Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Recruiting update on the class of 2018

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the Assembly Hall as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs on December 3, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Gonzaga 82-75. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 03: A general view of the Assembly Hall as the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs on December 3, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Gonzaga 82-75. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Illinois basketball
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) /

55. Landers Nolley

Illinois really started to recruit Landers Nolley hard lately and that has paid off. He is an extremely talented player who could pick the Illini. He is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Georgia. The new Rivals rankings have him as a four-star recruit who is the No. 55 player in the class of 2018.

Back on August 11, Illinois made Nolley’s final 16 teams. He then trimmed his list once again on August 24 down to his top 5 programs he will be choosing from. That list included Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Georgia, UConn and Illinois. These programs were also the places he will be taking his official visits as well.

Nolley selected the Illini to go first on his official visit tour. He will visit Champaign this weekend where he will have a tour of the State Farm Center, watch Illinois beat up on Ball State and much more. This is a big visit for Illinois because they could use a talented player like him on the team moving forward.

The only other visit I can confirm date wise is UConn on September 29. The other three will likely happen sometime in September or early October.

Honestly, I was shocked when I saw Nolley keep the Illini in the mix and then had them in his top 5 for an official visit. The fact Underwood has made that much progress in that short amount of time is impressive.

I think the three teams that would likely be leading this race would be Georgia, UConn and Illinois. I feel good about the Illini’s chances here because I think the Bulldogs are kept in it due to them being the in-state program. I then think it is 50-50 between Illinois and UConn. I have a good feeling about this one, though.

Update: September 8

Illinois really seems to be picking up steam for talented wing Landers Nolley. He has his top five and the Illini received a visit from Nolley this past weekend. From what is being reported, he really liked the visit and it was ‘eye opening in a good way’.

From the get-go, I had a good feeling about this kid. Nolley would be used a lot in Champaign and he would be loved by the fans. This kid has some special talent and I want him in Orange and Blue.

Home/Illinois Basketball Recruiting