruits in the class of 1997 when Marcus Griffin committed to the Orange and Blue. He was ranked as the No. 16 player in that class and was going to be a big piece in the future of the Illini.

Griffin ended up not qualifying academically to get into Illinois so he attended Lincoln College for his first two years. He then transferred to Illinois where he played great. He ended up averaging 11.3 points and 6 rebounds his senior year.

No. 34 Sergio McClain

Sergio McClain was the other great Peoria Manual product that came out in the class of 2017. He was the No. 34 player in the nation and committed to the Illini with Griffin.

In McClain’s senior season he averaged 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. His presence on the court helped lead the Illini to the Elite Eight that season.

1998

No. 22 Frank Williams

When Griffin and McClain committed to the Illini for the class of 1997, there was another Peoria Manuel player who wanted to suit up in the Orange and Blue as well. Frank Williams also committed when the other two did. He was the No. 22 ranked player in the class of 1998, though.

Williams ended up being an amazing player for the Illini in the three years he was in Champaign. He won Big Ten Player of the Year in 2001 and averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game his final season. He would later get picked in the first round of the NBA Draft.

1999

No. 25 Brian Cook

For the third year in a row, Lon Kruger landed a top 25 player in the nation. Brian Cook was the name this time and he was spectacular. He was the No. 25 player in the class of 1999 and helped the Illini to some amazing feats.

In Cooks final season with the Illini, he averaged 20 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and won Big Ten Player of the Year. He would then get drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft that same year.

2000

Lon Kruger didn’t secure a single top 100 recruit in the class of 2000.

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