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Illinois Basketball: Top 3 recruiting targets after Illini miss on Jordan Nesbitt

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini huddle up before the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs at State Farm Center on December 14, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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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) /

1. Mac Etienne

The options are narrowing for the Illinois class of 2021, but the No. 1 target still remains on the board. That player is obviously, Mac Etienne.

Checking in at 6-foot-10, 220-pounds, Etienne is one of the most wanted big men in the country. Ranked as the No. 7 center in the class of 2021, there are only six better big men ahead of him and even that is questionable.

Etienne is also a top 50 recruit, coming in at No. 44 according to 247Sports. The last time Illinois had a top 50 center commit to the program was all the way back in 2019. That is when the Illini snagged the No. 46 player in the class of 2019 in Kofi Cockburn. That hasn’t turned out too bad for the Orange and Blue, eh?

Kofi is most likely departing the program with Ayo after his sophomore season. Illinois doesn’t have quality depth behind Kofi at the No. 5 spot. This makes Etienne the top priority in my eyes.

The recruitment for Etienne has been fairly quiet as far as a favorite or top list goes. There have been a lot of virtual visits with the big man from other programs and Illinois has been included in that too. We also remain the only team to have an in-person official visit.

Illinois needs to put all resources into landing Etienne. He would be the centerpiece to a great class of 2021.

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