Top 5 Illinois basketball recruiting targets for the class of 2025

5. AJ Dybantsa

It is always good to aim high when thinking about the future. Illinois basketball has never landed a top-10 recruit in a class, but AJ Dybantsa would be the best player in the country.

Dybantsa is a 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward from Prolific Prep in California. He is rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 1 player in the class of 2025. Being the No. 1 player also means he is the best small forward in the country and the best player coming out of California as well.

Before the last few months, I would have said Illinois doesn’t have a shot at landing Dybantsa. He is a caliber of player who has looked the other way when the Illini have come calling. But with the addition of Orlando Antigua, anything is possible.

Antigua recruited Dybantsa when he was with the Kentucky Wildcats. He is now the Illinois assistant coach, and I would imagine he is still recruiting the forward to hopefully come to Champaign.

Dybanstsa has been tearing up the AAU circuit. He plays for the Oakland Soldiers and is averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game this summer.

If you look at what Illinois has done with players in the past, I imagine we would be an intriguing destination. Coleman Hawkins has turned into a Swiss Army Knife, and he is going to be selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was also from Prolific Prep.

I think Illinois is a wild card in the Dybantsa sweepstakes. If we can start making some inroads, and of course have enough money, then maybe Illinois can land the best player in a recruiting class.