Illinois Basketball: Illini heavily pursuing 2022’s Shawn Phillips Jr.

The Illinois basketball team is looking ahead to its next batch of superstars, offering 2022 Ohio big man, Shawn Phillips Jr.

With the departure of Kofi Cockburn a done deal, the Illinois basketball program is working towards future success. In doing so, they are in search of their next superstar big man. Shawn Phillips Jr., a Dayton, Ohio, native and recent Illini offer, might be a suitable replacement for the Orange and Blue.

Phillips Jr. is a 6-foot-11, 250-pound center who transferred from Belmont High School to Ypsi Prep Academy prior to the start of his junior season in June 2020. The move has allowed Phillips Jr. to play with some of the state’s best prospects, as he is currently ranked as the No. 12 center in the 2022 class and the No. 4 player in Michigan. Entering his senior campaign, Phillips Jr. is a four-star recruit and was offered by the Illini on May 28.

Phillips Jr’s recruitment has picked up over the last several months, as he is seeking interest from Dayton, Ohio State, Stanford, Florida, and Indiana, to name a few.

Since transferring to Ypsi Prep Academy, Phillips Jr’s squad has been a team to watch. A shortened season nonetheless, the squad finished 10-3 before losing to Arizona Compass Prep, 76-33, on March 8.

What would a Shawn Phillips Jr. commitment mean for Illinois basketball?

If Phillips Jr. were to pledge at Illinois, he would be a valuable replacement at the center position that has been manned by Cockburn over the last two seasons.

Phillips Jr. was featured in a highlight package from Pro Insight. The video showcases his dynamic play-making ability, his low-post presence, and his keen awareness for slam-dunk opportunities at any time.

Phillip Jr’s recruitment is one to watch in the coming months, as he is quickly becoming one of the country’s hottest Midwest prospects.