Illinois basketball makes cut for class of 2025 4-star forward

As the Illinois basketball team heads into the 2024-25 season, some positive news has come down the pipeline on the recruiting front.

The class of 2024 is one that will be hard to live up to for any future recruiting classes. This was a top 10 class in the country led by some powerhouse players who are projected to be in the 2025 NBA Draft.

While that mammoth class was impressive, the class of 2025 is starting to round into shape. Illinois already has two commitments for 2025. Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler are both four-star backcourt players who can really help build quality depth on the roster.

Many Illinois fans felt the wrath of the transfer portal and graduation after the Elite 8 run this past season, so having more talent waiting in the wings is optimal. On Tuesday, the Illini got one step closer to adding a third member to the 2025 class.

Joe Tipton of On3.com reported that Spencer Ahrens is now down to just six teams. The six programs he has on his top list include San Francisco, Boise State, Stanford, Gonzaga, Washington, and Illinois.

Ahrens would be a nice addition to the Illinois roster. He is a 6-foot-8, 216-pound power forward out of Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. He is rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 121 player in the class of 2025. Ahrens is also the No. 27 power forward in the country and the No. 9 player coming out of Arizona.

College sports is a wild place right now with the transfer portal in full swing. Heading into the new season, Illinois only has two scholarship players left over from the Elite 8 run.

This trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon either. You can’t predict transfers, but you can see who might head to the NBA early and who is going to be graduating.

Ben Humrichous is going to be a big part of the Illinois squad this season. He is a graduate player, so he is done after the 2024-25 season. He is a 6-foot-9 forward.

Illinois has Will Riley in the program. As a freshman, the 6-foot-8 forward is projected to be a first-round NBA Draft pick. That means he is likely gone after this season too.

That means two players in the front court who are easily going to average over 20 minutes per game are both departing. Illinois needs someone who can fill some of those minutes. Ahrens might be a decent option as a reserve.