Top 5 Illinois basketball recruiting targets for the class of 2025

3. Aleks Alston

When you have talent in your own backyard, going after that talent is probably a good idea. Illinois should be all over a player like Aleks Alston.

Alston is a 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward from Kenwood Academy in Chicago. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 100 player in the class of 2025. He is also the No. 19 power forward in the country and the No. 2 player coming out of Illinois.

Since rejoining the Illinois coaching staff, Orlando Antigua has been hard at work trying to bring talented players to Champaign. He made a trip this past weekend to watch Alston with the Mac Irvin Fire.

Alston is currently averaging 8.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He is a lanky kid who can get out on the perimeter and cause some mismatches. I like Alston’s game because he can spread out a defense. He is someone who glides around the court and will put up good numbers on the offensive end. His length should give teams problems defensively as well.

If the Illini wanted Alston for 2025, I think we have enough firepower to make it happen. I think he would be a great depth piece for the program and someone who could give our second unit a big pop.