Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons the Illini need Jordan Nesbitt

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
CHAMPAIGN , IL - NOVEMBER 13: The Illinois Fighting Illini logo on the floor before a college basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 7: Tyler Griffey #42 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning basket against the Indiana Hoosiers during the game at Assembly Hall on February 7, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated No. 1 ranked Indiana 74-72. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 7: Tyler Griffey #42 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning basket against the Indiana Hoosiers during the game at Assembly Hall on February 7, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated No. 1 ranked Indiana 74-72. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Develop a good rapport in Missouri

The Illinois football team seems to have solid success in the state of Missouri when it comes to recruiting. But this is one area of the country the Illini basketball program has failed to pick up steam.

Just in the state of Missouri alone, you have to go back to the class of 2009 to find the last Illinois player to come out of the Show Me State. That player was Illini legend Tyler Griffey, who hit the game-winning shot against No. 1 Indiana back in 2013.

Missouri hasn’t been nice to Illinois over the last few coaching regimes. For a moment, we were in the running for Caleb Love and Ryan Kalkbrenner for the class of 2020, but they went elsewhere.

I feel like we were close to landing Courtney Ramey a couple of different times in 2018, but he settled on committing to Texas. Xavier Sneed checked the Illini out for a moment in 2016, but we had so much turmoil in the program where he went to Kansas State.

Honestly, I could continue on, but you get the picture. Illinois has been in the running for some solid players from Missouri, but nothing has formulated into a solid commitment. Snagging Jordan Nesbitt could change the recruiting momentum for the Orange and Blue.

Next. Review of the Illini point guard outlook. dark

Nesbitt is a player who would make a huge impact on the court, but he would also impact Illinois recruiting for years to come. He could be the start of a great pipeline to the state of Missouri.

Home/Illinois Basketball