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Illinois Basketball: Illini recruiting big board for 2022 as of June 14

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 1, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood is seen prior to a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood is seen prior to a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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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) /

3. Jayden Epps

This is a recruitment every Illinois basketball fan should keep an eye on moving forward. Jayden Epps is a big-time player who could come in and made a solid impact on the Illini roster early on in his career.

Epps is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound combo guard from King’s Fork High School and resides in Suffolk, Virginia. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 60 player in the class of 2022. He is also the No. 11 combo guard in the nation and the No. 4 player in the state of Virginia.

Illinois was late to the party when it comes to the recruitment of Epps. The Illini offered him back on May 18, and they have done some serious works since. There are three official visits scheduled for the east coast guard, though. North Carolina State had one on June 11. UConn gets their shot on June 21. Kansas then hosts Epps on June 28.

Prediction/Analysis

Pre-May 18, Epps wasn’t on the Illinois basketball radar. The hiring of Chester Frazier happened, and this got the Illini involved in the recruitment since Frazier was recruiting Epps back in the Virginia Tech days.

May 18 was also the day Epps backed away from his commitment to Providence. Since that day, I believe Illinois has made up some serious ground in the Epps recruitment. I was also able to confirm with Epps that he is taking an unofficial visit to Champaign this weekend.

I would say one of the three official visit schools is probably in the lead right now, but Illinois is coming in fast. I think the Illini will eventually take the lead in this recruitment and win the pledge of Epps for 2022.

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