By CHARLIE PARENT
THE BRONX — Chidi Nwigwe, a five-star in the class of 2026 out of St. Benedict’s Prep (NJ.), dropped 15 points at Sunday’s Shooting Stars NYC Showcase in front of Illinois assistant Geoff Alexander and several other schools.
The Illini have an offer out for the 6-foot-7 wing, along with Providence, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure, among others.
“They’ve [Illinois] been really trying to recruit me,” he said. “I’d love to get in contact with them, and it’s definitely a school I’d love to go to.”
Nwigwe also mentioned Providence as a school that’s recruiting him the hardest.
“A school that’s been really pushing for me is Providence,” he said postgame. “They’ve been really fun to watch, and are definitely well coached.”
He also looks to expand relationships with several Power 5 schools once the NCAA contact period opens on Jun. 1.
“Alabama has been on my mind and also LSU,” he said. “I would go anywhere where I can be coached well because that will push me to be better.”
“The blue-bloods are definitely schools I’d love to have an offer from and get connected with,” Nwigwe concluded. “I was a Duke fan growing up with Coach K. It was fun watching them, and they’re always the best team out.”
St. Ben’s head coach, Mark Taylor, commented on Nwigwe’s talent, what they’ll continue to develop with him and how he handles the early pressure of being a young five-star.
“He’s really talented,” Taylor said. “He has a great mid-range game, he can finish at the rim and he has a great three.”
“I don’t think he’s really caught up in it, which is good,” he continued. “We just try to make him better and improve him as an individual and the things he needs to work on, which is really important.”
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