Just hours after a Crystal Ball Prediction was submitted, the Illinois basketball team has landed one of the top recruits left for 2022.
The Illini always had momentum for Thornton High School star, Ty Rodgers, but nothing was official. He needed to make a commitment to the program. Well, Illini fans, we got that commitment.
On Wednesday, Rodgers took to Twitter to announce that he hasn’t just committed to Illinois, he signed with us too.
just a kid from Saginaw, MI… pic.twitter.com/H0p05HsMtQ
— Ty Rodgers (@Ty_rodgers20) November 17, 2021
Coming into the week, Rodgers was down to just four programs. Michigan State, Alabama, Memphis, and Illinois were in his final four. The other three teams have been scooping up players left and right, but Rodgers knew where home was. He knew Champaign was the ultimate destination.
Ty Rodgers signing makes his commitment even bigger for the Illinois basketball team.
While a commitment would have been amazing, and Illini Nation would have gone wild, Rodgers took it one step further and put pen to paper. He is signed with Illinois.
I always thought Rodgers was going to come to Illinois. There was way too much smoke not to be fire in this recruitment. But I didn’t think he was going to sign during the early signing period.
If Rodgers didn’t sign today, which is the last day of the early signing period, he would have had to wait until April 13, 2022 to put pen to paper. That is a lot of time for a player to remain committed and a lot of time for another team to try to steal him away.
But Illinois doesn’t have to worry about that now. Rodgers said yes to the Orange and Blue and is signed with the program. This makes the class of 2022 one of the best in the nation as well.
Illinois now has three commitments. Rodgers is the highest-rated recruit, checking in as the No. 53 player in 2022. Jayden Epps is next at No. 75. Sencire Harris is just outside the top 100 at No. 105.
This is a well-balanced recruiting class that is going to help the Illinois basketball program win games in the future. There is no doubt the Illini will see sustained success in the coming years. The future is bright.