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Illinois Basketball: 4 main options for the Illini in the class of 2019

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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the San Francisco Dons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 88-60. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Basketballs are shown in a ball rack before a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the San Francisco Dons and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 88-60. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Francis Okoro

While the Illinois basketball team is still trying to figure out who is going to be their big man moving forward, they still have their eyes set on Francis Okoro.

Okoro is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound center from Normal Community West High School in Normal, Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 34 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 1 player in the state of Illinois.

As of right now, Okoro is still listed as a member of the class of 2019 but there have been rumors that he might reclassify up to the class of 2018. This would put a wrench in the plans of the Illini. It would be fantastic if he did reclassify and filled the final spot on the Illinois roster, but I doubt that would happen. If he reclassifies, I would bet he commits somewhere else like Oregon or Purdue.

But, I am keeping Okoro on this list until he does official move up to the class of 2018. He would be the answer to the No. 5 problems for the Illini. Okoro would come in day one and start immediately. He is also right down the road for the Illini, so hopefully, that will help in the recruitment of this talented big man.

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