Big men have been a specialty of the Illinois basketball program, and we are trying to continue that trend in the near future.
Brad Underwood has hit on some big-time recruits throughout his time with the Illini. He has pulled in great guards, wings, and centers. While the class of 2025 isn’t rated highly, No. 46 in the country, it also brings in talent from different avenues.
As of right now, the 2026 and 2027 classes have yet to get off the ground. That isn’t a matter of if; it is a matter of when. Underwood has always come through in the past, and there is no reason to think otherwise. That is why potentially landing someone like Caleb Ourigou is intriguing.
Last Saturday, Ourigou took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from Illinois. As of right now, he has roughly four scholarship offers, but his recruitment is sure to take off in the near future. This kid is a prime recruit.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois! pic.twitter.com/LrMLbGVG78
— Caleb Ourigou (@calebourigou) July 13, 2025
Ourigou is a 6-foot-10, 215-pound center from Lawrence Woodmere Academy in New York. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 78 player in the class of 2027. He is also the No. 10 center in the country and the No. 4 player coming out of New York.
Caleb Ourigou is a buttery big man who could help Illinois basketball dominate the paint for years to come
Every big man is different. In today’s game, there are a lot of coaches looking for players who can stretch the floor. With Ourigou, he is someone who could dominate the paint for the Illini and never look back.
Ourigou has a buttery game. He is smooth with his movements, and he is extremely physical on the court. While his recruiting profile says 215 pounds, I think he is built much better than that.
When I watch Ourigou play, it is hard to find an Illinois comp. The first name that popped into my head when seeing this kid play is Joel Embiid. Embiid was a little more athletic in high school, but their games seem similar.
I love this offer by Illinois. We have been able to recruit well on the East Coast, and this would be another great addition to the program. I would keep an eye on the Ourigou recruitment.