Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: My dream class of 2021 for the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Illinois Fighting Illini flag flies during the game against the Norfolk State Spartans at Assembly Hall on December 11, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 64-54. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 11: Illinois Fighting Illini flag flies during the game against the Norfolk State Spartans at Assembly Hall on December 11, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 64-54. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Illinois basketball
CHAMPAIGN , IL – NOVEMBER 13: The Big 10 logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the State Farm Center on November 13, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Jordan Nesbitt – Crystal Ball Favorite

Illinois has been in the Jordan Nesbitt recruitment for as long as I can remember him being a wanted player. That continued drive to snag the talented wing hasn’t wavered one bit.

Nesbitt, a 6-foot-6, 180-pound small forward who hails from St. Louis Christian Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 73 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 13 small forward in the nation. He is also the second-best player coming out of Missouri.

As of about a week ago, it looked like Illinois lost this recruitment. Multiple “experts” for 247Sports were picking the Saint Louis Billikens as the eventual landing spot for Nesbitt. This made sense too. Nesbitt is from St. Louis, so his hometown team would be an obvious choice.

Nesbitt then ended up cutting down his list to just Memphis, Saint Louis and Illinois, three teams that all could use a player of his caliber. All three programs also have capable recruiters who can pull in talented players.

But something changed over the last seven days or so. Saint Louis lost their momentum and now Illinois has a few Crystal Ball predictions to land Nesbitt. This is a big changing of the tides in his recruitment.

Nesbitt would be a huge pick up for Illinois. While his profile is similar to that of Luke Goode, they are two different players. Goode can play more of the No. 2 spot with the potential to be sprinkled in at the No. 3. That isn’t what Nesbitt is, though.

I have Nesbitt primarily as a No. 3 with the ability to be sprinkled in as the No. 4 spot. He isn’t nearly as polished of a shooter as Goode, but Nesbitt can get to the hoop a lot better. He is more of a slasher, and that is what Illinois needs out on the wing. Someone who has a solid shot but can get to the hoop.

No one should ever count Illinois out of a recruitment until that player puts pen to paper. Nesbitt’s recruitment is swinging toward the Illini now. He would be a great piece to a championship puzzle.

Home/Illinois Basketball Recruiting