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Illinois Basketball: A profile of 2021 Illini target Mac Etienne

By Zain Bando

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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Who is four-star recruit and Illinois basketball target Micawber Etienne?

Center Micawber “Mac” Etienne is a 2021 prospect out of Suffield Academy in Connecticut. The four-star recruit, who stands at 6-foot-10 and weighs 220-pounds, is the No. 11 center in the country and No. 1 player in the state of Connecticut.

As a junior, Etienne averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Suffield Academy Tigers, leading to a plethora of Power 5 offers along the way. His team went 10-13, playing elite-level competition night in and night out.

Etienne has offers from 12 schools, including Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Pittsburgh and Rutgers, to name a few. He had a virtual meeting with the Illini on May 20, which may spark future interest. It was a follow-up to his visit in early-March, where he was in attendance for Illinois’ last game, a home win vs. Iowa.

Etienne is considering reclassifying, depending on how his skills develop over the next year.

“I’d say it’s 50-50,” Etienne told Zagsblog on whether or not he’ll reclassify. “I just really want to see how my body is and how my game has developed. “I was going to try and decide during AAU season if I was going to be going in the 2020 class or staying in the 2021 class,” Etienne said. “I really have to see how this virus plays out and see what I’m going to be doing in the summer. After that, I’ll figure out a timeline.”

The Tale of The Tape

Check out his highlights and offer below.

https://twitter.com/micawber_e/status/1236720131084075010?s=21

Snagging Etienne would be a major boost for an Illinois team that is only looking to improve. With his height and scoring ability, he could fill a major void that Kofi Cockburn is currently leaving. Cockburn’s future is uncertain due to the status of the NBA Draft and continuation of the season, but regardless, Illinois has a major opportunity to get a key priority commit.

Next. Illinois Basketball: Top 3 Illini shooting guards of all-time. dark

The Illini are coming off of its best season since 2005, and high hopes remain for another successful winter.

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