Illinois basketball to host five-star forward Benjamin Berrouet for official visit

247Sports’ Dushawn London has reported that Illinois basketball will host five-star forward Benjamin “Benji” Berrouet for an official visit on November 5th. The five-star forward in the class of 2028 will also visit Kentucky on October 9th and UCLA on October 28th. Illinois basketball offered Berrouet during the Nike EYBL’s Peach Jam this past July.

Berrouet is a 6-foot-7-inch, 240-pound forward who was absolutely dominant on the EYBL circuit. During this summer, he averaged 20.4 points and 11.9 rebounds while shooting 55.4% from the field and 48.6% from the three. Berrouet also went on to play with the Latvian national team at the FIBA U16 Eurobasket. During that time, Berrouet was just as dominant. He averaged 23.6 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game. That impressive stat line includes a historic 33-point, 22-rebound performance vs. Czechia.

The fit with Illinois?

A 33-point, 22-rebound performance should ring a bell to Illinois basketball fans. David Mirkovic had a 27-point, 21-rebound performance this year vs. Colgate. In the first game of the NCAA tournament, David Mirkovic then went on to put up a 29-point, 17-rebound performance. Benjamin Berrouet is one of the most physically dominant prep prospects in his class while also possessing an incredibly versatile skill set. He is an elite rebounder who thrives on the glass, much like Mirkovic did his freshman year. Compared to Mirkovic, however, Berrouet is a little more quick-twitch and possesses incredibly strong shot-blocking abilities.

Though Berrouet is in the class of 2028, he is taking a lot of official visits this fall, which seems to indicate that he may reclass into the class of 2027. As of now, Illinois basketball expects to lose David Mirkovic and the Ivisic twins to professional opportunities. Benjamin Berrouet fills the needs that the Illini will likely have very soon. He can bring the ball up the floor, he can play in the mid-post, and he can be a defensive anchor.

Though teams like Kentucky and UCLA have done exceptionally well luring international talent to their roster, the Illini have just as good a sell as anyone for Berrouet.

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