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Illinois Basketball: 2021’s RJ Melendez receives offer from Illini

By Zain Bando

CHICAGO - MARCH 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheer team runs around the court against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a first round game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Minnesota 51-49. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - MARCH 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini cheer team runs around the court against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during a first round game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 14, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated Minnesota 51-49. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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With under a month to go before the season begins, the Illinois basketball team continues its recruiting pursuit, offering small forward RJ Melendez.

Melendez becomes the Illini’s latest offer to-date, as the team is still awaiting word on highly-touted 2021 prospect, Bryce Hopkins, and his eventual landing spot for next season. Melendez is a 6-foot-5 small forward and hails from Kissimme, Florida. The senior attends Central Pointe Christian Academy High School and holds offers from a plethora of schools.

Including Illinois, Melendez has interest from DePaul, Georgia Tech, Florida, and Nebraska to name a few. Melendez was offered by the Orange and Blue on Monday, as another Big Ten squad joined the fray upon his senior season.

https://twitter.com/MelendezRamses/status/1318352100674383872

Melendez and his team enjoyed a successful 2019-2020 campaign. The White Tigers finished the regular season with a 25-8 record and a third-place finish in conference play, going 9-4.

They would eventually lose to one of the country’s top programs, Prolific Prep, in the Grind Session quarterfinals. Prolific Prep graduated Coleman Hawkins, who is set to join an electrifying freshman class for the Illini that includes Andre Curbelo and Adam Miller.

How would RJ Melendez fit in Champaign?

Brad Underwood has been prone to land versatile scorers, and Melendez would fit that mold. In a June interview with Zagsblog.com, Melendez’s assistant coach, Carlos Moraes Jr., spoke highly of his overall game and how he might pan out at the collegiate level.

“At the next level, he’s going to be very impressive,” Moraes Jr. told Zagsblog.com. “I think this year is going to be huge for him as a senior. To get himself ready so he can play the two and the three at the highest level of college basketball. I really do believe he has a shot at being one of the next Puerto Rican’s to make it to the NBA. We’re looking forward to keeping him focused and working with him. He’s lifting every day, he’s working every day. We are going to do everything necessary here to keep getting him better.”

Next. Breakdown of the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers defense. dark

Melendez averaged a team-best 18.6 points per game and shot 40-percent from the three-point arc. He also played an intricate role in the SIAA-FL conference season and Grind Session postseason before COVID-19 cut it short. With another stellar year, more schools will come calling.

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