Illinois Basketball: Illini a top 20 program in the eyes of 247Sports

The 2022-23 campaign is still pretty far down the road, but the Illinois basketball team seems to be at the forefront of some way-too-early rankings for next season.

About a month ago, there were a couple of rankings that were released for the upcoming season. ESPN did a way-too-early ranking and had the Illini inside their top 25. CBS Sports did a ranking as well and had us outside the top 25.

On Monday, Kevin Flaherty of 247Sports released a way-too-early top 25 of his own. His ranking has Arkansas taking the top spot with some of the other usual names – Kentucky, Houston, North Carolina, Baylor – rounding out the top five.

Where is the first Big Ten team? You have to drop down to No. 13 to find the Michigan Wolverines. With the return of Hunter Dickinson, and Kofi Cockburn no longer around to dominate him, the Wolverines find themselves atop of the Big Ten.

“Illinois will be more versatile and switchable defensively”

Iowa is the only team between Michigan and where you would find the Illini, though. The Hawkeyes check in at No. 15 in the rankings. Just five spots later, you will find Illinois sporting the No. 20 spot in the 247Sports way-too-early top 25.

Does the rationale of having Illinois basketball in the 247Sports way-too-early top 25 make sense?

In the write-up about the Illini, Flaherty mentions Kofi leaving the program and how that will hurt. But he always touches on a point that I have made in prior projected Illini lineups.

Flaherty mentions the potential for Coleman Hawkins to play the No. 5 spot for Illinois this upcoming season. Here is the rest of his blurb.

"“The Fighting Illini have done a stellar job of filling out their roster. Losing Kofi Cockburn hurts, but should Coleman Hawkins play the five, Illinois will be more versatile and switchable defensively, an issue that last couple tournaments. RJ Melendez is a 247Sports breakout pick, and newcomers Skyy Clark (from high school) and transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. (from Texas Tech) makes this an intriguing, long and athletic lineup.”"

I think this is right where Illinois should be ranked to start the 2022-23 campaign. There is some uncertainty about how the program will look early on with so many new pieces to the puzzle. But I believe when Big Ten season rolls around, this Illini team should be gelling nicely.

Skyy Clark has been the biggest addition to the team this offseason. People underestimate the importance of a good point guard. He is the quarterback on the court. Without Clark, it is just a bunch of talented players playing a pick-up game. With Clark, it should look like a well-coached team.