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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest Illini recruiting targets left for 2019

By Rees Woodcock

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 15: A detail view of the March Madness logo that is embossed into the official tournament basketballs is seen during an open public practice during the practice day before the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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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) /

5. Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky 58%, West Virginia 32%, Illinois 10%

The highest rated recruit and likely a pipe dream would be Oscar Tshiebwe. This kid is one of the best players in the country, and he is looking at the Illini as a possible destination.

Tshiebwe is a 6-foot-9, 250-pound center from Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. He is rated as a five-star recruit who is the No. 19 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 5 center in the nation. He is also the best player to come out of Pennsylvania as well.

The final four has been set for Tshiebwe. Back on August 26, he announced that West Virginia, Baylor, Kentucky and Illinois were all in his final four. He then set up official visits. He started with Baylor on September 13. Tshiebwe then visited Illinois on September 21 and Kentucky the next weekend on September 28.  His final visit is this weekend when he heads to West Virginia on October 5.

Okay, the obvious gut-wrenching feeling I have is Tshiebwe will end up with Kentucky. They are the gold standard as far as recruiting goes. If a kid hops into the top 30, the Wildcats will then pounce and they usually get their way. They are my favorite to land him.

Next. Fallout from EJ Liddell not picking the Illini. dark

But, I don’t think Illinois is out of this. Making Tshiebwe’s top four is pretty big. The need is there for the Illini as well. They can start him day one and show off his talents. This has to be enticing. Plus, Coach Antigua is after him, and he is a pretty good recruiter. Don’t count out the Illini here.

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