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Illinois Basketball: Illini watch Courtney Ramey’s historic night

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: A general view of the shoes worn by Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 22: A general view of the shoes worn by Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) during the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Michigan State Spartans on January 22, 2018 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team continued to recruit one of their top priorities last night.

Courtney Ramey and his Webster Groves team went up against Kirkwood and came away with a big victory 73-55. In this victory, Ramey ended the game with 28 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block. His 28 points gave him 1,711 points on the year which broke the all-time career scoring record for Webster Groves passing Johnnie Parker’s 1,708 points.

Illinois had the chance to watch Ramey break this record, according to David Kvidahl of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In Kvidahl’s tweet, he expressed curiosity in why the Illini coaches where recruiting Ramey so hard when they have Ayo Dosunmu coming in and Mark Smith on the roster. I think it is pretty obvious why, though. Ramey is a superstar. Everyone wants this kid.

Ramey is a 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard who is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 31 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 1 player in the state of Missouri. It makes you wonder why Kvidahl cares if the Illini are down there, but then you have to realize the Missouri Tigers just offered a scholarship to Ramey. I would assume this is why Kvidahl doesn’t want Illinois to continue recruiting Ramey so hard.

I think the recruitment of Ramey is pretty much down to a handful of teams. Texas and Oklahoma State received Ramey’s two official visits so far with more visits probably on the horizon. I could see Illinois getting one of the officials and then maybe South Carolina and SMU as well. They have all had coaches come visit Ramey lately, along with Minnesota.

Honestly, I would be really surprised if Missouri makes it in the race for Ramey. Their offer came just a few days ago. Beyond the Tigers, I think Ramey’s recruitment is still wide open, though. There has been no indication of any movement by him.

Next: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Purdue

Hopefully, Illinois can continue putting the full court press on Ramey. They have done a great job getting in his recruitment. Now all they need to do is close the deal.

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