Nothing gives a program a shot in the arm like a home-grown talent making it big.

For Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, the near-instant impact that last season’s Illini star and Chicago HS product Ayo Dosunmu is making for the Chicago Bulls is surely a boost for the Illini’s in-state recruiting effort.

On Wednesday, the Illini received a commitment from one of Illinois’ top prospects in the Class of 2022, 4-star forward Ty Rodgers. The 6-foot-7 Thornton Township HS star had offers from Michigan, Michigan State Ohio State, Purdue, and Memphis already in hand.

Rodgers puts the Illini 2022 recruiting class in the top-20 nationally and 4th-best in the B1G, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Underwood feels that Rodgers, who transferred to Illinois from a Michigan high school, will likely be a top contender for Mr. Basketball in Illinois this season, and had high praise for the new signee in a press conference Wednesday evening.

Here’s what Underwood said: