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Illinois Basketball: Final 2 Scholarship Scenarios for the Illini

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:46 a.m. ET

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Jan 3, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach John Groce directs his team against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Ohio State won the game 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Illinois Basketball team is really trying hard to fill those last two scholarships left for 2017.

All of the Illinois Fighting Illini fans are keeping an eye out to see how these final two offers fall.

There are many options on the table right now for the Illini.  Some of the scenarios consist of Illinois possibly missing out on some key recruits.

Other scenarios consist of blending big-time recruits with depth builders as well.

But, one thing is for sure, Illinois needs to continue building on the momentum they have gained by already securing four big recruits for 2017.

This class has the potential to be the best group of players the Illini has ever recruited in the history of the program.

I think if things fall into place and scenario No. 4 comes true then Illinois will have a shot at the national championship for years to come.

Scenario No. 4 would also change the recruiting landscape for years to come as well.  This would give Illinois a completely different look when it comes to college basketball recruiting

I think the Illini have a great shot at landing at least one more recruit for the class of 2017

Here are some of the possible options for the last two scholarships to be used.

Feb 7, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; General view of basketball sitting on the court during the 2nd half of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Scenario No. 1: No More Recruits Commit

While the Illinois basketball team still has two scholarships remaining for the class of 2017, that doesn’t mean that they will be used.

I think there is a good chance that the Illini will land at least one more player but there are no guarantees.

In the first scenario the Illini miss out on every recruit they are trying to snag.

This scenario would leave Illinois with a four-player class that consists of Jeremiah Tilmon, a 5-star center.

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It would also include 4-star guard Da’Monte Williams, 4-star point guard Trent Frazier, and 3-star guard Javon Pickett.

This is a pretty solid class that should make the NCAA Tournament every year they are together.

But, I would kind of be disappointed if this is the scenario that plays out.  Illinois needs more depth for 2017.

There is going to be a hole in the paint for the Illini if they fail to snag another big man.  All they will have is Tilmon, who is 6-foot-10.

Here is what the starting lineup would likely look like if everything finished up the way it stands right now.

Point Guard: Te’Jon Lucas, Backup: Trent Frazier

Shooting Guard: Jalen Coleman-Lands, Backup: Aaron Jordan, 3rd Rotation: Javon Pickett

Guard/Forward: Kipper Nichols, Backup: Da’Monte Williams

Forward: Leron Black, Backup: DJ Williams

Center: Jeremiah Tilmon, Backup: Michael Finke

That is a lineup that could do some damage in the Big Ten and in the college basketball landscape.

Dec 31, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A general view of a Nike Xavier Musketeers basketball on the court at Cintas Center. Xavier won 70-53. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Scenario No. 2: Mayan Kiir + Open Scholarship

In the first scenario, the Illini didn’t snag another player besides for the four they already have committed to the program.

illinois fighting illini

Writing Illini 3wIllinois Basketball: Mayan Kiir Could Be the Next Piece to the Puzzle

More headlines around FanSided:

3w - Illinois Basketball: Illini add point guard Trent Frazier to already stout recruiting class3w - Illinois Basketball: 3 Areas Trent Frazier Will Improve the Illini3w - Illinois Sports: Trent Frazier Commits to Illinois Fighting Illini3w - Illinois Basketball: Trent Frazier Creates Stability with Commitment3w - Illinois Basketball: Ranking the Illini Recruiting Classes for the Last DecadeMore News at Writing Illini

The second scenario is different.  Illinois is recruiting big man Mayan Kiir pretty hard and he is arguably the main target right now.

Getting Kiir is extremely important, not because he is a game changer, but because he is a key need for the Illini.

Behind Tilmon for 2017 there isn’t much besides Finke, who should be moved over to the forward role anyways.

That means Illinois needs to find a good backup for Tilmon or even another player to play beside him at times.

Kiir would be a perfect fit for the Illini.  He is a tall, physical, player who can get rebounds but also run the floor well too.

I hope Illinois can snag Kiir purely based off need.  He would give the Illini another angle at taking on defenders and that is invaluable.

Here is what the lineup would likely look like with Kiir.

Point Guard: Te’Jon Lucas, Backup: Trent Frazier

Shooting Guard: Jalen Coleman-Lands, Backup: Aaron Jordan, 3rd Rotation: Javon Pickett

Guard/Forward: Kipper Nichols, Backup: Da’Monte Williams

Forward: Leron Black, Backup: DJ Williams 3rd Rotation: Michael Finke

Center: Jeremiah Tilmon, Backup: Mayan Kiir

This lineup gets even stronger when adding Kiir.  He would be important for the health of the team in the future.

November 14, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Detail view of a Nike basketball held by a NCAA official during the first half between the Stanford Cardinal and the Boston College Eagles at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Scenario No. 3: Mayan Kiir + Abu Kigab

There are a few scenarios when the Illinois basketball team snags two freshmen for 2017.  This scenario has the Illini loading up on size.

Illinois has the possibility of securing two players that have over 6-foot-5 size.

The first would be Kiir who I have already mentioned.  He would be a great option to help spell minutes for Tilmon and be a go-to-guy for Groce.

