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

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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 *** /

2. Bryce Hopkins

I still think it would be an amazing feat to pull in someone like Bryce Hopkins, but Illinois is in his top nine and he hasn’t made a decision yet. So, we are in the running.

It might be a bit of a pipedream to think Hopkins will pick the Illini over Kentucky, but there is always a possibility. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward does hail from Oak Park, Illinois, and attends the high school powerhouse, Fenwick. Having the kid in-state is always a bonus for the Orange and Blue.

Hopkins would fit in seamlessly with the Illinois program too. He would get the starting No. 4 spot from day one. I would find a different role for Giorgi Bezhanishvili for his senior season. It would be a great fit. His frame would be amazing in the paint. He could stretch the floor with his shooting ability as well.

But, as I said, Kentucky seems to have the momentum with the Hopkins recruitment. Illinois should put resources into the kid because they have done so much work with him over the last couple of years, but 247Sports has Hopkins heading to the Wildcats with a strong vote of confidence.

Whether or not Hopkins picks the Illini, it is always good for the Illinois coaching staff to get closer to a program like Fenwick. They produce a ton of talented players every year, so maybe it can become a pipeline down the road.

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