Assuming we get Hawkins, Curbelo, and Miller, what are the priorities for 2021. We have Trent and DaMonte graduating with possible NBA departures of Miller, Kofi, and ?. So we probably want to add a PG , a wing, and a big? It would seem our roster would still be pretty solid unless really depleted by transfers.
Top Priority: Shooting Guard / Combo Guard
Whether we sign Miller in 2020 or not this will again be the priority for the 2021 class. Miller hopes to be a 1AD and we'll be without Trent and Ayo for sure, so we will need another scoring guard. Whether we get Miller and he stays for 2021-22 or not, the departure of Trent is going to create a need for a scoring guard. Alan Griffin, in his senior year, could partially fill that need but we'd still need another piece for depth and the future of our program.
Targets:
Landing someone like
Jaden Hardy (#7 / #1 CG),
Max Christie (#14 / #1SG),
Malaki Branham (#25 / #3 CG), or
Manny Obaseki (#30 / #4 CG) would be huge as a potential Ayo/Miller replacement. We should also be targeting players like
Ahamad Bynum (#94 / #24 SG),
Luke Goode (#90 / #19 SG),
Will McClendon (#140 / #31 SG), or
Alexis Reyes (#141 / #32 SG) to add roster depth and continuity.
Priority 2A: Wing
Our 2021-22 season looks like we'll be stacked with experience at the 3/4. We will have Alan Griffin, Tevian Jones, Austin Hutcherson, and Jacob Grandison all as Seniors. But by 2022-23 all our wings will be gone with Coleman Hawkins and BBV left at the 4 (BBV is an option at the 3 depending on his defensive quickness and 3 point scoring ability). That means we should be looking to add someone in 2021 that can develop and step up for a big role as a sophomore. It may be tricky to get any Top 50 talent here since they probably wont see a ton of minutes in 2021 but that doesn't mean we shouldn't still be recruiting.
Targets:
Landing someone like
Brandon Weston (#82 / #18 SF) or
Bryce Hopkins (#71 / #16 PF) would be amazing.
Priority 2B: Center
After that exhibition game, where Kofi demonstrated his ability to hit the 15 ft jumper and dominated in the paint, people may be getting nervous that the NBA could come knocking. It's not unrealistic to think Kofi might only be with us for 1-2 years and be gone by 2021-22. If it starts looking like Kofi is gone before 2021 then that would shift our 2nd priority to being our next Big Man. We don't necessarily need someone that can come in and play day 1 though since we have the option of playing Giorgi (senior) and Hamlin (junior) and we should have great depth at the 3/4 to allow Giorgi to transition back to Center.
Bernard Kouma: There's talk about Kouma still signing. If he signs in 2020 that'd require someone transferring. As long as that's not Jermaine then we'd have added depth at the 5 and wouldn't necessarily be looking to add another center in the class of 2021. I personally don't see anyone else leaving (
possibly Tevian?) so I think it's more likely Kouma would come to Illinois in 2021, after 2 years at Juco, if he comes at all. In that case I would hope that Brad Underwood and his staff would keep an open mind to recruiting over Kouma depending on what sort of growth Kouma demonstrates in the next 2 years and who else might be interested in coming to Illinois.
Targets: Aside from Bernard Kouma, if Kofi really is a 1-2 year player for us and makes it to the NBA then I could see us using that to try and land someone like
Charles Bediako (#40 / #6 C) or even possibly
Chet Holmgren (#4 / #1 C). Someone like
Deiman Reyes (#197 / #23 C) is maybe a more realistic target to keep an eye on and see if we like him more than Kouma.