Illinois Basketball: Illini showing interesting in wing Evan Mahaffey

You can’t get behind in the recruiting game, and that is why the Illinois basketball program continues to pursue players from around the country.

The main focus for the Illini right now is building out the class of 2021. Once the upcoming season has concluded, the Orange and Blue will look massively different. So, stockpiling talent in 2021 is going to be important. But the Illinois coaching staff is also looking at 2022. That is why they are starting to show some love to Evan Mahaffey.

Mahaffey is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound shooting guard from Archbishop Moeller High School and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is rated as a three-star recruit who is the No. 144 player in the class of 2022 and the No. 26 shooting guard in the nation. He is also the No. 6 player in the state of Ohio.

According to Everett Hoops, Mahaffey is receiving attention from multiple teams, but one of the more recent programs to contact the talented guard is Illinois. The Illini aren’t the first team to eye this kid, though. He already has offers from Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and Western Carolina. In addition to the offers, there are a handful of teams who continue to watch this kid.

I feel like 247Sports needs to update Mahaffey’s profile. This kid seems bigger than 6-foot-4. He has a nice skillset too. At one time, he was a guard who would handle the ball, but he has grown since then. Now he is a bigger player with great handles. His ability to get into the lane and make plays is fun to watch. He can score around the hoop, but he also looks for the opportunity for his teammates to score. I love to see that.

Where would Mahaffey fit in on the Illinois roster?

Illinois is going to be in dire need of a No. 3 when 2022 rolls around. This is where I see Mahaffey playing for the Orange and Blue. He has good size mixed in with great athletic ability. Having him on the wing would be a great idea.

I have Jacob Grandison playing the No. 3 in 2021-22, but he will depart the program after that season. Luke Goode might be in line to take over the starting job then. That would make Mahaffey a great backup option who could come in for Goode or, potentially, play alongside him at times.

Illinois getting in on the Mahaffey recruitment would be a good idea. I hope their interest turns into an offer. This kid would be a great depth piece for the future.