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Illinois Basketball: Top 6 Illini targets for the class of 2019

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Illinois Fighting Illini flag flies during the game against the Norfolk State Spartans at Assembly Hall on December 11, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 64-54. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Illinois Fighting Illini flag flies during the game against the Norfolk State Spartans at Assembly Hall on December 11, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 64-54. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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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) /

1. Oscar Tshiebwe – Top 8

Size should be a priority for the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2019. Getting a big man like Oscar Tshiebwe would help fill the massive void left in the paint for this program.

Tshiebwe is a 6-foot-9, 230-pound center from Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 56 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 12 center in the nation.

On July 31, the scope of Tshiebwe’s recruitment narrowed as he cut his list down to just eight teams. Included on this list were Virginia, Kentucky, Baylor, Georgetown, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Kansas and Illinois. There are a handful of teams on this list that continue to be a thorn in the Illini side when it comes to recruiting and that scares me.

The report coming from Corey Evans of Rivals is that Tshiebwe is either going to end up with West Virginia or, if Kentucky offers, it will be the Wildcats. That would leave the other teams out of the running.

This isn’t good news for the Illini’s chances of landing Tshiebwe. They need another solid big man to help in the paint and picking one up from the class of 2019 is crucial. Of course, his recruitment isn’t over until he commits, so I am not going to count Illinois out just yet. But, this one looks like it is leaning away from the Illini.

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