Today on the Lina Inquirer podcast, Michael Tullab gives his thoughts not only on the Eastern Illinois victory and what we learned about Illinois basketball

and it sees an opener, but also the Illinois basketball recruiting class.

If you go back to last podcast, Derek Piper gave his thoughts pre-signing day, but now that

signing day is here and we are recording it on Wednesday, Illinois has officially added

three more talented players to the mix.

Amani Hansberry, four-star forward out of Maryland, signed. Draven Gibbs Lawhorn,

four-star guard out of Indiana, signed, and Zachary Parain for the second time.

French Forward has signed on with Illinois.

So Illinois adds three more prospects, and we got a ranking rating on Zachary Perrain.

Three star, the 85 realm, if you want to go by the rating, 213th, I believe he was in the composite ranking at this point.

But Zachary Parain is ranked, and that means Illinois gets boosted up to the number 17 class in the country, according to the composite rankings, and according to 24-7 sports, the number 16 class in the country, which is one of the best in the Big Ten as well, of course.

So another great class for Brad Underwood, and stacking up in the Big Ten as well, of course. So another great class for Brad Underwood and stacking up in the Big Ten, you know, Brad

Underwood continues to be one of the top recruiters in the Big Ten.

Illinois number four class in the Big Ten by Maryland.

Ohio State has a heck of a class and so does Michigan State.

Michigan State headline by Xavier Booker, the number three prospect in the country.

Jeremy Fears, number 34 prospect in the country.

And Ohio State has three top 50 prospects, or three top, four top 55 prospects, excuse me.

So Chris Holman is doing a fantastic job recruiting as well.

But you continue to see Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, with

the number 35 class in this class, not as highly ranked because they don't have as many guys,

but Illinois continues to be in that mix.

...