Illinois basketball targeting under-the-radar class of 2025 Wisconsin forward

Is the Illinois basketball team looking to add an under-the-radar big man to the class of 2025?

As of right now, the Illini have exactly zero commitments for the 2025 class. That is a massive change from just a month ago when we had two commitments and the top class in the country.

Since then, Will Riley reclassified and is now a member of the class of 2024. Jeremiah Fears, our once great point guard, backed away from his commitment and also reclassified.

So, Brad Underwood and the Illinois coaching staff are starting from scratch in 2025. An interesting option for the program would be someone like Gavin Gores.

On Monday, Gores took to social media to announce that he had received a scholarship offer from the Orange and Blue.

The scholarship list for Gores won’t blow you away. Illinois is by far the biggest. He also has offers from teams like Toledo and Illinois State.

Is Gores a four or five-star recruit? Not on paper. According to 247Sports, he is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward from Cumberland High School in Wisconsin. He isn’t rated or ranked in the class of 2025 just yet.

So, why the scholarship offer from Illinois? Well, I think it is pretty simple. This kid is going to blow up, and Illinois is getting in early.

Class of 2025 forward Gavin Gores could play at all levels in the Illinois basketball offense

It is fun watching Goes play the game of basketball. A word that sticks in my head when I watch him play is “clean.” He has a crisp and efficient game.

Gores’ shooting is impressive. He can step out and shoot from three-point range or the mid-range, but his specialty is strength around the hoop. The lower body of Gores is strong. His legs are tree trunks, and it is hard to move him off his spot. This will help him in the post.

The first comp for Gores that comes to mind is someone like Bobby Portis. They play with that same fire and strength. Both can shoot from three-point range, but they are better at doing the dirty work inside the three-point arc.

Illinois is smart to offer Gores a scholarship. He is a player who could help this program win some games in the future.