Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons the Illini need Jordan Nesbitt

2. Add to a Big Ten contending team

While Illinois needs help on the wing, that doesn’t mean the team is going to be bad in 2021. This Illini program is poised to build on their upcoming campaign with another great year.

I believe the Illini have a great shot at winning the Big Ten in 2020-21 and the following season, when the class of 2021 comes to town, the Orange and Blue have a chance to repeat as conference champions.

If Jordan Nesbitt would come to Illinois, he would be surrounded by talented players. Adam Miller would still be the starting No. 2 guard. He enters the program this season with a ton of accolades and a top 35 ranking in the nation.

The main ball handler for the Illini will likely be Andre Curbelo in 2021. The talented New York product brings a high energy and great court vision to the Illinois backcourt. Don’t be surprised if he is first-team All-Big Ten by his sophomore season. He also enters the program with Miller this year.

Let’s also not forget who else is entering from the class of 2021. Illinois snagged northeast Indiana native Luke Goode to knock down shots from anywhere on the court. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter hails from Homestead High School and should be one of the best pure scorers on the team immediately. He is also a top 100 recruit.

So, with the addition of Nesbitt, Illinois would be trotting out a ton of talent. They would have multiple top 50 guys in Miller and Curbelo. They would have multiple top 100 guys in Goode and Nesbitt. Illinois isn’t done there either. Brad Underwood would still have two more scholarships to use.

A big perk about coming to Illinois will be the team that surrounds Nesbitt. If he wants to win a Big Ten title and compete with the best of the best in the nation, then Champaign sounds like a great destination.