Illinois Basketball: Illini target Bryce Hopkins will choose from top 9

A vital target for Brad Underwood and the Illinois basketball team made a big announcement on Friday night.

Illinois Fighting Illini target Bryce Hopkins announced Friday he would be choosing from his top-9 schools.  Hopkins had previously announced he would reduce his list to five schools but since changed his mind.  He will be choosing from the Illini, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Providence, Iowa State, Texas, California, and Oregon.

Hopkins had initially committed to play for the University of Louisville but would eventually back away from that commitment after the Cardinals received a notice of allegations from the NCAA.

Hopkins is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound power forward and currently attends Fenwick High School, located in Oak Park, Illinois.  He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranks as the No. 30 overall prospect in the class of 2021, and the No. 2 prospect in the state of Illinois.

The talented power forward would be a massive gift for Underwood and the Illini and would make an immediate impact.  He is listed as a power forward but has proven to excel both down low in the paint and along the perimeter as a wing.  He could play the No. 3 or No. 4 roles in Underwood’s offense.

Hopkins would give opposing Big Ten teams nightmares, given that he is a very athletic big man who can not only dominate in the paint but can shoot the ball and guard around the perimeter as well.

Momentum, however, is currently not on the Illini’s side.  All seven of Hopkins’ Crystal Ball predictions have him going to play for John Calipari at Kentucky.  The latest prediction was made on September 18.

I am not going to count out the Illini just yet.  Underwood has a lot to offer the 2021 prospect with promising talent around him and a high chance of starting as a freshman in one of college basketball’s greatest conferences.