Illinois Basketball: Illini focusing on paint depth with offer to Fray Nguimbi

Depth in and around the paint might end up being an issue for the Illinois basketball program moving forward.

Kofi Cockburn returned for his sophomore season and will play the No. 5 spot for the Illini this year. But he will depart after the upcoming campaign. Giorgi Bezhanishvili is only a junior this year, so that means he only has two years left in Champaign. Behind these two, there isn’t a ton of experience.

To build depth at the No. 4 or No. 5, the Illinois coaching staff has started to recruit a handful of players including the likes of Fray Nguimbi.

Nguimbi, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward out of First Love Christian Academy and residing in Orlando, Florida, has a number of programs already looking at him. Some of the bigger names on the list include Alabama, Dayton and Georgia Tech, to name a few.

There is a good reason multiple teams are vying for Nguimbi’s commitment. This kid has the talent to play at the next level. Despite being a three-star by Rivals and unrated by 247Sports, Nguimbi has everything you want in a player.

The length of Nguimbi is what sticks out to me the most. This kid’s wingspan enables him to be a dominant shot-blocker on the defensive end. He can match up against players who are bigger than him as well due to his great length.

Nguimbi isn’t a slouch on the offensive end of the court either. Offensive rebounds will be a bonus to what he can do with putting the ball in the hoop. The shooting might not be there yet, but Nguimbi has the handles of a guard and the ability to score at-will from within 10 feet of the basket.

It is hard to watch Nguimbi and not immediately think of former Illini big man, Nnanna Egwu. Both have a great ability to block shots and run the court. I think Nguimbi is a little more polished around the rim, though.

I love this offer by Illinois. Getting another big man in the mix whether at the No. 4 or No. 5 is important. Nguimbi would fit the bill and be a star in Champaign.