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Illinois Basketball: Top 5 Illini recruiting targets for 2023 after missing on Owen Freeman

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 06: General view of Illinois Fighting Illini basketballs seen before the game against the IUPUI Jaguars at State Farm Center on December 6, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Mar 12, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; A fan of the Illinois Fighting Illini waves a flag in support as they celebrate defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Matas Buzelis

I have already said it once, but I am going to continue saying it. I am amazed by the talent in the 2023 class. The next big Illini target from this class is Matas Buzelis.

Buzelis is a 6-foot-10, 175-pound small forward from Brewster Academy and resides in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 43 player in the class of 2023. He is also the No. 10 small forward in the nation and the No. 2 player coming out of New Hampshire.

I know, a player from New Hampshire doesn’t seem like a target for the Illini. It would be hard to recruit someone from the east coast. But Buzelis isn’t from the east coast. He is an Illinois kid who transferred out to get more exposure.

Buzelis started his high school career with Hinsdale Central High School. He spent a year at Hinsdale but then bolted for the prestigious Brewster Academy in 2020. Buzelis also plays for the Mac Irvin Fire on the AAU circuit. He is teammates with the No. 1 player on this list in JJ Taylor.

So, another top 50 recruit who is originally from the state of Illinois. This gives the Illini some recruiting firepower. Much like Kylan Boswell, I would love to bring Buzelis back home. If we could get a recruiting class that featured Taylor, Boswell, and Buzelis, who are all from the state of Illinois, this Illini program would undoubtedly win the national title.

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