Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Can the Illini get in on the Anthony Higgs recruitment?

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 is now in pursuit of another big man for the class of 2018.

On Monday night, Anthony Higgs announced that he has received an offer from the Illini. This was an offer that doesn’t come as a surprise considering how few options there are for the Orange and Blue and how good Higgs is on the basketball court.

Higgs is a 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward from Perry Hall High School in Baltimore, Maryland. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 375 player in the class of 2018 and the No. 87 small forward in the nation.

Originally, Higgs committed and signed with Ole Miss to play basketball. But, in March, he was released from his letter and reopened his recruitment. Since then, he has received quite a few scholarship offers but on May 14, he cut his list down to just three teams which included Virginia Tech, South Florida and Buffalo.

According to 247Sports, Higgs has been on three official visits – Virginia Tech, Colorado and Ole Miss – so that would only leave two official visits remaining. He visited the Hokies this past week, and 247Sports has him committed to Virginia Tech on June 15. This is false per Higgs’ Twitter account.

From the sound of things, Higgs is keeping his recruitment pretty close to the vest. He isn’t divulging information about his recruitment. But, all I know is Illinois could use a player like him for depth moving forward.

In my most recent starting lineup projection, I have Tevian Jones as the starting No. 5 for the Illini. He is only 6-foot-7, so Illinois would likely struggle in the paint this upcoming season. If Higgs would pick the Illini, he would have a legit chance at starting at the No. 5 spot.

Right now, Samba Kane isn’t a lock to play this upcoming season. That would leave Illinois struggling for size. In the next projection – if Higgs commits – I am not sure who I would put at the No. 5. But, I do know there would be more depth which would make me a lot more comfortable for the upcoming season.

Next: Projected Illini starting lineup without Samba Kane

I like this offer by the Illini. Brad Underwood sees what he wants and, hopefully, he will get it. I think they have a lot of ground to make up, but I believe they can make some noise in Higgs’ recruitment.

Home/Illinois Basketball Recruiting