Aug. 22—It's been a while since we've taken a fresh look at Illinois' recruiting board. Early moves were made in the Class of 2027 with a pair of in-state commitments, and the level of talent the Illini staff is targeting continues to rise (with an increased chance to land them, too). Here's where the board currently stands:
Class of 2027
Guards
Reese Alston, 6-2, PG, Houston Second Baptist (Texas)
Nasir Anderson, 6-4, PG, Prolific Prep (Fla.)
NaVorro Bowman Jr., 6-3, CG, Notre Dame (Calif.)
Devin Cleveland, 6-3, PG, La Lumiere School (Ind.)
Cayden Daughtry, 6-0, PG, Calvary Christian Academy (Fla.)
Jaxson Davis, 6-0, PG, Monarch Academy (Kan.)
Marlon Martinez, 6-4, SG, The Academy of Central Florida (Fla.)
Josiah Nance, 6-5, CG, Notre Dame (Calif.)
Joshua Rivera, 6-7, SG, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.)
Gassim Toure, 6-3, PG, The Principia School (Mo.)
Forwards
Jayon Connor, 6-7, SF, Forsyth Country Day School (N.C.)
Demarcus Henry, 6-7, SF, Compass Prep (Ariz.)
Moussa Kamissoko, 6-7, SF, Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.)
Jaylan Mitchell, 6-7, SF, Vashon (Mo.)
Edvardas Stasys, 6-7, PF, Benet Academy
AJ Williams, 6-8, SF, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (Ga.)
Howard Williams, 6-7, SF, Dynamic Prep (Texas)
Centers
Sekou Cisse, 6-8, C, The Principia School (Mo.)
Paul Osaruyi, 6-10, C, Bella Vista Prep (Ariz.)
Lewis Uvwo, 6-10, C, Prolific Prep (Fla.)
Darius Wabbington, 6-11, C, Sunnyslope (Ariz.)
The Breakdown
Bowman is the primary lead guard target at this juncture, with Davis, a two-time N-G All-State Player of the Year, eliminating Illinois from his top destinations after announcing his transfer to Monarch Academy. The Illini are set to host Bowman — a five-star recruit — for an official visit in three weeks. Toure has always been an intriguing prospect given his international experience with Guinea on top of the fact he was high school teammates with Quentin Coleman.
AJ Williams is a clear name to know among the wing targets. The former No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2028, Williams reclassified this summer and is still a top five recruit. Mitchell has been recruited the longest, with his offer coming in July 2023, at age 14, before his freshman season at Evansville Reitz (Ind.). The Olney native played at SPIRE Academy (Ohio) last season and will close out his career at Vashon (Mo.) this season.
Wabbington is the clear priority center, with Illinois getting an official visit from the five-star big man in late October. Uvwo is arguably the best shot blocker in the class and worth tracking considering the real need the Illini might have in their 2027-28 frontcourt.
Class of 2028
Guards
Amarion Smith-Holley, 6-0, PG, Link Academy (Mo.)
Brady Pettigrew, 6-3, CG, Bolingbrook
Forwards
Benjamin Berrouet, 6-7, PF, Dynamic Prep (Texas)
Cole Kelly, 6-6, SF, Neuqua Valley
Bentley Lusakueno, 6-10, PF, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Abraham Taiwo, 6-8, PF, Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.)
Enmanuel Valera Melo, 6-6, SF, The Phelps School (Pa.)
Center
Dylan Betts, 7-3, C, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Stra Zelic, 6-11, C, Wasatch Academy (Utah)
The Breakdown
Pettigrew and Kelly are, by far, Illinois' highest priority recruits in the Class of 2028. At least for now. The idea Pettigrew might reclassify would shake up the Illini's 2027 recruiting, with the Bolingbrook star perhaps leapfrogging Bowman and the rest of this current crop of seniors. Kelly, of course, has been a long-term target, and the Illini have a built-in bonus recruiter for a second straight season with Martin closing out his senior year at Neuqua Valley.
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