Basketball
Illinois Basketball Set to Host Four Top Recruits During Huge Recruiting Weekend
Illinois basketball currently has two commits in their class of 2027.
Illinois basketball has a major recruiting up ahead as the Football team takes on Southern Illinois at home. The Illini will welcome Southern Illinois to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 42-23 loss to Duke and improve to 2-1 on the season.
While the football program looks to put that performance behind it, the basketball program is preparing for one of its biggest recruiting weekends of the early season.
Brad Underwood and the Illinois staff are expected to host four high-level prospects in Champaign, giving the Illini an opportunity to make an impression on players who could become major pieces of the program’s future.
Here’s a look at the four visitors:
Darius Wabbington
The biggest news came Tuesday when five-star center Darius Wabbington moved up his official visit to Illinois basketball to this weekend, he told On3 and Rivals.
The 6-foot-11 senior was originally scheduled to visit the Illini in late October. Now Illinois will have the chance to host one of the country’s most intriguing big men much earlier than expected.
Wabbington is an extremely skilled and dynamic offensive player for someone standing 6-foot-11, with the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways from all three levels.
Wabbington might be the most intriguing immediate target of the group. He is a five-star 2027 prospect ranked No. 12 nationally by ESPN and No. 17 in the current Rivals rankings. What separates him is his versatility. He isn’t simply a traditional post player, which is why there has been significant national interest in the Phoenix big man.
There may not be a more dynamic big man in the country than Wabbington, making his decision to move up his visit an intriguing development for the Illini.
Dylan Betts
At 7-foot-3, Betts is going to attract attention wherever he goes. The 2028 center is originally from Englewood, Colorado, and now plays at IMG Academy in Florida.
He’s also the younger brother of UCLA women’s basketball stars Lauren and Sienna Betts, giving him a strong basketball background and familiarity with the college game.
Betts is listed at 7-foot-3 to 7-foot-4 and around 220-230 pounds, making him one of the biggest prospects in the class. He’s currently a top-15 national prospect and has already built a reputation as a legitimate rim protector, lob threat and developing face-up scorer. USA Basketball lists him at 7-foot-4, while 247Sports has him No. 10 nationally in the 2028 class.
Betts is still early in his recruiting process, but it’s easy to see why Illinois basketball wants to establish a relationship with a player who possesses that kind of size and long-term potential.
And he’ll be making the trip to Champaign alongside another intriguing IMG frontcourt prospect.
Bentley Lusakueno
Bentley Lusakueno is a 6-foot-10 power forward in the 2028 class who transferred to IMG Academy for his junior season, giving the program a formidable frontcourt alongside Betts.
The five-star forward was ranked No. 1 nationally by ESPN when its early 2028 rankings were released. He currently sits inside the national top 10 in the major recruiting services. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocks per game as a sophomore at Woodward Academy last season while shooting 49 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free-throw line.
That 39 percent shooting from 3-point range is particularly intriguing for a player his size. Lusakueno brings the ability to stretch the floor while also providing size, length and versatility on both ends of the court.
For Illinois, this weekend provides an opportunity to begin building a relationship with another highly rated 2028 prospect well before his college decision arrives.
Moussa Kamissoko
Kamissoko gives Illinois basketball a different type of prospect.
The 6-foot-8 wing has emerged as a highly coveted defensive prospect because of his ability to guard multiple positions.
Kamissoko transferred from Long Island Lutheran to SPIRE Academy in Ohio after a standout tenure at Long Island Lutheran. Kamissoko is inside the national top 20 by the major services. In fact, ESPN gave him a 92 scout grade.
He also showed his scoring ability on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 19 points per game during Session 1. His size, athleticism and defensive versatility make him the type of wing who can guard multiple positions while still giving a team scoring ability on the offensive end.
For a program that has continued to prioritize positional versatility, Kamissoko is an especially intriguing prospect for Underwood and his staff.
Four prospects. Four different recruiting stories.
It’s a massive recruiting weekend for Underwood and his staff. The Illini are trying to win recruiting battles that could pay off on the court years from now.
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