Illinois Basketball: Illini on short list of future visits for Colin Smith

Illinois basketball is really turning up their recruitment of players, as they need to build for the future quickly.

There are a handful of transfers who are eyeing the Illini, but building from the high school level is how you can sustain success. Snagging a player like Colin Smith would go a long way in building depth for the program.

Smith is a 6-foot-8, 200-pound power forward from St. Mark’s High School and resides in Dallas, Texas. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 108 player in the class of 2022. He is also the No. 23 power forward in the country and the No. 10 player in the state of Texas.

Illinois has been after Smith for a little while now, offering the kid a scholarship back in September 2020. It looks like he is wanting to visit Champaign as well. In a tweet by Endless Motor Sports, Smith is wanting to visit Illinois when the recruiting dead period has ended. That is good news for Illini Nation.

How would Smith fit in with the Illinois basketball program?

Smith would be a solid pickup for the Illini. He is a tough kid who can bang around in the paint with his solid size, but he can also step back and take a three-point shot when needed. He reminds me a lot of a Malcolm Hill type of player.

I would slot Smith at the No. 4 spot when he would arrive in Champaign. He would get the starting nod by year two and start really developing into a great piece for the program. But Illinois still has to land this kid, and that will be difficult.

It seems that Michigan is in the lead right now considering Smith has visited the Wolverines on three different occasions. But there is still plenty of time left, so the Illini can still work their way into the mix.

If Illinois can land a visit and really show Smith that he would be a major asset to this team, then I have no doubt that we can be a serious contender for the Lone Star State forward. This kid has solid talent and will help whatever team he picks.