I'm a Keatts fan myself.
+1
Though my preference if they let Groce go is for someone from a bigger school who has had success, the fact is right now Illinois is no where near a destination job. Keatts has done very well at UNC-Wilmington. For other good candidates, don't have to look much further than the Illini's schedule the past two years -- Pat Kelsey from Winthrop and Matt McCall from Chattanooga.
If they decide to go with a top recruiter from a power conference, at the top of my list might be Dennis Gates at Florida St. He's a great recruiter, works with FSU's guards, and is in the Chicago Public League Basketball Association’s Hall of Fame. He also spent a couple of years at Northern Illinois.