:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26270397/20131108_ads_bl2_163.0.jpg)
Mere minutes after Illinois defeated Penn State, 75-55, Saturday afternoon, John Groce picked up a verbal commitment from the class of 2015 in Plainfield East shooting guard Aaron Jordan.
Jordan--6-foot-4, 175 lbs--is a four-star recruit ranked No. 60 in the class of 2015 by Rivals.com and No. 77 by Scout.com. He had offers from Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, Northwestern and Creighton. Jordan joins Simeon wing D.J. Williams as the second commitment for Illinois in the 2015 class.
The quick scoop on Jordan is his 3-point shooting, and he might be the most pure shooter for Illinois since Jamar Smith. Jordan has great range and has received great reviews for his intelligence on the basketball court.
Beyond his basketball attributes, this is another big pickup for Groce and Co. if only to further establish the program's presence in the state of Illinois. This is the second verbal commitment from an in-state, top-60 player before they've even reached their senior year. Groce is fortifying his grasp on in-state recruiting.
And in my mind, you can't have enough players that spurn the likes of Wisconsin or Indiana for a chance to play at Illinois. Bo Ryan consistently reels in tough, highly-skilled players that win him 25+ games. We could use those guys at Illinois.
Aaron Jordan, welcome to the orange and blue. Here's what Jordan had to say about his commitment, via Chicago Hoops.
"Because it felt like home and Coach Groce is doing great things in Illinois."
