The Illinois basketball team lost out on a recruit today. Landers Nolley decided to cut his top four to just two teams and the Illini were left off.
This makes many Illini fans unhappy, myself included. At one time, I thought Nolley was going to end up in Champaign. The kid had connections to the state of Illinois and he really liked the visit he took. He seemed to be on the fast track to the Orange and Blue. Things change, though. He didn’t commit to Illinois and we now have to move on as a fan base.
Just because Illinois basketball had a rough recruiting week doesn’t mean you jump ship. The Illini lost George Conditt who committed to Iowa State. Well, I honestly never thought we would get him because his dad went to Iowa State and was pushing his son there as well. He was always going to end up as a Cyclone.
Nolley kept Virginia Tech and Georgia alive in his top two. He had a great visit to Virginia Tech recently and Georgia is his in-state program. There really isn’t a surprise he left the Illini off his list. The only recruit I was mildly surprised about was Colin Castleton.
Illinois and Michigan were the final two for Castleton and he picked the Wolverines. Yes, they have a more recent winning track record but Illinois had a big need and he would have filled it. But, that didn’t work out and it happens. Illinois fans need to move on, though.
There are still some big fish to fry on the recruiting trail. There are three potential names that come to mind; Ayo Dosunmu, Talen Horton-Tucker and Tim Finke. All three were huge Illini targets at one time or another and the Illini now need to crank up their recruitment of all three.
Illinois still has an opportunity to snag a great class of 2018. There is no reason to panic right now. Are we going to be a little undersized this season and next? Sure, but we have the guard play and shooting ability to make up for that lack of size.
Next: Recruiting confidence meter for class of 2018
If the Illini can secure a commitment from Dosunmu and then either Horton-Tucker or Finke or both, then everything will be fine. Let’s just sit back, get your popcorn and watch this class of 2018 unfold.