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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 recruits who will change the Illini program

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: The Lou Henson signature is seen on the court before the start of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 30: The Lou Henson signature is seen on the court before the start of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via 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) /

1. Ayo Dosunmu

When Brad Underwood snagged Ayo Dosunmu last year, it was easily the biggest get for him since taking over as the head coach. This one get might help turn the program around for the foreseeable future.

Dosunmu is a 6-foot-4, 172-pound combo guard from Morgan Park High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is rated as a five-star recruit who is the No. 27 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 3 combo guard in the nation. Illinois had to beat out all the blue bloods to snag this talented recruit.

The reason Dosunmu is on the list of the top five recruits to change the Illini program is that he has so much on his shoulders this season with expectations through the roof. He is an in-state product who committed to play basketball for the state program. He is also one of the highest rated commitments the Illini have had in decades.

Illinois failed to get a solid impact big man for next season and this will give more responsibility to Dosunmu to be great right away. He has the talent to be sensational, though. We are expecting greatness because he has shown us greatness. This kid is an amazing basketball player.

If Dosunmu lives up to what I am expecting, then I think the team makes the NCAA tournament this year. They have missed the postseason the previous five seasons, and his emergence as a great player will set the program back on course.

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