John Groce and his Illinois staff added their third commitment in the Class of 2017, and this one is a big one, as 6-10 Jeremiah Tilmon, a top twenty-five prospect, from La Porte, IN La Lumiere Prep (originally from East St. Louis, IL) has decided to become an Illinois Fighting Illini.

“I feel that I trust them and that’s where my heart is telling me to be,” Tilmon told ESPN. “I feel that they believe in me and will do everything in their power to get me where I want to be. I have a great relationship with the coaches and Illinois is my home, I can’t forget where I came from.”

He chose Illinois over interest from Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan State, Texas and Missouri.

Tilmon is a force around the basket who can dominate the glass and the paint defensively with best in the class. He is a good low block scorer with solid hands and the ability to power thru opponents to score in the paint. He is mobile and runs the floor well enough to put pressure on opposing big men. Look for him to make an immediate impact with the Illini as a freshman, especially since the lose both Mike Thorne and Maverick Morgan after next season.

Tilmon is the highest rated recruit that the Illini have had in recent year’s, he might have rated higher, but missed the summer with a seriously dislocated shoulder that kept him out of the Nike EYBL this spring and summer.

He joins 6-2 point guard DaMonte Williams and 6-4 shooting guard Javon Pickett in the Illinois Class of 2017.