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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 targets for the Illini in the class of 2021

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center on February 24, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center on February 24, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 18: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on a pair of shorts during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 18: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on a pair of shorts during a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Pick Analysis. Rolling Meadows HS - Rolling Meadows, IL. player. 1. 481. Scouting Report. SG. Max Christie

I believe the biggest fish for the Illinois basketball team to catch in the class of 2021 is Max Christie. He is the highest-rated player who I think could come to Champaign.

Christie is a 6-foot-6, 165-pound shooting guard from Rolling Meadows High School and resides in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. He is rated as a five-star recruit who is the No. 13 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 1 shooting guard in the nation. He is also the best player in the state of Illinois.

The scholarship offer list is pretty long for Christie. He has roughly 17 offers right now with some of the bigger teams being Villanova, Duke and Illinois. But it does seem like his recruitment is coming down to two programs that have been pushing for him the most.

Illinois is one of the two programs. The Illini coaching staff went to a few of Christie’s games this past season and over the last couple of years. They are really showing him a lot of love. But Duke is also right there for his commitment. They are an attractive option because of their head coach. Duke has been attending his games as well.

I would say Illinois needs Christie, but every team in the nation needs a top 15 player. The Illini would have room for him to come in day one and start, though. I could see Christie starting at the No. 3 spot alongside sophomore’s Adam Miller and Andre Curbelo. That would be a title-contending team.

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