Illinois basketball: Illini offer 2023 5-star Kwame Evans Jr.

The Illinois basketball program just gave out a monster offer to one of the top players in the nation.

The Fighting Illini coaching staff has continued to focus on building for the future, as they came in with an offer on Tuesday to 2023 forward Kwame Evans Jr., per Adam Zagoria of Forbes Sports.

Evans is a 6-foot-9, 190-pound small forward who is currently attending Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.  He is rated as a five-star prospect and is ranked the No. 5 player in the class of 2023, according to 247sports.

Additionally, Evans ranks as the No. 1 player in the state of Maryland and the No. 2 small forward in the nation. He is only a sophomore and has already reeled in 17 scholarship offers.  Besides the Illini, Evans has received scholarship offers from Maryland, Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, Xavier, and others.

If the Illini land Evans, what type of player would they be getting?

With a commitment, the Illini would be getting a player who can do it all.  There is a reason he is rated as a five-star and is the No. 5 player in the country.  Evans would be bringing a versatile skillset to Brad Underwood’s program.

Despite being 6-foot-9 and190-pounds, Evans is listed as a small forward.  This means not only does he possess a large frame, but he also possesses athleticism as he plays along the perimeter.  His film backs this up.

Watching Evans’ film, he looks like a man amongst boys on the court.  I immediately thought of Kevin Durant when watching the Baltimore native.  He is a large player capable of scoring from anywhere on the court, whether it’s from three-point range, mid-range, or under the basket.  He has consistency with his three-point shot and would be a reliable shooter in Coach Underwood’s offense.

Evans’ athleticism also jumped out to me.  He is capable of using his athleticism to open up scoring opportunities, whether it’s with his speed, his handles, or a cross-over move.  Additionally, the 6-foot-9 forward is great at scoring off of contact.

Evans has the potential to bring a skill set very similar to Durant’s to the championship-contending Fighting Illini in Champaign.

Coach Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have shown they are capable of landing five-star recruits.  Let’s see if they can reel in this one.