Illinois basketball offers intriguing top-100 center from class of 2027

Top 100 center in the 2027 recruiting class, Caleb Ourigou, announced on his X account yesterday that he received an offer from Illinois basketball. He posted, “Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois!”

Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois! pic.twitter.com/LrMLbGVG78

— Caleb Ourigou (@calebourigou) July 13, 2025

Ourigou is a 6-foot-10 center from Woodmere, New York. He attends Lawrence Woodmere Academy and plays AAU on the EYBL circuit for the NY Rens 16U team.

He is currently the second-leading scorer for NY Rens and leads the team in rebounds per game (8.9) and blocks per game (2.4). In the EYBL 16U division, he ranks top 10 in blocks per game and is tied for first in double-doubles with six.

A four-star recruit, Ourigou is ranked as the #78 overall prospect and the #4 player in the state of New York, according to 247Sports. He is certainly one of the rising prospects in the class of 2027.

Ourigou’s recruitment

The offer from Illinois adds to a growing list of high-major programs pursuing him. In addition to Illinois basketball, he holds offers from St. John’s, Florida, UCLA, Seton Hall, West Virginia, and more.

Scouts widely consider Ourigou one of the top big men in the 2027 class.  He would fit in well at Illinois as a shot-blocker and rim-runner.. He plays with physicality, rebounds at a high level, and isn’t afraid to assert himself in the paint. With the Ivisic twins likely leaving Illinois within the next year or two, securing big men will be a major focus in the class of 2027. Additionally, the Illini don’t have any young big men prospects on their roster outside of rising redshirt freshman Jason Jakstys. With the track record that assistant coach, Orlando Antigua has with big men, Ourigou is the type of prospect that would flourish at Illinois. 

The Illini have yet to secure a commitment for the class of 2027. For their first commitment, they will certainly view Ourigou as a key frontcourt target. 

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