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Projected Illinois basketball lineup with the addition of Brandon Lee

Illinois basketball needed to add more talent to the class of 2025, and they landed a big recruit on Wednesday night.

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gestures after the game against the Duquesne Dukes in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood gestures after the game against the Duquesne Dukes in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images / Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
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No. 4 Forward

Starter: Carey Booth (JR)

There are plenty of players on the Illinois basketball roster entering the upcoming season. A lot of players have ceilings most can’t see. I think an under-the-radar player who has an extremely high ceiling is incoming transfer, Carey Booth.

Booth played one season at Notre Dame before transferring into the Illinois program. He is a nice 6-foot-10 forward who can dabble in shooting anywhere on the court. This kid has all of the potential in the world, and Illinois has the coaches who can pull that potential out of him. I see Booth being a primary backup this upcoming season, and then in 2025-26, he should be starting at the No. 4 spot.

Backup: Jason Jakstys (R-FR)

The development of multiple players on the Illinois basketball roster this season is going to be crucial to the future success of the program. Jason Jakstys isn’t getting a lot of publicity after committing to the Illini, but he has a place on this roster in the near future.

I fully expect Jakstys to take a redshirt in 2024-25. This will save him a season while developing his skills and body for the college level. The 2025-26 season is when Illinois can unleash this in-state talent. I see Jakstys getting 10-14 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman. He should be a primary backup at the No. 4 spot.

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