CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Editor's Note: The video attached originally aired on Oct. 16, 2023.
The football season is far from over. There is still hope for a bowl game for Bret Bielema's group. But the start of November means college basketball is in full swing.
Today, Nov. 8, is National Signing Day where the future of all programs is made. Head coach Brad Underwood's crew will once again ink another top 25 recruiting class.
The jewel of the group is Thornton High School power forward Morez Johnson. This 6-foot-10, 230-pound athlete is a lock to win Illinois' Mr. Basketball and a strong candidate for the prestigious McDonald's All-American award. ESPN currently had Johnson ranked 31st in the country.
Johnson told WQAD, "It's finally here today, I have waited for this day since 2021 when I committed. I want to win games, try to bring other talented players with me, some I call and talk to weekly. We need to keep this thing rolling."
Illinois assistant coach Chester Frazier was looking for a difference maker that may have flown off the radar. Fraizer found his guy, Jase Butler, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Point Reyes Station, California.
The floor general committed to Illinois in early October, but he was not receiving high major offers until Frazier offered him a scholarship to play for Illinois.
Once the rest of the country caught wind of the Big Ten powerhouse, other programs caught on; one notable was the Stanford Cardinals. Butler is fully aware of what the naysayers say about him, but it only adds fuel to the fire for him.
"Rankings don't mean anything to me, people are entitled to their opinions, but what I won't do is let those comments affect me as a person or my game. I don't have anything to prove to anyone, but people will see when I get to Illinois," Butler said.
The third high school prep to join this top 25 class is center Jason Jakstys, a 6-foot-10 big from Yorkville, Illinois. This commitment came as a surprise to Illinois fans, but assistant coach Tim Anderson saw a possible late bloomer in the Illinois native who is a great rim protector. He is very crafty and showcases the ability to put it on the floor and shoot it from three. However, during a game this summer against St. Ignatius, he blocked 10 shots in one game.
"I want to get better. I realize to be effective at the Big Ten level I will need to get stronger, which I'm willing to do. We have a great class coming in, I want to be a part of that. I know I can play but it may take time, and I'm okay with that. It's an honor for me to play for my state university," Jakstys said.
There is the possibility Illinois could add another player in the spring. Also, do not forget about the transfer portal which has treated Underwood and company quite well the past few years.
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