Illinois then could snag forward Abu Kigab as well.

Kigab is only 6-foot-6 but he is long and athletic.  He would be a great addition to really cause mismatches for the Illini.

Illinois has a few solid players that have the same build as Kigab but there is always room for more.

Kigab would bring depth and strength to the Illini on the front lines.  He would be a great asset for when the Illini want to go smaller and run the floor.

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Here is the Illinois lineup with Kiir and Kigab.

Point Guard: Te’Jon Lucas, Backup: Trent Frazier

Shooting Guard: Jalen Coleman-Lands, Backup: Aaron Jordan, 3rd Rotation: Javon Pickett

Guard/Forward: Kipper Nichols, Backup: Da’Monte Williams 3rd Rotation: Abu Kigab

Forward: Leron Black, Backup: DJ Williams 3rd Rotation: Michael Finke

Center: Jeremiah Tilmon, Backup: Mayan Kiir

Adding Kigab with Kiir would be great for the third rotation on the team.  This would help bring in fresh bodies when Big Ten season rolls around.

Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Nike basketballs on a rack before a game between the Boston College Eagles and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Scenario No. 4: Mayan Kiir + Kris Wilkes

The scenario that everyone wants but is going to very difficult to close is the combination of Kiir and Kris Wilkes.

Like I said earlier, Kiir would be the yin to Tilmon’s yang.  These two would be a dominant duo in the Big Ten.

The other addition in this scenario would be forward Kris Wilkes.

Wilkes is a game changing, 5-star player, who would be a great asset for the Illini.  He is a player that would start right away for this basketball team.

Right now, Wilkes is really being recruited hard.  He is down to Indiana, UCLA, UConn, Xavier, and Illinois.

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I really think he is down to Indiana, Xavier, and Illinois with the most likely landing spot to probably be the Hoosiers.

But, if Illinois does pull Wilkes in it would be huge.  This would be a complete game changer for the Illini and it would make them national title contenders instantly.

Here is the lineup with Kiir and Wilkes.

Point Guard: Te’Jon Lucas, Backup: Trent Frazier

Shooting Guard: Jalen Coleman-Lands, Backup: Aaron Jordan, 3rd Rotation: Javon Pickett

Guard/Forward: Kris Wilkes, Backup: Kipper Nichols, 3rd Rotation: Da’Monte Williams

Forward: Leron Black, Backup: DJ Williams 3rd Rotation: Michael Finke

Center: Jeremiah Tilmon, Backup: Mayan Kiir

The addition of Kiir and Wilkes would make for a championship contending lineup.  Kiir’s backup to Tilmon and Wilkes starting with Nichols and Williams behind him.

This combination would be quite impressive.

Mar 23, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; A general view of official NCAA Tournament basketballs prior to the game between the Louisville Cardinals against the South Florida Bulls in the second round of the women

Scenario No. 5: Mayan Kiir + 5th Year Transfer

The scenarios continue and this one still includes Kiir, but this time, it is a fifth-year transfer that would take up the final 2017 scholarship.

Kiir would be that dominant force that everyone hopes to secure at Illinois.

illinois fighting illini

Writing Illini 3wIllinois Basketball: Mayan Kiir Could Be the Next Piece to the Puzzle

More headlines around FanSided:

3w - Illinois Basketball: Illini add point guard Trent Frazier to already stout recruiting class3w - Illinois Basketball: 3 Areas Trent Frazier Will Improve the Illini3w - Illinois Sports: Trent Frazier Commits to Illinois Fighting Illini3w - Illinois Basketball: Trent Frazier Creates Stability with Commitment3w - Illinois Basketball: Ranking the Illini Recruiting Classes for the Last DecadeMore News at Writing Illini

Illinois needs another big body to help out with Tilmon and that is what Kiir would provide.

Even if Kiir would commit to Illinois there would be another scholarship available.

This scholarship could go to a fifth-year transfer.  The fifth-year transfer option would come available after this upcoming season.

There aren’t a ton of needs for the Illini but they could always use another big man.

In addition to Kiir, I would like to see Illinois add another player over 6-foot-8.  This would be the best case scenario if the Illini snag a fifth-year transfer.

This player then would take over behind Tilmon and Kiir would move over to the forward spot.

Moving the pieces around like this would make the Illinois lineup the best it could be for 2017.

Here is what the Illinois lineup would look like with Kiir and a fifth-year transfer.

Point Guard: Te’Jon Lucas, Backup: Trent Frazier

Shooting Guard: Jalen Coleman-Lands, Backup: Aaron Jordan, 3rd Rotation: Javon Pickett

Guard/Forward: Kipper Nichols, Backup: DJ Williams 3rd Rotation: Da’Monte Williams

Forward: Leron Black, Backup: Mayan Kiir 3rdRotation: Michael Finke

Center: Jeremiah Tilmon, Backup: 5th Year Transfer

This lineup would make for a strong front court.  I would be excited to see what this front court could do in the Big Ten.

There are many options the Illini have on the table right now.  I am actually probably leaving a few out as well

The future is bright for this Illinois basketball team.  I cannot wait to see how things play out with the final two scholarships.

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