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Illinois Basketball: Next few months will determine Ayo Dosunmu’s future

By Rees Woodcock

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament between the Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gonzaga won 77-68. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The importance of snagging a great class of 2018 is key for the Illinois basketball team to have success in the future.

That is why the next few months will determine what type of class Brad Underwood and the Illini can bring in. The main focus for most fans is Ayo Dosunmu.

Dosunmu is the 6-foot-4, 172-pound guard from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Illinois who everyone, including myself, has been drooling over for the past two years. From the get-go, this kid has been a superstar on the basketball court. The recruiting sites reflect that statement as well.

Right now, Scout has Dosunmu has a five-star recruit who is the No. 27 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 2 combo guard in the nation. 274Sports is about the same with Dosunmu being a four-star recruit who is the No. 27 recruit in the class of 2018 and the No. 3 combo guard in the nation.

The fact remains, Dosunmu is a top 30 player in the nation and usually, these recruits become great college players and then transition nicely into the NBA. This kid has NBA type talent and I want to see him in Orange and Blue next season.

The next step in the process of landing this top guard is nailing the in-home visit. Dosunmu released his in-home visit schedule that is coming up. He has four teams seeing him throughout the next couple weeks. Illinois gets the first crack with a visit on September 11. Wake Forest is next with a visit the following day on September 12. Then Xavier comes in on September 13 and Memphis ends the visits with one on September 18.

In addition to those in-home visits, Dosunmu released his first two official visits back on August 21. He said he was going to do an official visit to USC on September 15 and Wake Forest on September 29. That is one jam-packed schedule for a high school athlete.

The fact Illinois is only getting an in-home visit right now and Dosunmu hasn’t locked down an official visit makes me worried. I am not saying they won’t get an official but they weren’t one of the first two. I would keep an eye out on Wake Forest. They are the team that scares me right now. The Demon Deacons have an in-home setup and they also have an official visit later in September too.

Next: Recruiting update on the class of 2018

Illinois needs Dosunmu for the class of 2018. The next month or two will determine whether or not they land this top guard.

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