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Illinois Basketball: Illini make top 5 for top target EJ Liddell

ByRees Woodcock|
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)
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)

Some much-needed good news came down the Illinois basketball pipeline on Monday afternoon.

Longtime target EJ Liddell decided to cut his list down to just five programs. He ended up keeping Ohio State, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois in the mix for his commitment. This list cut comes at a great time considering how down the Illini fan base is on recruiting right now.

Liddell would be a big pickup for the Illinois basketball team. He is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound power forward from Belleville West High School in Belleville, Illinois. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 47 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 12 power forward in the nation.

As of right now, 247Sports has Liddell as 83-percent to Ohio State and 17-percent to Missouri. But, I can tell you this right now. Illinois needs this kid the most. They need to get on the board as far as recruiting is concerned for 2019. They haven’t landed a single recruit yet for 2019 and the quality players are dwindling by the week.

The Illini are going up against some tough competition, though. It is hard to see Ohio State not in the lead for this talented forward. They offered him a scholarship back in January. Their head coach Chris Holtmann visited him in February. Liddell then took an unofficial to Columbus on June 8. Ohio State is also the only official visit he has set up as of right now as well. We all remember how that last recruit went who only set up one official visit.

Illinois should have a strong case to bring Liddell into the program, though. They are the in-state team that isn’t located very far from where he lives. I believe they are the closest program to where he is located right now.

Playing time would be plentiful if Liddell came to Champaign as well. He would start year one, most likely at the No. 4 spot. He could be a Leron Black type of player, and we all witnessed what Brad Underwood did with Black in just one season.

On a scale of one-to-ten with one being not worried at all and ten being complete panic mode, I am about a seven when it comes to recruiting. There is a legit reason to worry if you’re an Illinois fan. But, with a solid commitment from a player like Liddell, everything should be okay.

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