In the midst of a difficult 4-11 season, this Illini program has been desperate for positivity, signs of substantial progress, and for someone truly impactful to buy into the future.

After taking his official visit to Champaign last weekend, top-40 big man Kofi Cockburn wants to be that guy. Cockburn announced his commitment to Illinois on Sunday -- marking one of the biggest gets the program has had in the last decade. Maybe longer.

Cockburn is ranked as the No. 33 overall prospect and the ninth-best center in the 2019 class, according to the 247Composite. He chose the Illini among more than 30 scholarship offers, including UConn, Syracuse, Kansas, Pittsburgh and St. John's.

Cockburn is currently averaging 15.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game at national power Oak Hill Academy. And Cockburn was the top rebounder in the EYBL at 10.8 boards per game this past spring and summer against the best players in the country. At 6-foot-10, 290 pounds, he is a monster around the basket with his size, strength and ability to score.

He’s nearly impossible to move off his spot and keep him off the glass. It’s exactly the kind of piece the Illini need.

Illini Inquirer caught up with Cockburn when he flew into Champaign to talk about the sell and what stands out to him about Illinois.

“They see me coming in, becoming a starter, becoming a leader,” Cockburn said. “I’m trying to win a national championship. Get better. My ultimate goal is to be a pro, and they feel like they can help me develop and get better to be a pro.”

Assistant coach Orlando Antigua was monumental in this recruitment. He pursued Cockburn from nearly the minute he was hired at Illinois.

“He’s persistent. He goes after it. When he wants something, you know it,” Cockburn said of Antigua. “He’s on me, on and off the court. Even when I’m not playing basketball, he’s trying to get me better. He’s always looking out for me. He’s always showing love and support. He’s a really great guy.”

Brad Underwood and Antigua were down at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. earlier this month to see him. They also visited him at Oak Hill Academy in November. Chin Coleman made a stop at Oak Hill this fall as well.

“They recruit hard,” Oak Hill Academy head coach Steve Smith said of the Illinois staff. “I know Coach Antigua pretty well. He was at Kentucky and South Florida, and he recruited at Oak Hill. He probably told Coach Underwood: ‘Hey, we can recruit those guys at Oak Hill.’ He does a great job and their staff does.”

Cockburn is also familiar with Illini freshmen Ayo Dosunmu and Alan Griffin. Dosunmu scored 21 points in the overtime loss to FAU with Cockburn in attendance, and he hit the game-tying three to send it to OT. Meanwhile, Griffin grabbed a career-high six boards off the bench.

“I love Alan. I played AAU with him last year. He’s a great kid. Great personality. Great player,” Cockbun said. “Same thing with Ayo. I played with him at Top 100 my sophomore year. Ayo’s a great player. Great basketball player. He’s got all the tools.”

With some talented young guards, Cockburn is undoubtedly a missing piece.

“Yeah, basically,” Cockburn said with a smile on Friday.

But the current struggles have made it crystal clear that he’s not the only piece missing. The next step for Cockburn might be to try and convince Oak Hill wing Christian Brown to come along too.