Illinois jumped in early with an offer to Huntington Prep (WV) forward Jaemyn Brakefield, the No. 44 prospect in the class of 2020.

Brakefield’s recruitment is taking off as he puts together a strong sophomore campaign. Illinois extended the offer on New Year’s Day.

“Every offer means a lot to me,” Brakefield said. “When I got the news, I was extremely happy.”