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Illinois Basketball: Wish list for the Illini class of 2023

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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Jun 24, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A detail shot of the new NBA basketball ball during the NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena.Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Ty Pence (3-star – NR in 2023)

It seems like there are always some in-state kids who fly under the radar and then when they become big with a team like Wisconsin, we all wonder why Illinois didn’t secure their commitment. Ty Pence is that type of player.

Pence is a 6-foot-6, 180-pound small forward from St. Joseph-Ogden High School and resides in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 38 small forward in the nation. Pence is also the No. 5 player coming out of the state of Illinois for 2023.

The scholarship list for Pence is pretty solid. He has roughly 11 scholarships on the table right now with the biggest being from Illinois, Iowa State, and Wake Forest.

The recruitment of Pence is not slowing down either. Brad Underwood went and watched Pence play toward the end of 2021. Since then, the rising star has really blossomed. It looks like he is taking a visit to Loyola-Chicago next month as well.

Even with the upcoming visit to a team in Loyola-Chicago that has done well in the last few years, I think Illinois is a strong contender for Pence. He is a player we can develop and unleash by his sophomore or junior year. I think Pence could be an All-Big Ten caliber player during his career.

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