Illinois Basketball: Illini target Bryce Hopkins to cut his list
The Illinois basketball team is back in the mix for big-time recruit Bryce Hopkins, and his recruiting focus might be narrowing this week.
According to Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers.com, fans of a handful of teams should expect a list cut by Hopkins this week. There isn’t a timetable on a decision, but the list cut indicates to me that Hopkins is starting to think about a decision in the coming months or, potentially, weeks.
Hopkins would be a great get for any program right now. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward use to be committed to Louisville but backed out of that commitment on August 9. Since that decision to reopen his recruitment, the star forward has received a plethora of scholarship offers including from the likes of Kentucky, Oregon and Michigan.
Multiple recruiting people are saying the Wildcats have the lead for Hopkins right now. Weingarten is also reporting that Hopkins had Zoom calls with only three teams as of right now. The three programs to talk with him over Zoom were Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois.
If I had to take a guess, Hopkins is probably going to cut his list down to the top four and keep Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois alive for his commitment. I would assume a decision comes within a week after his list cut.
During his first recruitment where he ended up picking Louisville, Hopkins mentioned that the recruiting process was wearing him out. I would imagine it is doing the same this time around as well. That means a decision might be coming sooner rather than later.
Where does Illinois stand?
I would imagine we are right there this time around just like we were during his first recruitment. Kentucky always wields a ton of power in the recruiting game, so they are probably in the lead right now.
I would venture to say Illinois isn’t too far behind the Wildcats, though. It would be huge if the Illini could pull off this commitment. I want to start building a rapport with other high school programs outside of Morgan Park. Let’s own the Chicago area and anything within 50 miles.
Next. Illini land two on the 247Sports All-Big Ten teams. dark
Illinois needs a piece like Hopkins for the future. If the young star wants playing time, a place to get national attention and a team that can win immediately; there is no better place than Champaign.