The Illinois basketball team is trying to put together a great class of 2026, and we are getting closer to landing a big man.
We are early in the proceedings, but the Illini have two commits for 2026 right now. Ethan Brown was the first pledge, and Landon Davis later joined the party and will be a member of the Orange and Blue.
Brown is a backcourt player, and Davis is more of a wing or forward. Illinois needs more size in the paint, and on Wednesday, we moved a step closer to snagging that big man.
Joe Tipton of On3.com reported on social media that big man Aliou Dioum has cut his top list. He narrowed the scope of his recruitment down to just six teams, which included Mississippi State, UNLV, Syracuse, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Illinois.
NEWS: 4⭐️ Aliou Dioum is down to six schools, he tells @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) August 13, 2025
The 6-10 center is a top-80 recruit in the 2026 class. https://t.co/GQcHk4ODk2 pic.twitter.com/T9b2viLnJa
Dioum would be a good get for the Illini. He is a 6-foot-10, 200-pound center from Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 145 player in the class of 2026.
Two out of those six teams have set up or have had an official visit from Dioum. He has been in to visit Wake Forest on August 1, and he has a visit to UNLV set up for August 24.
Frontcourt help is needed greatly for the Illinois basketball program
It will be interesting to see if Illinois can close the deal on Dioum. We have a great history with big men, and he would fit in well with what Brad Underwood wants to do on both ends of the court.
Illinois is going to need some big man help in the near future, too. Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic are going to be seniors in 2026. We aren’t sure what Jason Jakstys will be. Beyond those three, Illinois doesn’t have a center on the roster.
Dioum is an important recruit. While he might not have the national ranking that most would want, he is someone who could help Illinois greatly. Let’s close the deal.