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Illinois Basketball: Recruiting pitch to Ayo Dosunmu

By Rees Woodcock

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 09: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts from the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Iowa State Cyclones at the Sprint Center on March 9, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 09: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts from the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against the Iowa State Cyclones at the Sprint Center on March 9, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 17: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Oklahoma State Cowboys argues a call against the Michigan Wolverines during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 4 Talented team around him

Before Underwood became the head coach of the Illini, the team struggled mightily. They haven’t been to the NCAA tournament the last four years but things are changing with this program. The Illini have talent but they needed a coach that could actually coach the players.

Lucas is likely to be the No. 1 guard this season. He was rated by Scout as a four-star at one time but most recruiting sites have him as a high three-star. He proved last season that he should be a four-star, though.

The starting No. 2 guard is likely to be Mark Smith. He shot up the recruiting rankings and finished as a four-star recruit who is the No. 78 player in the class of 2017. Dosunmu would then be the No. 3 guard and he is a five-star who is the No. 30 player in the class of 2018.

Leron Black, the likely starting No. 4, was a four-star recruit who was the No. 41 player in the class of 2014. He should be able to break out this season and be a dominant player in 2018.

The final starter is Michael Finke at the No. 5. He was a high three-star recruit when he came out of high school. His shooting ability has made him a major mismatch, and he has bulked up, so his defense should improve this season.

Next: First two years of recruiting is key to success

So, the Illinois starting lineup for 2018 would consist of two high three-star players, two four-star players and a five-star in Dosunmu. The bench would also have at least two four-star players as well. That is a team that can compete for a Big Ten title and will go deep in the NCAA tournament. That is why the team around him should be a recruiting pitch.

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