Big Ten basketball rival extends offer to fast-rising in-state class of 2025 PF

Wisconsin’s Big Ten rival Illinois extended an offer to fast-rising in-state class of 2025 power forward Gavin Gores on Monday.

Illinois’ offer marks Gores’ first Big Ten offer at this stage of his recruitment. The rising senior represents Cumberland High School in Cumberland, Wisconsin, which is located roughly 250 miles northwest of Madison.

Since the start of June, the rising senior has received five offers from Toledo, North Dakota State, Wyoming, Illinois State, and now Illinois. Green Bay, South Dakota State, and Loyola (Maryland) round out the rest of Gores’ list of suitors thus far.

Wisconsin has yet to extend an offer, but Rivals classifies the Badgers’ interest at a ‘medium’ level as of June 15. UW did, however, host Gores at the Kohl Center for its showdown against Purdue last season.

The Minnesota Gophers also appear to be eyeing the power forward. Gores took multiple unofficial visits to Minneapolis as a junior.

Rivals, 247sports, On3 and ESPN have yet to designate a ranking for the Wisconsin product yet, but he is certainly talented. In a December contest against Regis High School, Gores dropped 51 points and snagged 19 rebounds in a winning effort, per Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook editor Mark Miller.

With Illinois’ recent offer, it may only be a matter of time before Greg Gard and his staff decide to progress in their recruitment efforts surrounding the rising in-state forward.