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Illinois Basketball: Evaluation of Illini head coach Brad Underwood

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 23, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts to play against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts to play against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Feb 2, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood talks with Kofi Cockburn (21) after WednesdayÕs win over the Wisconsin Badgers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Recruiting

I believe that recruiting sprouts winning and postseason success. When Brad Underwood became the head coach of the Illinois basketball team, the program saw a huge boost in recruiting.

Illinois started landing the key players we needed to compete. Underwood managed to get a talented ball-handler and big man that the program had been missing for years. These two positions were crucial in rebuilding the Illini.

There have been 10 recruiting classes that have committed and signed between the current and past regimes for Illinois basketball. Out of the 10 recruiting classes, there have been 18 four-star recruits. 11 out of those 18 four-star players have committed under Underwood.

According to the recruiting ratings of 247Sports, Underwood has four out of the top six highest-rated recruits since the class of 2013 pledged to the Orange and Blue.

I could make the argument that if the previous coaching regime was able to recruit and land 11 four-star players in five years, then they would probably still be coaching at Illinois today. But that isn’t the case. Underwood has done a great job recruiting talent, and that is a huge reason the Illini continue to win games.

Even with a near 100% coaching staff overhaul entering last season, Illinois’ recruiting has either stayed consistent or has even improved. Two of the top 10 highest-rated recruits since 2013 – Ty Rodgers and Jayden Epps – enter the program in 2022. This should give hope to Illini fans.

I haven’t even mentioned the fact Illinois has a commitment from 2024 star, Morez Johnson. He is a four-star recruit with a rating of .9838, which would fifth-highest recruit since 2013.

The only things negative I would say about Underwood and recruiting is the fact we don’t have a solid answer after Kofi Cockburn leaves the program. Illinois has a couple of options that might work out, but there is nothing solid to follow the big man. That is why the evaluation wouldn’t get top marks.

Overall – A

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