Good Morning, Illini Nation: Illinois will host NaVorro Bowman Jr. – The News-Gazette

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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:

One of the most productive players in the Class of 2027 will take an official visit to Illinois. Five-star guard NaVorro Bowman Jr. will visit the Illini in addition to Arizona, Connecticut and Texas, per 247Sports’ Dushawn London.

Bowman is ranked as high as No. 10 in the Class of 2027 by 247Sports, which has him as a five-star prospect along with ESPN. The Notre Dame (Calif.) product is ranked as the fifth-best point guard according to the former, trailing Beckham Black, Cayden Daughtry, Nasir Anderson and Reese Alston. The Illini have also offered Daughtry, Anderson and Alston.

Illinois, which has 2027 commitments from Quinton Kitt and Mason Martin, could be in the lead guard market ahead of the 2027-28 season depending on what happens with Quentin Coleman and Stefan Vaaks. The former, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2026, is considered a potential one-and-done candidate. The 21-year-old Vaaks is also at a different stage of his basketball career than traditional sophomores.

Bowman is coming off a seriously productive junior season at Notre Dame followed by an even better spring and summer. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 22.5 points, five assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals for Notre Dame, shooting 51 percent overall and 34 percent from three-point range and helping the Knights go 22-8. 

The son of the former NFL quarterback of the same name, Bowman was just as productive playing for Team Why Not on Nike’s EYBL circuit. He was the fourth-leading scorer on the circuit and averaged 20.5 points on 42/33/71 shooting to go with 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. 

Bowman also had a strong showing for Team USA at the FIBA U17 World Cup at the end of June through the first week of this month. The U.S. won its eighth straight gold medal in the event, with Bowman averaging 11.9 points on 60/25/71 shooting while adding 3.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game.

The combination of upside as a two-way threat on the perimeter with his current level of production makes Bowman a likely day one contributor no matter where he lands at the collegiate level. Here’s a snapshot of the four programs he’ll visit:

Illinois

Current lead guards: Stefan Vaaks, 6-7, So.; Quentin Coleman, 6-4, Fr.

Committed 2027 recruits: Quinton Kitt, 6-6, SG, Monarch Academy (Kan.); Mason Martin, 6-5, SG, Neuqua Valley

Offered 2027 lead guards: Cayden Daughtry, 6-0, PG, Calvary Christian Academy (Fla.); Nasir Anderson, 6-4, PG, Prolific Prep (Fla.); Reese Alston, 6-2, PG, Houston Second Baptist (Texas); Devin Cleveland, 6-3, PG, La Lumiere (Ind.); Jaxson Davis, 6-0, PG, Monarch Academy (Kan.); Gassim Toure, 6-3, PG, Principia (Mo.); Josiah Nance, 6-4, CG, Notre Dame (Calif.)

Arizona

Current lead guards: JJ Mandaquit, 6-1, So.; Derek Dixon, 6-5, So.

Committed 2027 recruits: N/A

Offered 2027 lead guards: Adan Diggs, 6-5, CG, Millennium (Ariz.); Jason Gardner Jr., 6-1, G, Fishers (Ind.)

Connecticut

Current lead guards: Silas Demary Jr., 6-4, Sr.; Nils Machowski, 6-3, Sr.; Jaye Nash, 6-3, Jr.; 

Committed 2027 recruits: N/A

Offered 2027 lead guards: Daughtry; Micah Gordon, 5-10, PG, SPIRE Academy (Ohio); King Gibson, 6-4, CG, SPIRE Academy (Ohio)

Texas

Current lead guards: Isaiah Johnson, 6-1, So.; Mikey Lewis, 6-3, Jr., Joe Sterling, 6-4, Fr.; Austin Goosby, 6-5, Fr.

Committed 2027 recruits: N/A

Offered 2027 lead guards: Beckham Black, 6-3, PG, Southeastern Prep (Fla.); Alston; Gardner; Diggs; Kavian Bryant, 6-2, CG, Palestine Westwood (Texas)