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Illinois Basketball: Rerating every Illini recruit from the 2010s

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini breaks up a scuffle between Da'Monte Williams #20 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the game at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini breaks up a scuffle between Da'Monte Williams #20 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the game at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WI – FEBRUARY 15: Nnanna Egwu #32 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the hoop during the first half against Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on February 15, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – FEBRUARY 15: Nnanna Egwu #32 of the Illinois Fighting Illini drives to the hoop during the first half against Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on February 15, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /

12. Nnanna Egwu (Old: 4-star/0.9700 – New: 4-star/0.9444)

If you look back at the 2010s, you will notice a trend. Illinois didn’t have a lot of success landing players with size. This was one of John Groce’s downfalls. But Groce did end up inheriting a defensive big man in Nnanna Egwu.

Egwu was a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center coming out of St. Ignatius High School and residing in Chicago, Illinois. He was rated as a four-star recruit who was the No. 75 player in the class of 2011 and the No. 9 center in the nation. He also had a composite rating of 0.9700.

The class of 2011 had all of the parts for a great program. This class was all topped off with an athletic center in Egwu. The time he spent with the Illini was fairly successful. He wasn’t much on the offensive end, only averaging 5.5 points per game for his career, but his defense is what stood out.

Egwu ended up pulling down 4.6 rebounds per game during his time with Illinois. He also averaged 1.5 blocks per contest. His defensive abilities are what set him apart from the rest.

It is hard to gauge where Egwu should be rated. If he could have been strong on offense, then he would be much higher on this list. He entered the college ranks as a four-star with a rating of 0.9700. I have bumped him down slightly to a four-star with a rating of 0.9444.

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