Illinois Basketball: Top 2024 target keeps Illini in top 6

The biggest target for the Illinois basketball program has cut his top list down to just six teams.

It has been a wonderful start to the class of 2024 for the Illini. Back in November 2021, Morez Johnson committed to the Orange and Blue. The 6-foot-9 monster is a four-star recruit who ranks inside the top 50 nationally.

Illinois also received a commitment from another big man in Jason Jakstys just a week ago. He is a three-star recruit who is ranked in the mid-200s. Both of these talented players give the Illini the No. 18 ranked class in the country.

With so much change on the roster each season, Brad Underwood knows he needs to add a guard to the class of 2024. We need someone who can run the backcourt flawlessly. That someone could be Mikey Lewis.

On Saturday, Joe Tipton of On3.com reported that Lewis decided to cut his top list down to just six teams. The six programs making the cut for this incredible guard were LSU, Saint Mary’s, San Diego State, Ole Miss, Kansas, and Illinois.

Illinois basketball needs to land Mikey Lewis to add some much-needed backcourt help in 2024

Lewis is a 6-foot-3, 170-pound combo guard from Prolific Prep High School out in California. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 63 player in the class of 2024. He is also the No. 10 combo guard in the country and the No. 7 player coming out of California.

This offseason has been great for Lewis’ recruitment. He suited up for the Oakland Soldiers AAU team in the Nike EYBL and dominated. In the Peach Jam alone, Lewis averaged 23.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot 42.9% from the field, 35.2% from three-point range, and 72.1% from the charity stripe.

Opinion

There are players who Illinois is in the running for who are must-gets. This is one of those situations. We have been recruiting Lewis hard, and if we can’t pull him in, it would be a major disappointment.

I think Lewis is a must as well due to Illinois being in need of some big-time scoring. When 2024 rolls around, the Illini won’t have much in the way of high-level scorers on the roster.

Luke Goode would be the biggest scorer, but he is going to be a senior. Beyond Goode, the shooting ability of the rest of the team from outside of 10 feet is suspect at best.

Getting Lewis in the doors would give Illinois a big-time scorer. He is listed as a combo guard, but Lewis would slot into the No. 2 spot on the roster from day one. This kid would be perfect for the Illini.