Illinois Basketball: Illini targeting 2024 combo guard with latest offer

It is never too early to start a recruiting relationship with a player, and that seems to be the mindset with one of the Illinois basketball team’s latest offers.

Finding the next Ayo Dosunmu is something the Illini should be targeting for the future. It is going to be tough to replace such a talented player, but one top recruit Brad Underwood has in mind is Malachi Palmer.

Palmer is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound combo guard from Central Dauphin High School and resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He isn’t rated or ranked by 247Sports because he is from the class of 2024, but Palmer is going to end up being one of the best recruits in the country.

With the Illini coming in with an offer, Palmer now has a reported nine DI offers already in his young high school career. For someone who is just now entering his sophomore year in high school, having nine scholarship offers means he is going to be someone inside the top 50 nationally.

Illinois basketball seems to be trying to start a pipeline to Pennsylvania.

I love the Illini starting a relationship with Palmer this early in the recruiting cycle. He is going to be a special player. I am also intrigued by the idea of starting a recruiting connection to the state of Pennsylvania.

Starting new pipelines is something Underwood has done well since coming to Champaign. He plucked Luke Goode out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is an area that the Illini have never been successful in recruiting.

Underwood nabbed the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball in Brandin Podziemski, which is shocking considering that has never happened in the history of the program. So, bringing in a player from the state of Pennsylvania, which I don’t believe has happened in at least the past decade would be huge for the program.

Beyond starting a pipeline in Pennsylvania, snagging a player like Palmer would go a long way in continuing a winning tradition Underwood has started.

Palmer is built well for just entering his sophomore campaign. He has a body for the college ranks. He can slash to the basket, but he isn’t just a driver. This kid can pull up from long range and hit a shot. Palmer is the entire package, much like Ayo was when he was coming out of Morgan Park.

Illinois laying the foundation for recruiting Palmer is extremely important. I love this offer and hope the relationship can blossom over the next few years. Palmer is going to be a star at the next level.