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Illinois Basketball: 5 players to watch from the updated 2021 ESPN 100

By Rees Woodcock

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 *** /
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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) /

2. Jordan Nesbitt

The football team has hand plenty of success recruiting the state of Missouri, mainly the St. Louis area. This is a hotbed for talented recruits. Illinois basketball could be getting in the St. Louis mix too with the addition of Jordan Nesbitt.

I believe Nesbitt is the second most likely player to come to Champaign out of the class of 2021. This kid really came onto the Illinois recruiting radar the last couple of months, but it seems like the Illini are gaining momentum by the day.

Nesbitt checks in on the 2021 ESPN 100 as the No. 84 player in the class of 2021. ESPN has the 6-foot-6, 200-pound wing from Christian High School as a four-star recruit who is the No. 21 small forward in the class and the No. 2 player coming out of the state of Missouri.

The No. 84 ranking from ESPN is a lot better than the other recruiting sites. This is about where I would rank the kid, though. He has a ton of scholarship offers from big-time programs. There is a need for him on the Illini roster too.

Nesbitt can come in and play either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot for the Illini. I could see him playing the role of someone like Roger Powell. Illinois needs more help in this area of the basketball court. That is why Nesbitt would be a perfect fit.

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