After completing a top-10 recruiting class last week, Illinois basketball is already working to solidify another recruiting class that will likely be top-ranked — in two years time.
Windemere Prep Class of the Watch 2024 ZZ Clarkthe younger brother of the five-star signee from Illini 2022 Heaven Clarkcommitted to Illinois on Monday during an unofficial visit to Illinois.
ZZ Clarkwhose full first name is Zachiah, Illinois makes its second engagement of the Class of 2024, joining four-star forward Chicago St. Rita Morez Johnson, who is the No. 40 prospect in the class. Clark, a 6-foot-1 guard, isn’t yet rated by recruiting services, but he chose the Illini over offers from Kansas, DePaul, Washington, Arizona State, Creighton and Vanderbilt, among others.
Illinois Assistant Coach Tim Andersonwho has close ties to the Clark family, directed the Illini’s pursuit of the two Clarks.
As a freshman at Ensworth High School in Nashville, ZZ Clark averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists. As a sophomore at Windemere Prep, Clark averaged 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals.
ZZ Clark Illini Inquirer’s Joey Wagner said last week: “I’ve always loved Illinois before I even got the offer. Ayo Dosunmu has always been one of my favorite players. I was always locked into their system. It’s always been a dream to play for them.
“That’s crazy. I feel like seeing Ayo and then seeing my brother, it’s like an extra: ‘Okay, I should probably take a closer look at that because maybe it’s a sign.'”
Stats to know: Four Class of 2024 prospects have made verbal commitments, two of them in Illinois, according to the 247Sports database. Michigan (Christian Anderson) and Houston (Mercy Miller) also have a verbal acceptance in class.
Scouting report: “ZZ is an experienced combo guard with a sturdy build and is at his best when attacking the rim. He can make shots from threes, has some mobility in basketball and is strong and able to play through contact. He is also a talented passer with feeling and vision but is an area where he can continue to grow and expand.” – Travis Branham, National Recruiting Analyst for 247Sports
Brotherly love: The Clarks would be the first pair of brothers to join the Illini program since Brandon-Paul and Darius Paul, although Darius has never played in a game for Illinois. The youngest pair of brothers to play both games for Illinois was Luther Head and Crandall head.
What it means: Brad Underwood shows he can continue to garner the talent needed to continue competing with the best of the Big Ten. The Illini have added 14 four- or five-star prospects in the last five recruit classes, second-highest in the Big Ten behind Michigan, and Clark looks likely 15th when ranked. Plus, Anderson continues to prove he was worth the wait last summer. He has now directed the Illini’s pursuits for the two Clark brothers Johnson and the 2022 four-star forward Ty Rodgers. The Illini also see a bright future as Wardens Jayden Epps, Sencire Harris and Heaven Clark is coming to the class of 2022 and another talented Clark is coming to the class of 2024 soon.