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Illinois Basketball: Updated top 5 Illini targets for the class of 2018

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Austin Trice

The Illinois basketball team needs another big man to help fill the void left by Leron Black and Michael Finke. I think Austin Trice would be a perfect fit with the Illini and would start day one.

Trice is coming from the junior college ranks. He played for Wabash Valley Community College last season and was a beast for them. He averaged 13.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. If he could bring anywhere near those numbers to Champaign, then I think we would have a much better team this year.

Illinois is going to have a lot of competition for Trice, though. He is rated as the No. 5 JUCO player in the nation, and this has all the top programs after him. After Illinois pounced back in February, a multitude of other programs took notice.

I used to be a lot more confident the Illini would land Trice. But, as his recruitment continues and he gets offers from other teams who are currently winning, I continue to lower my confidence. Kansas State has been in the news a lot lately with Trice, and they also lead for him according to 247Sports. The Wildcats are at 50-percent, followed by Oklahoma at 25-percent and Illinois at 25-percent.

If Illinois had to choose one player and forget about the rest, I would choose them getting Trice over everyone. He fills the biggest need on the team right now.

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