Competing for ‘Big Al’

Grand Rapids power forward Alex Illikainen has become one of the Class of 2015’s top recruits in the country. His 6-9, 215-pound stature, ability to rebound, post up and shoot the jumper have attracted 12 Division I scholarship offers. Rated four stars, he’s the top basketball recruit to ever come out of the hockey-minded town.

On the table: Gophers, Indiana, Nebraska, Creighton, Iowa State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Texas Tech, Wisconsin-Green Bay, California, Oregon, Vanderbilt.

Recent D-I products from Grand Rapids: Dusty Rychart, Gophers; Eric Webb, Furman.