Illinois Basketball: A profile of 2021 Illini target Brandon Weston

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)

Who is four-star recruit and Illinois basketball target Brandon Weston?

Brandon Weston is a 6-foot-4,175-pound 2021 small forward, hailing from Chicago, Illinois. He attends Morgan Park Academy High School and is a former teammate of Adam Miller and Ayo Dosunmu, who all played with the Morgan Park basketball program at one time or another.

As a four-star recruit, Weston currently has 10 scholarship offers. Including Illinois, Weston has taken interest from Iowa State, Wake Forest, UMass, Seton Hall, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh, to name a few.

As a junior, Weston helped propel the Mustangs to a 22-9 record, which included wins against perennial powers Whitney Young and Bogan. He averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds, making him a key contributor to the team’s success.


Weston’s transition to Morgan Park helped him build connections with college assistant coaches, including Chin Coleman, who has helped rebuild the Illini’s Chicago market.

“Chin is a really cool guy,” Weston told Illini Inquirer. “Not only do we talk basketball, we just talk about life on a personal level. So I just feel like he’s a really good guy to talk about anything.”

The Tale of the Tape

Weston is one of the best recruits in the 2021 class. He can score from anywhere and is solid from mid-range. With the pieces around him, his unselfish play will only benefit him as his career continues to progress.

With Miller beginning his freshman year in Champaign, Weston will have major shoes to fill if the Mustangs want to contend for another state championship. As the fall approaches, Weston will have many people curious as to how he can maximize his senior year, especially since the 2019-20 season was cut short due to the global pandemic.

The Illini are coming off of its best season in 15 years, leaving fans and alumni excited for the future.