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Illinois Basketball: Talen Horton-Tucker would form top 3 duo

By Rees Woodcock

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament between the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Basketball tournament between the New Mexico State Aggies and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Many Illinois basketball fans, including myself, are anxiously waiting for Thursday night to see if we can land another big-time recruit for 2018.

As you all know, Talen Horton-Tucker is going to announce his college decision between Xavier, Iowa State and Illinois on Thursday at 6:30 PM CT at Simeon Career Academy. This is the site where one of these three lucky teams will have their fortunes changed for the foreseeable future.

Horton-Tucker isn’t just your solid basketball recruit. He is one of the elite players in the class of 2018 and someone many teams were after for a long time. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 54 player in the nation. Any team would be lucky to have this kid.

On Thursday, Illinois is hoping to add Horton-Tucker to go alongside talented guard, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu committed to the Illini last Thursday, and he needs a running mate for 2018. Horton-Tucker would be a perfect match for Dosunmu and they would be one of the highest rated duos to join the Illini team in quite some time.

Since the class of 2002, there have only been two other duos that have had a higher average rating than Dosunmu and Horton-Tucker would if they decided to come to Champaign. The highest since that 2002 class was Meyers Leonard and Jereme Richmond. Leonard was No. 31 and Richmond was No. 35. Those two averaged out to No. 33 in the nation.

Rivals didn’t go as far back as 2002 – they stopped at 2003 – but Basketball Reference Recruiting Services Consensus Index Rankings had the duo of Dee Brown and Deron Williams as the second highest average since 2002. Brown was No. 19 in the nation and Williams was No. 48. Those two averaged out to No. 33.5 overall.

The third highest recruiting duo in the last 16 years would then be Dosunmu and Horton-Tucker. Dosunmu is ranked as the No. 20 player in the nation and Horton-Tucker is the No. 54 player. Those two average out to No. 37.

Horton-Tucker would make a huge impact on the Illinois basketball team. If he decided to pick Illinois, the sky would truly be the limit. He would join Dosunmu in being one of the highest rated duos in the history of the program. Also, did you notice that the previous four former Illini players I mentioned have either went to the NBA or the one who didn’t should have but he made bad decisions?

Next: Excitement at Illinois as the Brad Underwood era begins

Thursday is a big day for Horton-Tucker, the Illinois fan base and the future of the Illini basketball team. I hope nothing but the best for this kid but I really hope he picks the Orange and Blue.

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