Illinois Basketball Player Preview: Greg Eboigbodin

Player Preview: Greg Eboigbodin

Greg Eboigbodin is a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward out of Detroit. As a native of Nigeria, Eboigbodin has only played three years of competitive basketball. He ran with EYBL team, The Family, based out of Detroit, where he played with teammates Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston, both of whom will be stars on a talented Michigan State team this year. He was originally committed to UIC, but he later picked up offers from Illinois and Pittsburgh. Assistant Chin Coleman played a big role in getting Eboigbodin to Champaign.

What He Did Last Year:

As a senior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Eboigbodin averaged 14 points per game, 14 rebounds per game, and two blocks per game. Here are some of his highlights from his senior season.

How Does He Fit into Underwood’s System:

Eboigbodin is the perfect kind of player for the style of play Underwood wants to run. In fact, after receiving an offer from the Illini, he studied Brad Underwood’s system. He watched practices of Underwood during his tenure at Oklahoma State and admired Underwood’s shared passion for the game. He is a high-energy big who will run the floor and attack the boards. He runs the floor well and has shown the ability to hit an outside shot. He is by no means an offensive threat, yet, though. His game is still fairly raw, but he shows all the intangibles of a promising, young big.

What to Expect This Year:

The Illini will turn to Eboigbodin to be a menace both on the glass and to protect the rim. With a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he has the profile to be something special with a couple years of strength coach Adam Fletcher’s regimen. With the Illini’s lack of depth, Eboigbodin will have the opportunity to get plenty of early playing time, whether he’s physically ready or not. Don’t anticipate him cracking the All-Freshman team, but he has the potential to be one of the best forwards in the conference by the time he’s a senior.