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Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons landing Luke Goode is huge for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood signals a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood signals a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini is seen during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Center on February 11, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team added to the family on Friday night when Luke Goode announced his commitment to the Orange and Blue.

This commitment sent shockwaves through the college basketball world. What is a northeast Indiana kid doing committing to Illinois? That hasn’t happened in, at least, the last 25 years and probably even longer than that.

Goode isn’t just a solid recruit either. This kid is talented. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 97 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 22 shooting guard in the nation. He is also the No. 7 player in the state of Indiana.

Illinois now has their first player signed up for the class of 2021. The impact Goode will have on the team is going to be felt for years. I see him as a player who can come in and make an impact on the team early on in his career.

Goode’s stats with Homestead High School are impressive. As a junior, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He also shot 43-percent from the field and 32-percent from three-point range.

It is not going to shock me if Goode shoots up the recruiting rankings during his senior season. If he is averaging 17.6 PPG as a junior, I would imagine he has an even bigger final year in high school. That will make Illinois’ ability to land him even bigger. But what are the three biggest reasons landing Goode is huge for the Orange and Blue?

Here are the three reasons landing Luke Goode is huge for the Illini.

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