Illinois Basketball: New Illini commit Zacharie Perrin has All-Big Ten caliber talent

Illinois basketball is getting a great player with their latest commitment for 2022.

Coming into the 2022 offseason, there was one thing I was pretty confident the Illini had to do. We had to replace Kofi Cockburn because he was going to enter the NBA Draft and stay there. That ended up coming true, so the Illini had to look for some size in the paint.

Back in the fall, Illinois was able to secure a transfer in Dain Dainja. The former Baylor big man didn’t play much with the Bears – three games to be exact – and wanted to see if he could find a better home. Illinois ended up being that home, and he should get a shot at the starting No. 5 spot this upcoming season.

I think we need more options in the paint, though. On Monday, Illinois addressed their size issues with a huge commitment. According to Joe Tipton of On3.com, Zacharie Perrin has committed to play for the Illini.

Perrine is a 6-foot-10 power forward from France. He had offers from teams like UCLA, Texas, Memphis, and Florida, but the French big man decided Champaign was the place to be.

In Tipton’s article, Perrine explains why he picked the Illini.

"“I decided to choose Illinois because it’s a big university with very good players and a very good staff,” Perrin said to On3. “In addition to my personal development, I think that going to the United States is the best thing because I would have both individual and collective progress, so this is the best option for me.I can’t wait to start this new adventure.”"

The Illinois basketball frontcourt features dynamic size with the addition of Zacharie Perrin.

I am extremely excited about the addition of Perrin. This isn’t just a random forward coming across the pond. He has a ton of skill that shows on paper and through his highlight tapes.

Tipton mentions in his announcement tweet that Perrin averaged 21.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season. When I watch him play, those numbers don’t surprise me at all.

There is a lot to love about Perrin’s game. The fact he is constantly moving and looking for position is a veteran move. He is great at setting screens and rolling to the basket. The ability to finish at the rim is huge too.

I think an underrated part of the ability Perrin brings to the table is his vision. He can see plays developing on the court, and he is looking to make passes. He isn’t just a me-first type of player. Perrin will make his teammates better, and that is huge.

I know some people don’t want to hear this, but when I watch Perrin play basketball, I see a lot of Trayce Jackson-Davis in his game. If Illinois is getting a player like Jackson-Davis in Perrin, then we are in good hands moving forward.

This is a big commitment for the Illini. Brad Underwood keeps pulling out surprises, and I love it.