Morgan Park guard among Illini visitors
As the 2016-17 college hoops season gets underway, Illinois is set to host a number of underclassmen to campus this weekend as the Illini take on Washington University in an exhibition game at the State Farm Center.
Stay tuned to the HENSON COURT message board for the list of Illinois basketball visitors this weekend. OrangeandBlueNews.com will update the list as more visitors are confirmed.
One of the youngsters who will be in Champaign for a visit is 2020 point guard Nimari Burnett, an incoming freshman at Chicago Morgan Park.
“I’m just looking to have fun and enjoy the visit,” Burnett said. “I want to see the atmosphere and the college experience.”
Burnett will visit with his parents. He and his family will have the opportunity to meet with John Groce and his staff and tour the campus and facilities.
Assistant coach Paris Parham is recruiting Burnett.
“I know Coach Parham personally, and he has talked to me about the school and the visit,” Burnett said.
A well-known prospect coming out of junior high school and on the summer circuit with the Mac Irvin Fire, Burnett was a big get for Morgan Park.
So far, Burnett holds two offers with several high majors showing strong interest early on in his recruitment, including two Big Ten programs.
“I have offers from Pacific and Cal State Fullerton,” Burnett said. “I’m hearing from Illinois and Northwestern. Northwestern had me for a visit two weeks ago. They had a football game, and it was really nice.”
Burnett ran with the 14U Mac Irvin Fire this past summer, and he moved up to the 15’s for the Nike Peach Jam in July.
He is visiting Illinois with a fellow Morgan Park freshman, power forward Shon Robinson, another in-state underclassmen to watch.
Morgan Park fell to Lincoln-Way West in the IHSA Class 3A Super Sectionals last year. They are looking to get back to Peoria and make a run at a state championship in 2016-17.
Burnett says he will be a spark off the bench to start the season.
“I’m going to me off the bench, and I’m ready to produce and make a big impact on the games.,” he said. “Sometimes I might be able to start. I just going to do my best to help the team win.”