Illinois Basketball: Illini extend offer to 2024’s Jahki Howard

The Illinois basketball program is thinking about its long-term future, offering 2024’s Jahki Howard out of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Illini are looking to maintain sustained success for years to come. In doing so, the program is looking to uncover where it will sit within the next 3-4 years. Therefore, the Orange and Blue are thinking long-term, and it shows with the latest offer to Howard from the 2024 class.

Howard, a 6-foot-6, 175-pound small forward from Norcross, Georgia, was offered by Illinois on May 27. Other hopefuls include Auburn, Florida, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech, as his recruitment is just starting to take shape.

Howard currently attends Norcross High School, which is coming off of a successful 2020-2021 campaign that saw the Blue Devils finish 21-8 overall and 11-1 in Region 7 conference play. The Blue Devils wound up finishing the season with a second round playoff exit against North Gwinnett in a one-point nail-bitter, 38-37.

Despite the loss, the Blue Devils were in the midst of a 3-1 stretch entering the contest, which included victories against Peachtree Ridge, Discovery, and Denmark. The 21-win season could be a sign of things to come for Howard and the Blue Devils as his high school career progresses.

Illinois basketball target Jahki Howard is unranked by 247 Sports.

At the moment, Howard is unranked by the major national recruiting outlets, but that is not to say that the notion will remain forever. He was awarded “Freshman of the Year” honors on March 19, where he joined names such as Malique Ewin and Camron McDowell, to name a few.

Check out Howard’s open workout with Double Trouble Training from December 2020, which showcases his baseline jumper, on-court vision, and quick feet with the ball in his hands. While he still has room to grow, these intangibles will only help him improve his overall game ahead of future college offers.

Expect Howard’s stock to rise this upcoming winter, as he should become a key asset to a Blue Devils team looking to contend for a state title.