Illinois is back in the mix for another elite 2028 prospect, and this time the target is Bentley Lusakueno.
The 6-foot-10, 205-pound power forward from Woodward Academy in Georgia announced Wednesday night that Illinois had offered him a scholarship. Lusakueno shared the news on social media and thanked the program directly: "Thank you to the University of Illinois, Coach Underwood, Coach Crocker and the entire coaching staff for the scholarship offer! All glory to God. pic.twitter.com/cfXWxxdeeC"
Lusakueno arrives on the board as a five-star recruit, ranked No. 6 overall in the class of 2028. He is also rated the No. 3 power forward in the country and the top player in Georgia.
Illinois is not alone in the chase. Tennessee, Oregon and Miami are among the other programs already involved, and Auburn is in the mix as well. Still, the source of the offer matters here: Illinois is one of the first major programs to jump in, while several of the biggest names have yet to make their move.
That list figures to grow fast. Kansas, Duke, North Carolina and Indiana are all mentioned as schools that are not yet on the offer sheet but are expected to join soon.
What makes Lusakueno so appealing is the modern profile he brings. He has the size of a true frontcourt piece, but he can stretch the floor, pick-and-pop and even step beyond the arc to hit shots.
His length also stands out on the defensive end, where he can cause real problems. He looks, at least from the description, like the kind of player who kept growing after starting out more like a guard.
For Illinois, the offer adds another major name to its 2028 board. The Illini are already in on Dylan Betts, a 7-foot-3 big man in the same class. Betts projects more as a No. 5, while Lusakueno fits more naturally as a No. 4, giving Illinois a chance to chase a pair of towering frontcourt pieces.
Brad Underwood has already helped make Illinois a real player with five-star talent, and the program’s recent recruiting track record has put it in position to stay in that lane. If the Illini keep stacking elite commitments in the classes ahead, they’ll only strengthen that standing.
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