Illinois Basketball: Ranking the last 10 Illini recruiting classes

1. Class of 2010

I know it might not be popular, but I think the No. 1 class for the Illini in the last 10 years has to be the class of 2010. This class was incredible on paper, but they didn’t pan out the way fans had hoped.

Meyers Leonard was the class of this group. He was a four-star recruit who was the No. 30 player in the class of 2010 and the No. 6 center in the nation. Leonard didn’t play much year one and then was really good his sophomore campaign. He ended up going in the first round of the draft and is still playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jereme Richmond was the highest rated player in this class. He was a four-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 29 player in the class of 2010 and the No. 6 small forward in the nation. I was really disappointed when Richmond declared for the NBA draft. He didn’t get selected and then spent some time behind bars. He is out and trying to rehabilitate his life and career.

The final player in this class was Crandall Head. He was a four-star recruit who was the No. 80 player in the class of 2010 and the No. 18 shooting guard in the nation. Head didn’t play much for the Illini and ended up transferring out. He played his final season for SMU.

Next: Projected Illini starting lineup with Andres Feliz

The class of 2010 had so much hype. There were three players in the top 80 and two of those players cracked the top 30. This was easily the best recruiting class on paper to me. If they could have panned out, then Illinois might have a title. But, they didn’t, and this class is known as a disappointment.