Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini recruiting targets for the class of 2022

4. Mady Traore – Forward, 6-foot-11, 195-pounds

The big man search is going to continue until the Illinois basketball program can find another Kofi Cockburn. I want a player in the middle of the paint who can dominate both offensively and defensively. I think that player could be Mady Traore.

Traore is a 6-foot-11, 195-pound power forward from National Christian Academy and resides in Cumberland, Maryland. He is rated as a four-star recruit but 247Sports doesn’t have his rankings up just yet. I believe he is a rising star, and most recruiting sites haven’t caught up.

The recruitment of Traore has heated up, though. He has offers from a wide range of programs including the likes of USC, LSU and Oregon, among others. Illinois is one of the top offers for Traore as well. It looks like the Illini are in the mix too. Back in December, Traore cut down his list to just eight programs and kept Illinois involved. I think, with what we have done with big men, the Illini will be in the running at the end.

If scouts from 1970 saw what Traore could do today, their heads would explode. How can a guy who is nearing 7-foot do the things Traore can do? It is amazing watching him play the game. Traore can do all of the regular big man stuff like posting up, etc., but his handles and his shot from the perimeter are amazing. This kid has the ability to do some special things. It is rare to see someone who can do what Traore can do.

I see tinges of Anthony Davis in Traore’s game. I think another good and closer comp would be Bol Bol for the Denver Nuggets. If Traore can become a more polished player, there is no telling how good he can become. I would love to see this kid wearing the Orange and Blue.