Groce Talks Signing Class: Nov. 17 | Nov. 10
Champaign, Ill. – Four highly-touted student-athletes signed letters of intent to play basketball at Illinois during the early signing period. The class of G Trent Frazier, G Javon Pickett, C Jeremiah Tilmon and G Da'Monte Williams is a national top-10 class according to three major recruiting services. The class checks in at No. 8 by Scout, No. 9 by ESPN and No. 10 by 247Sports, and also is ranked by every service as the top class in the Big Ten.
"We are proud to officially welcome Trent, Javon, Jeremiah and Da'Monte to the Fighting Illini family," Illinois head coach John Groce said of the class. "These are long-standing relationships we've built with them and their families, so it's rewarding to have them signed to where we can now celebrate them publicly.
"This class fills our needs in many different areas. Jeremiah is a dominant big who is without question one of the top frontcourt players in the country. Da'Monte is an athletic, versatile player who can play and defend multiple guard spots, and Trent is an explosive guard who can score in a variety of ways. Javon is a prolific scorer on the wing who continues to make rapid improvements."
TRENT FRAZIER
Guard, 6-2, 170
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
High School / Coach: Wellington / Matt Colin
AAU Program / Coach: Florida Elite / Conrad Foss
Notes on Frazier: Four-star recruit ranked No. 78 by Scout, No. 101 by Rivals and No. 102 by 247Sports composite … Averaged 21 points, six assists and 2.2 assists as a junior … Led Wellington to the Class 8A state championship as a sophomore, and quarterfinal appearance as a junior … First-team Class 8A All-State by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches … All-Area Player of the Year by the Palm Beach Post.
Groce on Frazier: "Trent is one of the best offensive guards in the country. He is terrific off of ball screens and in transition, and is an exceptional passer as well."
JAVON PICKETT
Guard, 6-4, 180
Hometown: Belleville, Ill.
High School / Coach: Belleville East / Abel Schrader
AAU Program / Coach: Ramey Jets United / Andre McMurray
Notes on Pickett: Three-star recruit averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds as a junior, shooting 55 percent from the field … Scored career-high 42 points vs. East St. Louis … First-team All-State by the Champaign News Gazette … First-team Class 4A All-State by the Associated Press … First-team Class 3A/4A All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association … First-team Class 4A All-State by the Chicago Sun-Times … Second-team All-State by the Chicago Tribune … Second-team All-USA Illinois by the USA Today … First-team All-Metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Groce on Pickett: "Javon has good size for a wing and is a gifted scorer. He is a competitor and has tremendous work ethic, always in the gym striving to get better."
JEREMIAH TILMON
Center, 6-10, 245
Hometown: East St. Louis, Ill.
High School / Coach: East St. Louis Senior / Phillip Gilbert
AAU Program / Coach: St. Louis Eagles / Corey Frazier
Notes on Tilmon: Consensus top-25, five-star recruit (No. 25 on rscihoops.com) ... Ranked No. 19 nationally by Scout, No. 25 by both Rivals and 247Sports composite and No. 37 by ESPN … Highest-rated recruit of Coach Groce's Illinois tenure … First top-25 recruit to select the Fighting Illini since the 2010 signing class … Averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds as a junior at La Lumiere, a prep school in La Porte, Indiana, under the direction of Coach Shane Heirman … Helped lead La Lumiere to a 27-4 record and championship game appearance at the Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals Tournament in New York City.
Groce on Tilmon: "Jeremiah is one of the best frontcourt players in the country. He has everything you want at that position, he's skilled, a good scorer and passer, protects the rim, plays with toughness, and understands the game."
DA'MONTE WILLIAMS
Guard, 6-3, 185
Hometown: Peoria, Ill.
High School / Coach: Peoria Manual / Derrick Booth
AAU Program / Coach: Mac Irvin Fire / Mike Irvin, Nick Irvin
Notes on Williams: Four-star recruit ranked No. 92 by ESPN, No. 106 by Rivals and No. 107 by 247Sports composite … Led Manual to its first IHSA large-class state finals appearance since 1997, where the Rams finished third … Averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior … Scored career-high 37 points vs. Joliet West … First-team Class 3A All-State by the Associated Press … First-team Class 3A/4A All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association … Second-team All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette… Honorable-mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune … All-Area Co-Player of the Year by the Peoria Journal-Star … Son of Illini all-time great point guard Frank Williams, the 2001 Big Ten Player of the Year and two-time All-American.
Groce on Williams: "Da'Monte is an athletic, multi-positional guard. He has the ability to make plays for himself and others, is an elite defender, and with his athleticism can guard multiple positions."
