Illinois Basketball: Mark Smith commits to Brad Underwood

Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Illinois basketball landed their first top-100 recruit with Brad Underwood as their head coach on Wednesday evening.

2017 four-star shooting guard Mark Smith has committed to Illinois, he announced Friday night. The Fighting Illini were chosen over the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State, and others.

The announcement doesn’t come by surprise, as rumors had circulated over the last 24 hours that Illinois would be the landing spot for Smith. Additionally, the 247Sports Crystal Ball considerably favored Illinois, with 83 percent of predictors liking the Fighting Illini.

Smith, according to 247Sports, is the No. 74 senior in the nation. He was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois after his excellent senior campaign. The Edwardsville native posted 21.9 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 8.4 assists per game this season, per the Detroit Free Press.

According to ESPN’s scouting report, Smith is a fantastic playmaker with the ball in his hands. While he is a decent perimeter shooter, he works best in the interior of the arc, especially when slashing. It adds that “he is very capable of accruing triple doubles In any game.” ESPN states that his shot consistency and quickness need to be improved to help him thrive at the next level.

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The commitment of Smith gives Brad Underwood his first top-100 pledge, according to the 247Sports 2017 rankings. Smith joins a pair of point guards in 4-star Trent Frazier and 3-star DaMonte Williams. That trio looks to be the only impact freshmen in Champaign next fall, as Illinois is not in contention for any other ranked prospects.

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