Illini chasing another Florida prospect

John Groce and his staff have their sights set on adding another big man to their 2017 class following the commitment of point guard Trent Frazier.

One of the top remaining targets on their board is 3-star power forward Mayan Kiir from Bradenton (Fla.) Victory Rock Prep. There is mutual interest. Mayan talked about what he likes about Illinois.

“I like their players,” Kiir said. “It’s a solid team and I like the way they play. If I went there, I could get some court time. Also, I like the coaches.”

Illinois likely sees Kiir as a compliment to 5-star center Jeremiah Tilmon. At 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, he would give the Illini another long athlete, rebounder, and presence in the paint.

“I play the 5 and the 4, and a little bit of the 3,” Kiir said. “I feel like I can do it all. I score, rebound, and block shots. I’m most dominant with my back to the basket, but I can face up.”

Nothing is set in stone, but obviously Groce would love to get Kiir on campus for an official visit. Currently, Kiir said there are three programs coming after him the hardest.

“I would have to say NC State, VCU, and Illinois,” Kiir said. “I’m planning on taking some official visits, but I’m still thinking about where."

Kiir was born in the South Sudan but moved to Australia when he was three years old, where he learned to play basketball. He ran with Florida Sons in the Adidas Gauntlet circuit this summer, averaging 12.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

A chance to see the court as a freshman is the top priority for Kiir in choosing a college. He doesn’t have a timetable for a decision yet, but there’s a chance he could wait until the spring.

“I’m trying to go somewhere I can play immediately and make an impact,” Kiir said. “I haven’t decided yet when I will make a decision, but I think I’m going to make my decision during the late period. I’m still thinking about.”