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Illinois Basketball: Illini recruiting wish list for the class of 2021

By Rees Woodcock

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood smiles as he talks to his team in a huddle during a timeout during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 25: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood smiles as he talks to his team in a huddle during a timeout during a regular season Big Ten Conference game between the Illinois Fighting Illini (21) and the Michigan Wolverines on January 25, 2020, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois defeated Michigan 64-62. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – MARCH 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheer team runs around the court against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a first round game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Minnesota 51-49. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

2. Brandon Weston

Another huge piece to the puzzle for the Illinois basketball program would be Brandon Weston. If I had to pick the player on this list most likely to commit to the Illini, it would be Weston. Losing out on this kid would be a big hit to the class of 2021.

I want Weston on the Illini because he brings so much to the table. He is a 6-foot-5, 195-pound small forward who is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 63 player in the class of 2021.

Weston has been playing for Morgan Park High School and played for the Mac Irvin Fire on the AAU circuit. Just a few weeks ago, though, he announced that he would be transferring down to Hillcrest Prep in Arizona to finish out his senior year of high school.

Normally, this would worry me because the west coast teams could snatch him up. But Weston did release his top six a few days ago and included Seton Hall, Western Illinois, Michigan, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and Illinois. There isn’t a single west coast team on the list. I would imagine this is Illinois’ recruitment to lose at this point.

Illinois needs more wing players like Weston. Brad Underwood likes to run the court, so having more solid-sized wing players would be perfect. I would slot Weston in at the No. 3 spot on the roster. I am not sure if he would start year one, but by his sophomore season, he would be in the starting lineup.

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