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NCAA Basketball: Analyzing top-40 forward Bryce Hopkins top 9 teams

By Tristan Freeman

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 29: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats is seen during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 29, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 29: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats is seen during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on February 29, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 24: An Illinois Fighting Illini cheerleader is seen (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois Illini

With DePaul not among the group, that leaves Illinois as the “hometown” option. That puts them in a great position potentially, boosted by the great past season, and bringing back both Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn is a nice amount of positivity to go into a recruiting battle. He has friends on the Illini team and is familiar with the coaching staff from the last go-around.

Assuming that Cockburn goes pro after next season, that leaves Giorgi Bezhanishvili in the frontcourt. Hopkins would be a big factor as a freshman and would have a quality group of perimeter players to work. It would be a major pickup for the program, who needs to continue landing local prospects to remain close to the top of the Big Ten.

Indiana Hoosiers

One of the “blue bloods” out in the midwest, the Hoosiers have a pair of stars on the roster in Khristian Lander and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The odds of the forward Jackson-Davis coming back for his junior campaign are slim. And with starting center Joey Brunk already a senior, there could be a huge hole in the frontcourt for the team next season.

While Hopkins would have a major role as a freshman onward, Indiana’s roster will need plenty more in the 2021 class to be a contender in the Big Ten. And while head coach Sean Miller isn’t on the hot seat just yet, another year without making the NCAA Tournament will make it warm. There are certainly other options on this list where the head coach isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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