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Illinois Basketball: 3 reasons why Sam Ayomide should pick the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 28: Illinois Fighting Illini fans in the Orange Krush section cheer against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Assembly Hall on November 28, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 75-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - NOVEMBER 28: Illinois Fighting Illini fans in the Orange Krush section cheer against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Assembly Hall on November 28, 2012 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois won 75-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 09: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood looks up at the scoreboard to check out a replay during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 9, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team moved one step closer to landing a big man for the future.

On Sunday morning, Sam Ayomide decided to cut his list down to just six teams. The six programs that will be vying for his commitment include Memphis, Kansas, Seton Hall, Providence, Wake Forest and Illinois. This is a solid list and one that has been a thorn in the side of Illini recruiting.

Two of the bigger Illini targets to spurn the Orange and Blue were Brandon Weston and Jordan Nesbitt. Weston, a Chicago product, picked Seton Hall just weeks ago. Nesbitt, a St. Louis native, picked Memphis just days ago. So, this list Illinois made for Ayomide has a few teams who are taking recruits away from Brad Underwood.

But landing Ayomide and taking him from these programs and other national powers would be a great feat. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound big man currently attends The Phelps School out in Pennsylvania. Despite him only being the No. 138 player in the class of 2021, the teams that are after him signal that he is better than what his ranking shows.

While it may be a long shot to land Ayomide, Illinois does have some selling points for the big man.

Here are three reasons why Ayomide should pick the Illini.

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