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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 – NOVEMBER 19: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo is seen on courtside seats before the start of the college basketball game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 19, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Charles Bediako

The top priority right now for the Orange and Blue has to be a big man. Snagging the next Kofi Cockburn is paramount to anything else at this point. Someone who could take over the center position is Charles Bediako.

The 2021 ESPN 100 has Bediako as the No. 25 player in the class of 2021. The 6-foot-10, 210-pound big man is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 4 center in the class and the No. 1 player coming out of Ontario.

I would say the top 25 ranking for Bediako is about right. He has every team imaginable coming after him. With that size and power, there is no wonder why the Illini are eyeing this kid. I believe we have a chance at landing him, but it will be tough.

There haven’t been too many recruiting updates on Bediako. The big man has been keeping things pretty close to the vest with his recruitment. I would say, if there is a cut, Illinois would probably make it considering Orlando Antigua is the lead recruiter. He has had success pulling in big-time players.

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

Bediako on the Illinois basketball team would be a great sight. This kid would enter during the 2021 campaign and be the starting No. 5 immediately. The Illini would be able to play some amazing inside out basketball. It would a great bridge from the Kofi era.

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