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Illinois Basketball: Bayron Matos-Garcia receives offer from Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 08: Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders look on as a player shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 8, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 08: Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleaders look on as a player shoots a free throw during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 8, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Illinois basketball team was busy over the weekend with scholarship offers.

One of their most recent offers was to Bayron Matos-Garcia. He is a 6-foot-8, 200-pound power forward from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 129 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 25 power forward in the nation.

Illinois wasn’t the first program to offer Garcia, though. The likes of Dayton and Florida both came in with offers before the Illini. But, I do believe Brad Underwood got in on Garcia’s recruitment early enough to potentially get in the running for this kid.

I look at this offer to Matos-Garcia as an investment for the future. The more time and resources put in now for this kid, the more likely he will come to Champaign down the road. He is going to be a solid player who will likely to continue to grow over the next two years. With his size and athletic ability, I wouldn’t doubt if he ends up in the top 100 by the time his high school days are over.

Illinois will also need someone of his size when 2020 rolls around as well. There is a possibility Matos-Garcia ends up playing the No. 5 for the Illini depending on who they snag in the class of 2019 and who develops from previous classes. But, one thing is for sure, he will be needed.

Personally, I like Matos-Garcia at the No. 4 spot for the Illini. Hopefully, Kahlil Whitney commits and sticks around for two years so he can play the No. 3 spot. In addition to Whitney, Kofi Cockburn would be amazing at the No. 5 spot for the Illini as well. These three big-time players in the Illini frontcourt would be amazing for the program.

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I really like this offer from Underwood. Matos-Garcia will probably be a really good player just looking at what he can do right now. The Illini are in early on his recruitment so, hopefully, it will pay off down the road.

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