Illinois Basketball Hosts Top 2025 Shooting Guard

Illinois Basketball Hosts Top 2025 Shooting Guard

Illinois Basketball has been busy as of late. Their season is less than one month away. The Illini will start off with two exhibitions against Ottawa and Kansas, before opening the season against Eastern Illinois on November 6th. In addition to this, they have been busy recruiting to their class of 2024. Mikey Lewis visited a week ago. Lewis is one of the top shooting guards in the class of 2024 and would fit in well with the two big men currently committed. Speaking of which, both Morez Johnson and Jason Jakstys have been on campus for more visits and to help Illinois sell their pitch to the visiting guards.

Jase Butler most recently visited Champaign as well. Butler is a 3-star prospect who can really fit in as a savvy playmaker for Illinois. Butler will announce his decision in the coming weeks and Illinois appears to be in a great position. However, through all of this, Illinois basketball also hosted Jamarion Batemon, a top shooting guard in the class of 2025.

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A post shared by Jamarion Batemon (@jbgotthatwork)

2025 G Jamarion Batemon connected on 8 3’s and finished with 32 points after an impressive 2nd half effort today at the US Open Championships. Proved to be capable off the dribble, on the move, and at different angles from long range.@JamarionBatemon @klpower5 pic.twitter.com/ZxvGVTbHrq

— Trent Markwith (@TMarkwith14) July 24, 2023

The Player

When turning on Batemon’s film, you notice why Illinois seems to be really enamored with him. Batemon is a shooter. Outside of Alfonso Plummer, Trent Frazier and Jacob Grandison, Illinois has deeply struggled with perimeter shooting. They also project to struggle this year as they shot extremely poorly in their overseas trip. Jamarion Batemon would fill that need immediately. Batemon also appears to have good length and a solid frame that the rising Junior can fill out.

Watching his highlights below, he reminds me a lot of former Illini, Alan Griffin.

Sophomore Jamarion Batemon had 8 points in the 1st half then caught 🔥 in the 2nd and finished with 39!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BiHZ0FspTf

— MIDWESTBALLERS (@Midwest_Ballers) February 24, 2023

The Recruitment.

Batemon is currently a three-star prospect per 247sports. He is a Milwaukee native, however Iowa State seems to be the main player here. Jamarion currently has one crystal ball prediction on 247 to Iowa State, however I hope that after his visit to Illinois, that changes. Illinois is currently looking to start their class of 2025 strong. They are heavily interested in Phoenix Gill, who continues to accrue offers. Gill is the son of former Illini legend, Kendall Gill, and would also fill a huge need as a lead guard.