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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) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 27: Illinois Fighting Illinois fans cheer against the Michigan Wolverines during the game at Assembly Hall on January 27, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Michigan defeated Illinois 74-60. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

84. Bryan Penn-Johnson

The biggest player Illinois has recruited in the class of 2018 is Bryan Penn-Johnson. He is a 7-foot, 215-pound recruit from Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. The new Rivals rankings have him as a four-star center who is the No. 84 player in the class of 2018.

As of right now, Penn-Johnson hasn’t cut his list down. He has a tremendous amount of scholarship offers and Illinois is one of them. He also just recently took an unofficial visit to Champaign. The fact he wanted to come to Illinois to check out the program is always good news for any recruit.

Penn-Johnson has been recruited by Illinois even before the coaching change happened. I really like how well he can move up and down the court for his size. While his game is more of a typical big man, he can move better than any big man I have seen in a long time. He would be a tremendous asset to Underwood down in the paint.

Illinois will also need paint help in 2018 and beyond. They really don’t have a proven big man to handle the paint and that is why getting another player would help create depth. I also believe Penn-Johnson would start right away as well.

Illinois received an unofficial visit from Penn-Johnson a week ago. That doesn’t mean much as far as a commitment goes, though. I would highly doubt he decides to come to Champaign.

Update: September 8

Everything has been quiet on the Bryan Penn-Johnson front. He is a big man the Illini could use for 2018 but I am still not expecting him to come to Champaign. I hope I am wrong, though.

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