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Illinois Basketball: A profile of 2021 Illini target Jordan Nesbitt

By Zain Bando

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Who is three-star recruit and Illinois basketball target Jordan Nesbitt?

Jordan Nesbitt is a 6-foot-7,180-pound 2021 small forward hailing from Saint Louis Christian Academy in Saint Louis, Missouri. As a three-star recruit, Nesbitt should generate local buzz as he enters his senior season.

Including Illinois, Nesbitt has offers from Nebraska, Alabama, Iowa and Ole Miss, to name a few. He led his team to a 14-9 record, which opens the door for an improvement moving forward.

Nesbitt is also one of the key leaders on a young Cougars squad, which was no more evident than in a come-from-behind win against CBC last December. They won 59-55. Nesbitt scored the last eight points in the third quarter, tying the score at 44-44. He finished the game with 29 points, showcasing his skills in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

“I was just trying to be the sparkplug for my guys,” Nesbitt told reporters after the win. “We were a little down. I was trying to bring us back and help us win.”

The Cougars would eventually win the Legends of Winter tournament against Cardinal Ritter, thanks to Nesbitt’s game-sealing three-pointer.  

Therefore, Nesbitt has proven that his sharp-shooting ability is an attribute that coaches will be looking for as his senior season plays out.

The Tale of the Tape

Nesbitt was named as one of the 10 Saint Louis high school basketball stars to watch during the 2019-20 season, and his play does the talking.

Even from the first sequence of the highlight video, Nesbitt has untapped potential wherever he may choose to sign. His speed, accuracy from mid-range, and dynamic basketball IQ make him an instant upgrade.

The Illini are looking to build for the future, as Adam Miller and Coleman Hawkins are locked up as the two staples of the 2020 class. Both are elite-level players who are used to winning at the high school level.

Next. Projected Illini lineup if Charles Bediako was added. dark

With Nesbitt getting on people’s radar’s, and with the addition of 2021’s Luke Goode at the wing, Illinois will remain afloat as one of the Big Ten’s most exciting teams to watch over the next two seasons.

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