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Illinois Basketball: Top 4 best options for the Illini class of 2021

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center on February 24, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center on February 24, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – DECEMBER 30: Detail view of the basketball goal and net during a game between the Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini at Mackey Arena on December 30, 2008 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Bryce Hopkins

After backing away from his commitment to the Louisville Cardinals, Bryce Hopkins had quite a few programs wanting the talented forward.

Hopkins, listed as a power forward and has the size to fit the bill, stands at 6-foot-7, 220-pounds. The Fenwick forward is ranked as the No. 32 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 8 power forward in the nation. Slotting Hopkins in as the starting No. 4 for the Illini on day one would not be difficult.

Illinois is building some depth at the No. 4 spot with Giorgi Bezhanishvili filling that role for a couple of more years and players like Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk rising up and trying to prove their worth on the court. But when you have a top 40 player like Hopkins come into a program, you don’t let the kid ride the pine.

With the body of an NBA player and the post-up abilities of a seasoned veteran, Hopkins has a chance to be a great player at the next level. The kid can run the court well and is a physical presence on the inside. You won’t have to worry about him taking plays off as the talented forward has the drive to be successful.

Illinois is still in the running to be the winner in the race for Hopkins. On August 30, Hopkins cut his list down to nine teams and kept Kentucky, Iowa State, Texas, Michigan, Providence, Indiana, California, Oregon and the Illini all in the mix. As of right now, Kentucky is the landing spot according to 247Sports, but the recruitment is not over yet. Don’t count out Illinois.

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