Illinois Basketball: Illini offer power forward Ryan Bewley

The Illinois basketball team made a push for the 2023 class, offering power forward Ryan Bewley.

As summer transitions into fall, Brad Underwood and the Illinois basketball team continue their pursuit of recruiting young talent for the future. Ryan Bewley, who is the twin brother of Matthew Bewley, becomes the program’s second offer for the 2023 class.

Bewley is unranked by 247 Sports but has offers from Florida State, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and DePaul, to name a few. The 6-foot-9 power forward hails from Northeast High School in Florida, as his team went 21-7 and protected home court with a 12-0 record during the 2019-2020 season. The Hurricanes would eventually lose in the Class 5A state quarterfinal game to Pembroke Pines Charter, 76-69.

Bewley appeared in three games last season, averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds in those contests.

What would Ryan Bewley bring to Champaign?

By the time Bewley is ready to take his talents to the next level, the Illini basketball team will likely look vastly different. If he were to arrive in Champaign, he would fill in the shoes of Giorgi Bezhanishvili (2022) and Kofi Cockburn (2023).

However, Bewley would join then-senior Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, and then-junior Brandon Lieb (assuming he redshirts for one season under Underwood) as the three main big men for the 2023 season.

For now, Illini fans are hopeful that come November, there will be a basketball season, as the Orange and Blue will look to contend for a conference, tournament, and national title in 2020 upon the return of Ayo Dosunmu and Cockburn for their third and second years, respectfully.

If it were to happen, it would be the Illini’s first national title appearances since losing to North Carolina in 2005. The Illini have not made the tournament since 2013, losing to Miami (FL).