Illinois basketball putting resources into the top recruit in Oklahoma

Recruiting is extremely interesting in the college game, and the Illinois basketball team seems to be in the middle of some big-time recruitments.

Currently, the Illini coaching staff is watching numerous recruits at the City of Palms Classic. Alex Constanza is one of the top recruits that Brad Underwood and the coaching staff are keeping an eye on, but he isn’t the only big-time recruit who is being watched.

On Wednesday afternoon, HS Top Recruits reported that Jalen Montonati had numerous programs in to watch. In the social media post, they reported that Arkansas, Wake Forest, Louisville, Kansas, and Illinois coaches were all keeping tabs on the talented forward.

There is a reason these big-time programs are watching Montonati. He is a 6-foot-7, 175-pound small forward from Owasso High School in Oklahoma. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 24 player in the class of 2026. He is also the No. 9 small forward in the country and the best player coming out of Oklahoma.

Illinois basketball is clearly targeting versatile players who can play multiple roles on the court

The Illini are watching a lot of players right now, but the top recruits we are targeting all seem to have the same mold.

Underwood wants decent size but also the ability to handle the basketball. He wants a bunch of Terrence Shannon Jr. or Kasparas Jakucionis-type of players.

I don’t mind that mentality too. Montonati can play more than one position. This past season as a sophomore, he averaged 25.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. At Montonati’s size, he could play the No. 2, No. 3, or No. 4 spot on the court.

It is exciting that Illinois is trying to be in the mix for these big-time recruits. We all know the men’s basketball program is the top priority, so funds shouldn’t be an issue. Let’s see if we can close the deal.