:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68556127/usa_today_12251034.0.jpg)
Earlier this month, the Illinois Fighting Illini put out a key offer in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Brad Underwood and his staff decided to offer 2022 prospect Jai Smith.
I am blessed and excited to say that I’ve received an offer from The University of Illinois. pic.twitter.com/xM5MskPDD4
— Jai Smith (@jai_smith131) December 12, 2020
Smith comes out of Syracuse, New York and is rated as a three-star prospect and the fourth-best player in the state by 247Sports. The recruiting site lists him at 6-foot-9 and 239 pounds. Along with Illinois, he also currently has offers from Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, LSU, Marquette, Maryland, and Wake Forest among others.
Illinois currently has no commitments in the program’s 2022 recruiting class. However, Illinois does have some momentum after a productive 2019-’20 season and encouraging results so far this year. And if Smith can get things rolling on the recruiting trail, perhaps Illinois could be in play for a great 2022 class. However, we will have to wait and see as his recruitment is still very much in the air. Underwood and his staff will have to put in some work.