Massive 2027 recruit now a prime Illinois basketball target

I don’t think it is hyperbole to say that the women’s Illinois basketball team is currently in its glory days right now.

The Illini hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2003, but then Shauna Green took over and everything changed. Illinois has now made the postseason in two out of the last three seasons, and we won a game in the NCAA tournament last season.

On top of the winning, Green has recruited both the transfer portal and the high school scene quite well. On Saturday, the Illini started recruiting one of the top players for 2027 in hopes of continuing the great recruiting push.

Ogechi Okeke took to social media to announce that Illinois had extended her a scholarship offer. This is a huge offer, as she is an elite player who will have her recruiting blow up.

Okeke is a 6-foot-3 wing from Hightower High School in Texas. She is rated as a four-star recruit and has a grade of 94 in the ESPN recruiting rankings for 2027.

Illinois basketball could use Ogechi Okeke as a nice piece in and around the paint

ESPN has Okeke as a wing, but I don’t see her playing out on the wing. I see her as more of a paint player who is slightly undersized. In a way, it would be like Kendall Bostic.

The great thing about Okeke is that she has more bounce and is more athletic than Bostic. While Bostic had a great mid-range game, Okeke has a great ability to go up and get rebounds.

I also love the way Okeke runs the court. She doesn’t give up on plays and can really change momentum with her hustle and heart.

Illinois is smart getting in on this recruitment. Okeke is entering her junior year, and her arrow is only going upward. She is going to be one of the top 30 players in the country for 2027, and my hope is that she is in Champaign, building her career.