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Illinois Basketball: Illini need to land 2 of the 5 recruits on this list

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players 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 gives instructions to his players 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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CHAPEL HILL, NC – DECEMBER 20: Two basketballs are stuck in a net prior to the game between the Wofford Terriers and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean Smith Center on December 20, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wofford won 79-75. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

2. Kofi Cockburn

Illinois hasn’t had a traditional big man that could dominate in the paint since Meyers Leonard came through Champaign. Well, that could all change if Kofi Cockburn decides to come play for the Fighting Underwood’s.

Cockburn is a 6-foot-11, 248-pound center from Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, New York. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 26 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 8 center in the nation.

The Illini have struggled with the center position since the Bruce Weber era. They couldn’t find a Big Ten caliber starting center in the years since Weber’s tenure, and that is why Cockburn is important. He would come in and start at the No. 5 spot for the Illini from day one. He is pretty polished when it comes to the position. He has solid big man moves and his touch around the rim is impressive. He could be a big piece for the Illinois basketball team.

Landing Cockburn could be the tricky part, though. 247Sports has Syracuse and UConn as the favorites to land him, but I don’t think they have updated his profile in a while. He does plan on visiting Pittsburgh, Kansas and Illinois in August, though.

I don’t think anyone knows where Cockburn is going to go. Illinois is probably in the top 10 right now, but I doubt they are in the lead. They are going to be legit contenders for him, though. Do I think they ultimately land him? Probably not but I do think they still have a shot. He would be a big piece for this team.

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