Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Illini offer defensive stopper Romeo Weems

By Rees Woodcock

PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood during the first half of the College Basketball Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 25, 2018, at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Illinois basketball team continued to push hard for the class of 2019 on Friday night.

Brad Underwood and the coaching staff extended a scholarship offer to Romeo Weems. He is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward from New Haven High School in New Haven, Michigan. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 38 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan.

Weems is an extremely talented player who currently runs with the Nike Meanstreets of the Nike EYBL AAU league. While his team got off to a slow start – 3-5 through the first eight games -Weems seems to be finding his stride with the team. He is currently averaging 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2 steals per game.

The league took notice of those great numbers as well. Weems was named the Defensive Player of the Session during the Indianapolis tournament. This is a big accomplishment considering all the top talent that plays in this league.

Weems is a supreme talent that likes to play on both ends of the court. He has the defensive prowess like he showed during Session 2 of the EYBL, but he can also get buckets on demand as well. His game is more around the hoop, but his shot isn’t terrible. This kid is going to become more polished soon and it will be scary.

The recruitment of Weems is the tough part. The kid is the best recruit in the state of Michigan. I wonder how often the best player in the state bolts for another out of state program? I would say not very often. But, with that being said, Weems is running with the Nike Meanstreets in AAU ball. They are located in Illinois. So, there is that window of hope as well.

Next: Projected Illini starting lineup with Francis Okoro

I am not going to hold my breath on Illinois getting Weems or even being in the conversation for him when it is all said and done. But, this is an offer to a great player and I would love to have him. He will be a star at the next level.

Home/Illinois Basketball Recruiting