Illinois Basketball needs to make Phoenix Gill a Priority

Illinois Basketball needs to make Phoenix Gill a Priority

Illinois Basketball has three total commits to their class of 2024. Morez Johnson, Jason Jakstys and Jase Butler currently make up the 11th ranked class in the country. Illinois Basketball will lose quite a lot after this season. Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon will make their journey to the NBA. Quincy Guerrier, Justin Harmon and Marcus Domask will run out of eligibility. Additionally, who knows what the transfer portal will take from this team.

2025 recruiting will start to gain traction this season. Illinois currently has been targeting guards. Given that they have Morez Johnson joining Amani Hansberry, they are trying to buff up their backcourt. Jeremiah Fears and Phoenix Gill are the two names that have been the most prominent. Fears is considering a reclass to 2024. Phoenix Gill received his first high major offer from Illinois. As the son of Illini legend, Kendall Gill, many expect Phoenix to follow suit. Despite this, Illinois must recruit Phoenix Gill like a true priority.

Champaign 📍 pic.twitter.com/JhjD26Ipm5

— Phoenix Gill (@phoenixgill_) October 6, 2023

The type of player that Illinois needs to land

Phoenix Gill may not be the fringe five-star prospect that Ayo Dosunmu and Adam Miller were. However, Illinois Basketball needs to land players like Gill. Gill will likely be a high 3-star to four star recruit who has high major offers. Illinois has been bitten by losing out on players like Glynn Watson Jr, Jordan Goodwin, Isaiah Roby and more. These are players that may not have been the Jalen Brunson’s or the Jabari Parker’s of the world, however are solid power-five players. Gill is currently looking at Stanford, Northwestern and Iowa State. Though these are all high-major programs, Illinois basketball has a far better fanbase and winning record than all of those schools.

Gill actually named his top 3 as Stanford, Northwestern and Iowa State. Brad Underwood and his staff have to recruit this kid harder.

The Player

Illinois may be focused on Jeremiah Fears. Fears is a big time talent, however if Fears reclasses, that would probably be a poor decision. Gill is a strong combo guard that could help Illinois down the line. He may not be the true point guard we all have been craving, however he is a high-major combo guard that could make a killing off of NIL.

Iowa State assistant coach J.R. Blount was in Chicago to see 2025 SG Phoenix Gill on Tuesday.

Gill is rated as the No. 3 prospect in Illinois for his class.

🎥 @Ballislife pic.twitter.com/r5E2jg15C2

— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) October 4, 2023

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