Sophomore point guard visits Illinois
Westchester (Ill.) St. Joseph point guard Marquise Walker was among several underclassmen who was Illinois for an unofficial visit last weekend.
Walker, a 3-star prospect in the class of 2019, emerged as a high major prospect at the IHSA state tournament last spring. He picked up an offer from Illinois in June, and he remains high on the Illini.
“I really enjoyed being there,” Walker said of the visit. “You can feel the love of the fans when it comes to Illinois basketball.”
During the visit, Walker watched the current Illini squad practice, and he took in the Homecoming football game against Minnesota.
Walker said watching the 2016-17 edition of the Illini go through workouts at the Ubben basketball complex was a highlight of his trip.
“Their excitement they bring when they practice and off the court really made a big impression on me,” Walker said. “That’s very important when it comes to picking a college. They have die-hard fans and their practices are really exciting to watch”
His relationship with the Illinois coaching staff is also a plus for Walker.
“I like the staff,” He said. They keep it real. They are straight to the point, and they work very hard.”
As a freshman last season, Walker helped guide St. Joe’s to the IHSA Class 3A title game. He scored 18 points in the loss to top ranked Belleville Althoff.
The performance opened some eyes, and Walker began getting recruiting looks from programs around the Midwest.
“Right now Illinois, DePaul and UIC have offered, but I hear from Kansas and Iowa State also,” Walker said.
The Illini staff is focused on adding to their 2017 class, and also on the top juniors on their recruiting board. With a limited number of scholarships to give in 2018, the top targets at guard are Courtney Ramey and Ayo Dosunmu.
Illinois is often mentioned a leader for Walker, and he does hold the offer. The question is, would John Groce take an early commitment from Walker if he decided to pull the trigger and end his recruitment?
“I would hope they would,” Walker said. “I really think we could connect perfectly.”