Illinois Basketball: Illini targeting class of 2023 wing Kaden Cooper

The Illinois basketball team continues to build with the latest offer to 2023 prospect Kaden Cooper

Cooper is narrowing his college decision as to where he will continue his basketball career and education. Illinois is one of those choices, as he was offered by Illini assistant coach Chester Frazier and Co. on Monday night.

Cooper is a 6-foot-5 small forward who hails from Atlanta, Georgia – originally from Oklahoma – and plays for The Skill Factory (TSF) High School. He is a three-star recruit, ranked as the No. 61 small forward in the nation, and he is the No. 11 player in the state of Georgia.

Additional offers to Cooper have included DePaul, Jacksonville State, and Kansas State, to name a few. He was recently offered by Oklahoma as of Monday, as he’ll have a big decision to make fairly soon. In an interview with The Circuit League, Cooper spoke about what he has been doing to improve his game in the offseason and beyond.

"“I have been working on my jump shot, shot-making ability, and finishing at the rim. Once you get to college you need to change a lot of things and it’s a different pace and game style,” Cooper said."

How would Kaden Cooper fit with the Illinois basketball program?

With the recent addition of former Kentucky commit, Skyy Clark, the Illini are poised to continue to make frequent trips to the NCAA Tournament in the years to come. The success of TSF is paramount to the future growth of Cooper at the college level as well. Cooper’s team plays against some of the best competition in the nation, as evidenced by their consistent travel vlog posted to YouTube.

Check out Cooper’s highlights below.

Cooper’s recruitment will be one to watch as the months go on. Illinois is looking to move closer and closer to a return to the Final 4 for the first time since the 2004-2005 season, which was led by Dee Brown, James Augustine, and other Illini greats.